December in the classroom is… a unique experience. Educators tend to have a love/hate relationship with December; we’re all on our way out, but the kids start getting restless and unbearable!

By the time you hit the first week of the month, you can almost feel the energy shift. Students become wiggly. Hallways turn chaotic. Bells seem louder. Pep rallies appear out of nowhere. And suddenly, you’re trying to teach figurative language while your students are wearing Santa hats, sipping hot cocoa, and reminding you daily how many days remain until winter break.

If you’ve ever stood in front of your class in December and wondered,
“How am I supposed to keep them learning right now?”
You’re not alone — and today’s blog is your answer.

The solution?
A December ELA Choice Board that blends creativity, rigor, student ownership, and holiday energy.

Let’s talk about why this strategy works, how it supports REAL learning, and how you can launch a no-prep, high-engagement choice board tomorrow.

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🎄 Why December Is the Perfect Month for Choice Boards

December is wild for students AND teachers — assemblies, practice testing, half days, concerts, sports travel, interruptions, and the holiday excitement that floods every hallway.

A traditional lesson structure doesn’t always survive the chaos.

But a choice board does.

Choice boards give students:

• Ownership
• Meaningful academic tasks they can complete independently or collaboratively
• Flexibility
• Structure
• Creativity

And they give teachers:

• A break from micromanaging
• Consistent expectations
• Easy grading
• Assignments students want to complete
• A full week (or more!) of meaningful, standards-aligned work

December becomes less about “fighting the chaos” and more about harnessing it for authentic engagement.

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⭐ The Magic Behind a Choice Board: Student Ownership

Students learn better when they choose how they learn.
This isn’t fluff — it’s cognitive science.

Choice:

• Increases intrinsic motivation
• Helps students self-differentiate
• Builds executive functioning
• Encourages creativity
• Boosts productivity

And in December?
Choice is your secret weapon.
Even reluctant readers and low-leveled learners thrive when they’re given tasks they want to tackle.

With the right choice board, you can guide students toward the standards while letting them express themselves — festive style.

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🎁 What Makes a GREAT December ELA Choice Board?

A strong December board includes a balanced mix of:

1. Reading Tasks

Students apply comprehension skills using high-interest seasonal texts, short stories, songs, or poems.
Examples:

• Analyze theme in a winter-themed short story
• Compare how two songs express the idea of “giving”
• Identify symbolism in a holiday or family tradition passage

2. Writing Tasks

Students practice narrative, informative, argumentative, or creative writing — all within the holiday spirit.
Examples:

• Write a poem shaped like a present
• Compose a short story called “The Last Day Before Break”
• Craft a persuasive letter arguing for a new holiday tradition

3. Creative Tasks

These provide the “buy-in” students crave, but still reinforce standards.
Examples:

• Create a character playlist for a holiday story
• Design a book cover for a winter narrative
• Turn a scene from a text into a comic strip

4. Speaking & Listening

Great for group work, partner tasks, and discussions.
Examples:

• Hold a “Holiday Debate”: Which movie deserves the top spot?
• Record a 60-second book review with a winter twist
• Present a one-minute TED Talk about kindness

5. Reflection & SEL

December is emotional.
Give students space to process, reset, and reflect.
Examples:

• Write about the best moment of the semester
• Set two academic goals for the new year
• Complete a gratitude checklist

When your board includes all these categories, engagement skyrockets — and behavior issues drop.

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🎄 Why Teachers Need Choice Boards in December

Here’s the thing: the end of the semester is HARD.
But we sometimes forget that choice boards help us as much as they help students.

Here’s why every ELA teacher should embrace a December board:

✔ Works for ANY Schedule

Half days?
Assemblies?
Testing blocks?
No problem.

Choice boards run themselves.

✔ Supports Absent Students

If half your class is out for travel, illness, or performances, choice boards keep everyone on track.

✔ Saves Your Energy

No need to create brand-new lessons every day.
A choice board lasts a full week — sometimes more.

✔ Easy to Differentiate

Struggling students choose achievable tasks.
Advanced students choose complexity.
Nobody feels overwhelmed.

✔ Reduces Classroom Chaos

Busy hands = calmer classrooms.
Students who are actively creating, writing, analyzing, or discussing don’t have time for “December energy” distractions.

✔ Keeps Standards Front and Center

Just because it’s December doesn’t mean your academic goals disappear.
A well-designed choice board keeps reading, writing, and analysis skills sharp.

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📘 A Sample December ELA Choice Board (That Actually Works)

Here’s a quick idea of what a 9-task board might include:

READING

1. Analyze theme in a winter poem.
2. Identify symbolism in a holiday or seasonal image.
3. Compare two short holiday stories.

WRITING

4. Write a winter-themed poem.
5. Create a persuasive holiday-themed speech.
6. Write a narrative titled “The Last Day Before Break.”

CREATIVE

7. Create a character mood playlist for a story.
8. Turn a holiday-themed scene into a comic strip.
9. Design a gift-wrapped book cover for a story.

Students complete 3–4 tasks depending on class time.
You can even assign one from each row to ensure balance.

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🎁 How to Introduce a Choice Board in December (Without Confusion)

Here’s a simple rollout plan:

Day 1:

Explain the choice board + expectations.
Model how to complete one task.

Day 2–4:

Students work independently or in partners.
Teacher circulates to support readers and writers.

Day 5:

Students choose one task to share or present.
(This can be a gallery walk, pair share, or discussion.)

Optional:

Use a rubric or checklist for easy grading.

It’s smooth, structured, and sustainable.

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🎉 Final Thoughts: Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy December

Teaching in December shouldn’t feel like survival mode.
A well-designed ELA choice board lets you maintain rigor AND embrace the season’s energy.
Students feel empowered.
You feel less drained.
Learning stays meaningful — and joyful.

The December classroom doesn’t have to be chaos.
With the right tools, it can be one of the most memorable parts of the year.

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📌 Resource Spotlight

Want a NO-PREP, editable version of everything described above?

Check out:

✨ Engagement Overload: December ELA Choice Board ✨

It includes:
✔ 9 creative literacy tasks
✔ Reading, writing, and speaking options
✔ Reflection prompts
✔ Editable Google Slides + printable PDFs
✔ A festive, rigorous, student-approved structure for December

Perfect for grades 6–12.

👉 Click here for my TPT store and this dynamic resource.