In my years of teaching, I’ve found that the middle and end of February are the toughest times to be in the classroom. Both teachers and students feel like they’ve been in school forever, yet summer break still seems too far away to get excited about. Add in the cold weather and lack of holidays, and it’s no wonder morale takes a dip.
So, what can you do about it?
Here are some strategies I’ve used to make February and March more engaging for students:
For the Classroom
1. Guest Speakers – Invite a local scientist to speak to your class! I’ve also asked students with older siblings in science-related fields to come in and share their experiences with college and career paths.
2. BAD PHYSICS – Shake things up with a fun physics activity just for the sake of it! I run a lesson called Bad Physics, where I show clips from Hollywood movies, and we analyze why the scenes are physically impossible. It’s always a hit! If you are interested today only this product will be 20% off.
3. Student-Designed Lessons – Give each lab group a topic to master. They get one lab period to prepare a 20-minute lesson, which they then present to the class. This keeps them engaged and gets them thinking like teachers!
4. Teacher Collaboration – Plan a fun, low-stakes project with another teacher. Try a Physics vs. Chemistry debate or an interdisciplinary challenge. I’ve even collaborated with the evil English department before—don’t worry, we survived! 😆
For Yourself
1. Mid-Year Reset – Take a moment to reflect on how far you and your students have come. It’s easy to focus on what’s left to cover, but you’ve already accomplished so much!
2. New Classroom Setup – Rearranging desks, adding new decorations, or putting up some fun science memes can give the room a fresh energy.
3. Personal Incentives – Treat yourself! Plan a fun outing, enjoy a great meal, or reward yourself at the end of each week—you’ve earned it.
These small changes won’t make February disappear overnight, but they can break up the routine and make the month feel a little more fun.
Hang in there—you got this!
Ray (Physics Burns)
