An Advent calendar for teachers 24 little doors to breathe
A little German tradition, shared with you
In Germany, where I live, the weeks before Christmas come with an Advent calendar: 24 little doors, and every morning from December 1 to Christmas Eve you open one. Children grow up with it, and many grown-ups quietly keep one too. I wanted to share that small joy with teachers everywhere. Christmas is not everyone's holiday, and that's completely fine, so think of this calendar simply as a gentle December countdown with something kind waiting for you each day.
What's waiting behind the doors
The Advent calendar for teachers from The Neurodivergent Classroom opens one door every morning from December 1 to 24. A new door opens at midnight Central European Time, so depending on where you live it is ready in the early morning or the evening before. Behind each door you'll find a short moment to breathe for you and a calm, low-sensory idea for your class, for elementary school and for middle and high school, with printables in US Letter and A4. The ideas are meant to be good for all students, and especially for neurodivergent students, for example with ADHD or autism.
For you
A poem, a breathing exercise, a thought or a small ritual. Two to five minutes just for you, right in the middle of a busy December.
For your class
A calm idea that works without much preparation. With one version for elementary school and one for middle and high school.
Ready to print
Every door comes as a PDF in US Letter and A4, once colorful with watercolors and once simple, with cards or sheets for your class.
What the printables look like
Not everyone loves it as colorful as I do, with one more sticker and then another. Some people prefer it calm. That's why every door comes as two PDFs: one colorful and one simple. You pick whatever feels right for you.
How to get your calendar
- Sign up for the newsletter above with your email address.
- Confirm the email in your inbox.
- Your personal code arrives right away.
- From December 1, you open one door every morning.
What is an Advent calendar?
It's a German tradition: a calendar with 24 little doors, one for each day from December 1 to December 24, Christmas Eve. Every morning you open one door and find a small surprise. Mine has no chocolate, but a calm moment for you and an idea for your class. You don't need to celebrate Christmas to enjoy it.
When does each door open?
Every door opens at midnight Central European Time (Berlin), on its own day in December. In the Americas that is the evening before, in Asia and Australia sometime during the morning. The calendar shows you which doors are already open.
How do I get the Advent calendar?
The Advent calendar is a gift for everyone who reads my newsletter. You sign up for the newsletter and then get your personal code. The newsletter comes every two weeks, with a topic from the classroom, an idea to try and something to print.
What happens if I unsubscribe from the newsletter?
You can unsubscribe at any time with one click at the end of every email. I won't take your code away because of that.
Can I catch up on a door I missed?
Yes. Every door stays open once its day has come. You can look at everything again and download it until the end of January.
I already read the newsletter. Do I need to sign up again?
Yes, please, so that you get your code. Just enter your address. Because you're already subscribed, your code arrives by email right away, without a second confirmation, and you won't get the newsletter twice.
May I share the calendar with my colleagues?
I'd love that. The email with your code includes a link you can forward, so your colleagues can enjoy it too. Everyone signs up for themselves and gets their own code. You're welcome to copy the printables for your class and your colleagues.
