Welcome to our yearlong series on Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers. Each week we will give you a new piece to the classroom management puzzle to have in place when you need it this school year. Think of it as a Lego kit just waiting to be built.

Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers: Quick, Cozy Christmas Break Dinners Every Exhausted Teacher Will Love

🌟 You Finally Have Time to Breathe

From December concerts to glitter craft explosions to wrapping up assessments, the last month of school feels like a marathon inside a snow globe.
This week? It’s yours.

Christmas vacation should offer:

• warmth

• silence

• soft evenings

• no-pressure meal planning

• easy Christmas break dinners that don’t take brainpower

These dinner ideas are zero effort + full comfort, because your nervous system needs actual rest, not a 10-step recipe with garnish expectations.

🍝 Dinner #1: One-Pot Creamy Winter Pasta

Top winter break dinner pick for teachers who need maximum comfort.

Ingredients

• Penne or bow-tie pasta

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 tsp jarred garlic

• Frozen peas

• Parmesan

• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Cook pasta to al dente.

2. Drain most water, leave ¼ cup.

3. Add butter, cream, garlic, salt, pepper.

4. Toss in peas.

5. Add parmesan until your soul feels lighter.

   

   🥣 Dinner #2: Slow Cooker Snow Day Soup

The ultimate low-effort winter break dinner idea.

Ingredients

• Chicken broth

• Cream of chicken

• Rotisserie chicken

• Celery + carrots

• Egg noodles

• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Dump everything except noodles into slow cooker.

2. Stir once.

3. Low 5–6 hours.

4. Add noodles last 20 minutes.

Serve with fuzzy socks and twinkle lights.

🌮 Dinner #3: Sheet Pan Taco Night

A teacher-approved no-prep holiday dinner.

Ingredients

• Taco shells

• Ground beef/turkey

• Taco seasoning

• Cheese

• Salsa + sour cream

Directions

1. Cook meat with seasoning.

2. Line shells on sheet pan.

3. Fill + cheese.

4. Broil 2–3 mins.

5. Add toppings… or don’t.

Paper plates highly encouraged.

🍕 Dinner #4: Flatbread Holiday Pizza

Easy holiday recipe for teachers who want fun without fuss.

Ingredients

• Naan

• Pesto or Pizza Sauce

• Mozzarella

• Cherry tomatoes

• Basil (optional)

Directions

1. Spread pesto/pizza sauce.

2. Add cheese + tomatoes.

3. 400°F for 8–10 mins.

4. Slice + cozy movie.

   

   🍗 Dinner #5: Cranberry Chicken Skillet

A festive winter break meal with almost zero cleanup.

Ingredients

• Thin-cut chicken

• Cranberry sauce

• Honey

• Dijon

• Salt & pepper

Directions

1. Cook chicken in skillet.

2. Mix cranberry + honey + Dijon.

3. Pour over last 5 mins.

4. Serve with microwave rice — done.

   

   🛒 Screenshot-Ready Grocery List

(for easy holiday dinners without a second grocery trip)

Produce

• Celery

• Carrots

• Cherry tomatoes

• Basil (optional)

Pantry

• Pasta

• Broth

• Cream of chicken

• Taco shells

• Cranberry sauce

• Taco seasoning

• Microwave rice

Fridge

• Heavy cream

• Cheese (cheddar + mozzarella + parmesan)

• Butter

• Sour cream

Meat

• Rotisserie chicken

• Thin-cut chicken

• Ground beef/turkey

Frozen

• Peas

🕯️ Winter Break Reminder for Teachers

You spent months:

• diffusing conflict

• teaching kindness

• guiding minds

• being patient

• celebrating every small win

This break?
There’s no gold star for cooking from scratch.

Simple dinners are self-care.

Soft meals, slow evenings, and no-prep holiday dinners are what your nervous system is asking for.

If you try any of these easy Christmas break dinners,
tag or message me — I love seeing teachers rest:

📸 #LessonPlanToolboxDinnerBreak

You deserve:

• rest without guilt

• warm food without work

• winter break without burnout

  

  🌟 CTA

• Tag your dinner moment

• Share with a teacher friend who needs permission to rest

Manage Student Behavior in 5 Minutes a Day!

Do you see student behavior going through the roof right about now?

Have you tried EVERYTHING and NOTHING seems to work?

Trust me, I've been there!

This is EXACTLY why I created The Student Behavior Scenario of the Day Cards for primary teachers. You will improve student behavior AND your classroom management in just 5 minutes a day!

As teachers, we can't assume that students know how to behave or what is expected of them and so often that is where things go wrong for us. (We all know what happens when we ''assume", but yet we still do it anyway.)

These cards changed EVERYTHING for me in the primary classroom because students LOVE talking about behavior AND they want to meet your expectations.

Best of all, each card has scenario of the day, reflection questions, and possible consequences that teachers can use in each situation.

GRAB YOUR FREE SAMPLE HERE: Student Behavior Scenario of the Day Cards

DID YOU KNOW…

Did you know I organize a FREE Facebook Group for Mastering Classroom Management? We are gearing up for our school year quarter sessions, so if you’re looking for a simple way to improve your classroom management join the already 200+ teachers that have signed up: Mastering Classroom Management Facebook Group

Your ebook GIFT: Empowering Primary Teachers: Effectively Manage Disruptive and Violent Behaviors in the Classroom

FINALLY…

If you enjoyed the tips in this post, you might also enjoy this series of videos Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers:

Unlock the Key to Supporting Neurodivergent Learners - Without Overwhelm

Finished Early? Now What? 10 Brilliant Ways to Keep Students Engaged Without the Chaos

A Guide to Creating an Intrinsically Motivated Classroom

Expanding AI's Role in the Primary Classroom

Unlock the Power of AI in the Primary Classroom

Supporting a Student Being Bullied

What to do With a Bully in the Primary Classroom

Don’t forget to follow us over on Instagram!

Teach~Relax~Repeat

Lauren

Lesson Plan Toolbox, LLC