Ending the Year on a High Note

Have Fun, Organize, and Prepare

As the school year winds down, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done. But with a little planning, you can end the year on a high note, making it fun for your students, efficiently packing up your classroom, and getting a head start on next year. Here’s how to make the most of these last few days:

Have Fun with Your Students

The final days of school are the perfect opportunity to create lasting memories with your students. Here are some ideas to keep the fun going:

  • Classroom Games: Organize a game day with educational and fun activities. Games like “Pictionary,” or a classroom scavenger hunt can be both enjoyable and a good practice of social skills. If you are looking for board games, check out my favorites here.
  • Creative Projects: Let students express themselves with art or writing projects. My of my students are working towards writing, so we create with art. One of our favorite projects is to decorate and create a memory where we can document their favorite moments from the school year. If you use a tool like SeeSaw in your classroom, print off the journals and you have an instant memory book of the year, complete with photos. Parents love this, too!
  • Outdoor Activities: If the weather permits, take your class outside for a picnic or some physical activities. Playing with sidewalk chalk, a nature walk, or a simple game of tag can be a great way to get those end of year wiggles out.
  • Movie Day: Choose a movie and have a relaxed movie day with popcorn (this gives you time to pack up and finish end of year tasks, too!)

 

Pack Up Your Room

I’ll never understand why teachers have to pack up their classrooms in May just to unpack again in the same space come August. Unfortunatly for many teachers this is part of the job. But, packing up your classroom doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By being organized and strategic, you can make the process much smoother. After 20 years of packing up each May, here are my tips:

  • Declutter First: Before packing, take some time to declutter. Throw away or donate items you no longer need. This will make packing and unpacking much easier. Our classrooms make it easy to hang on to items that worked for a specific student. If you find yourself with a bunch of things specific to a student or their needs, pass it along to the next teacher if you can.
  • Label Everything: Clearly label all your boxes with what’s inside and where it goes in your classroom. This will save you a lot of time when setting up next year. Try to place boxes where they go, too (for example, I keep my book boxes on my bookshelves).
  • Move Furnature Now: One year I moved classrooms and everything ended up in the middle of the room (see photo). It was a beast to move the furnature around because of all of the boxes. I ended up moving everything out of the classroom just to move it back in. Be strategic and move things around now, then pack while everything is in place.
  • Open First Box: Pack a special box labeled “Open First.” This should contain all the essentials you’ll need immediately for classroom setup, such as:
    • Basic supplies (pens, markers, scissors)
    • Important paperwork and class lists
    • Decorations and bulletin board materials (pro tip – do these in May, then cover them with a plastic tablecloth so they are ready to go in August!)
    • Any technology or cords you’ll need to get started
    • Lesson plans for the first few days

Get a Head-Start on Next Year

Once report cards and progress reports are finished, use the last few days of school to prepare for the upcoming year. This will help you start the new school year with confidence and reduce the stress of those first hectic weeks.

  • Print and Laminate: Get all your visuals, posters, and classroom decorations printed and laminated. This will save you time during the busy back-to-school season.
  • Cut and Velcro: If you use visual aids or interactive boards, cut out and prepare all the pieces now. Attach Velcro to items that will be used frequently so they’re ready to go.
  • Make Copies: Prepare and copy materials for the first two weeks of school. This includes worksheets, parent letters, and any other handouts you’ll need. One thing I’m always copying ahead is Leveled Daily Homework. This makes homework a no-brainer and easy to implement. I just print once for the year and I’m done. 
  • Plan Ahead: Sketch out your lesson plans for the first week or two. Having a solid plan in place will allow you to focus more on building relationships with your new students and less on scrambling for activities.

 

Ending the school year doesn’t have to be stressful. By incorporating fun activities, packing smartly, and prepping for the next year, you can ensure a smooth transition from one school year to the next. Enjoy these last days with your students, reflect on the year’s accomplishments, and take pride in knowing you’re setting yourself (and your new students!) up for success in the year ahead. Here’s to a fantastic finish and a fresh start!

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