No Christmas.

There are always some 6th graders who don't believe in Santa.

This year I have some who REALLY don't believe in Santa. As in, they can't. As in, their religion forbids it.

I don't know a lot about the Jehovah's Witness religion; all I know is that 2 kids in my class who are Jehovahs Witness don't celebrate any holidays. No birthdays, no Halloween, no Thanksgiving, no Valentines Day, no patriotic ceremonies...

...and sadly, no Christmas.

Which, as a teacher, really puts me in a bind.

I have THE ABSOLUTE CUTEST, COOLEST, BEST Christmas activities for math, reading, writing, etc. But I feel like I can't really do them because of those 2 kids.

Other teachers have told me to do what I want to do and just give those 2 kids an alternate assignment. But that sucks because there's SO MUCH I wanna do! They'd be doing a million "alternate assignments" for the next week and a half!

I've been holding off on all my fun holiday stuff because I'm struggling with the decision. It makes me super depressed to stare at my pile of Santa Persuasive Letters, Christmas Tree Factors & Multiples, "Green Tree Green Tree" books, daily Christmas journal entries, and all my other awesome activities. Normally I would have started these already, but I keep trying to hold off and it just makes me sad.

I am trying to be religiously-tolerant, but honestly, it KILLS ME that these kids don't celebrate ANYTHING!!! That must be so hard for a 12 year old to miss out on so much. And selfishly, it makes it hard for their teacher, too!

ARGH. Merry freaking Christmas.