The Final Bell: Ending the School Year on 5 Positive Notes!
Written by: Abigail Carter
As the school year comes to a close, it’s essential to reflect on the journey and ensure a positive ending for both students and educators. Here are five tips to help you wrap up the year on a high note:
1. Celebrate Achievements
Take time to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of your students throughout the year. Organize a small celebration or an awards ceremony to highlight individual and class achievements. This recognition boosts morale and encourages students to feel proud of their efforts.
A few of my favorite activities include hosting a parent Open House titled: “Author’s Showcase.” Throughout the year, I save writing from each of my students. I have the writing pieces in a portfolio and these are things that parents have not seen all year. It is so fun to see their progress from Fall writing to Spring! I also invite our older classes to come down and enjoy the writings as well. This helps for students who might not have parents to attend with them.
2. Encourage Reflection
Create opportunities for students to reflect on their learning experiences. This can involve journaling, group discussions, or art projects. Ask questions like, “What was your favorite project this year?” or “What did you learn that surprised you?” Reflection helps students consolidate their learning and appreciate their growth. For my parents, I send out a classroom survey at the end of the year. I value parent feedback, and every year I receive a big response with positive encouragement regarding things they liked during the year, as well as feedback on what I could tweak or change the following year. Below is the link to my survey that you could copy and change to reflect your classroom.
3. Foster a Sense of Closure
As the year ends, it’s important to provide a sense of closure. Engage students in activities that symbolize the end of the year, such as writing goodbye letters or creating a class memory book. These activities help students process their experiences and make lasting memories. Children can often be sad at the end of the school year, so I love to do fun activities that make them excited for what is to come! I currently teach 1st grade, and in May I create “2nd Grader In Training” lanyards that my students wear each day and keep at school. They can earn stickers on their tag for showing ways they are ready to go on to 2nd grade (good classroom behavior, responsibility, etc). When they fill up their tag, they receive a prize!
4. Plan for the Future and HAVE FUN!
Encourage students to set goals for the next school year. This can be done through discussions or activities that focus on what they hope to achieve in the upcoming year. Setting goals fosters a growth mindset and prepares them for the challenges ahead. My grade level also hosts a “Step Up Day” for our kindergarten students and we work with our Kindergarten team to plan this. We set up several quick and fun class rotations (7-10 minutes each, low prep), and the kindergarten children come and see what it is like in 1st grade. Our students help out, and they think it is the neatest! It helps alleviate the nerves of the incoming students as well!
Another fun activity my grade level does is a “YES Day,” and it is one of our students’ favorite days! We plan activities that the children have asked for all year (have ice cream in the morning, extra recess, a computer game, etc) and then set them up via a presentation that runs throughout the day. We say YES to things they have wanted to do!
“The end of the school year is not just a conclusion but a stepping stone toward future possibilities!”
5. Maintain Communication
Keep the lines of communication open with your students and their families. Send out newsletters or emails reflecting on the school year and sharing resources for summer learning. This connection reinforces relationships and shows that you care about their continued success.
By implementing these tips, teachers can create a memorable and positive ending to the school year, leaving students feeling accomplished and excited for what lies ahead. Remember, the end of the school year is not just a conclusion but a stepping stone toward future possibilities!
Resources
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