Columbus Day is a controversial day in America. Some individuals celebrate Christopher Columbus while other people celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. No matter what day you celebrate, as an educator, it is an accomplishment to get to this day.
We like to think of the school year as a book with different chapters. A school year has a curriculum, units, and story to be told. Some history teachers use bookends events to start and end a unit. For example, an American Revolution unit might start (1st bookend) with the French and Indian War and end with The Treaty of Paris (2nd bookend).
We feel that Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day is a bookend. This day marks the end of the start of the year and starts the stretch until Veterans Day.
By this date many school have passed:
Mid-Term Grades: Midterms midterm grades are almost obsolete with the digital grading of many school systems. Prior to the modern grading era, teachers got out of calculators and tabulated grades for each student. The more technologically advanced teachers set up spreadsheets. Today many school systems update grades constantly. Parents and students can see almost real time grading.
Despite the incredible access parents and students have a teacher’s grade book, many schools still officially have a midterm. It is helpful for teachers to remember this date is halfway through the term. Teaches can plan the second half of the term more effectively and efficiently.
The mid-term is also a reminder of the big picture of the school year. At mid-term a school year is officially 1/8th complete (12.5% ).
Open House: Depending upon a school system, the open house / back to school night often falls before Columbus Day. This night can be filled with stress and anxiety for rookie and veteran teachers. Many veteran teachers are comfortable with this event and simply see it as a teaching obligation that needs to be completed. It is a difficult week that might require a mental health day either before or after. It is also wise for all teachers to make sure the lesson for the following day is very easy and a student-centered learning activity. It does not require a teacher to exert extra energy and effort during a busy week.
Columbus Day is a good point to take a break, reflect on the year so far, and plan the next few weeks.
