5 Things You Should do at the End of the School Year
The end of the school year is an exciting time — and not just for the students. As a teacher, you’re looking forward to three months away from the classroom, where you can focus on the year ahead and hone the new ideas that you have. In fact, you might even have a little bit of fun during your time away! But first, you need to finish what you started, and that’s why it’s important to make an extra effort during the last few weeks of the school year. Here’s five things you can do to end the year on a positive note and feel better prepared for the year to come.
- Try out the new tools, ideas and resources that you are considering for the next school year.
Perhaps there’s a new resource that you’ve been looking at for your classroom, and you want to use it next year with your students. Test it out now, since there is not as much pressure to cram in as much learning as possible during the final weeks of the school year. You can even get your students involved by asking what they think of the new piece of technology or the app that you are using and gauge whether it will be worthwhile to use in the classroom the following year. Whether you want to incorporate a new book into your lesson plan, supplement learning with a new app or try out Planbook Plus, this is the best time to test the waters and see what works best for you.
- Encourage your students to write a letter to the incoming students. You could also write a note to their next teachers!
Your students will feel honored to be the experienced kids who are moving onto the next grade level, and this activity gives them an opportunity to pass on their wisdom to your next group of students. Ask them to write a letter explaining what they need to know about surviving a year in your grade level and tell them to include positive notes to encourage the students. You can take part in the fun as well by writing a letter to the teachers who will have your current students next year. Boast about how they have changed and grown and discuss what an asset they will be to the classroom in the next grade level.
- Write thank you notes to your students and their parents.
A thank you note seems simple, but it’s incredibly effective. Send home notes to your students and their parents, thanking them for their commitment and involvement throughout the year. This is a wonderful way to build long-lasting relationships with your students and their families.
- Outline mistakes that you have made in the past year and goals that you have for the next one.
Whether you are completing your first year of teaching or you are a veteran with more than 15 years in the classroom, you know that there’s always ways you can improve as an educator. At the end of the year, evaluate what worked in your classroom and how you can improve in the next year. Establish goals that allow you to keep growing and learning as a teacher, ultimately improving the experiences that your students have while they are in your care.
- Make a summer reading list — for your students and for yourself!
Promote summer reading by making it fun and exciting. Create a challenge for your students to read a certain number of books by the end of the summer and tell them to come back, say hello and claim their reward in the fall. Get personal by providing individual recommendations to your students based on their interests. And don’t forget that summer reading is important for you too. Make a list of books that you want to read for pleasure and books that you need to read in order to improve your classroom in the next year.
Ending the school year with an understanding of where you can improve and what needs to be done in the next year will give you the peace of mind that you need to relax and recuperate throughout the summer months. You’ll be organized and confident about the year ahead and you will be thrilled that your students had such a successful year in the classroom. If you aren’t using it already, consider investing in Planbook Plus for the coming school year. This online lesson planning tool is the one system that understands what teachers need out of their lesson planning software. With options for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly views, you’ll always know exactly what the plan is for your entire school year. This is an excellent time of year to try out something new and see if it works for you and your classroom. Next year, when the first bell rings and the students arrive again, you’ll be a pro when it comes to using Planbook Plus. Your classroom will function better than ever and you’ll feel empowered, motivated and excited. For more information, try out Planbook Plus today.
