Tips for a Fun and Stress-Free End of the School Year
As the school year winds down, things can become a little stressful. Students start to get antsy with the anticipation of summer break. It is important to have a plan in place and activities to engage students and keep them focused throughout the end of the year. More importantly, it is a time to have fun and celebrate a year of learning and achievements! Here are some tips for a fun and stress-free end of the school year that you and your students will love!
1. Keep A Routine
Keeping a routine in the classroom is always important, but even more so at the end of the year. Students start to get anxious for the upcoming break (don’t we all!) and tire out from a full year of learning. Stick with the same routine you’ve had all year. Giving students consistency at the end of the school year helps them to stay focused and finish out the year with a bang!
It’s easy to want to pack your entire day with fun activities you wouldn’t normally do, but even structuring your day by teaching the same subjects at the same time of day can be really helpful in keeping your students focused! To ensure students don’t begin to “check out” at the end of the year, keep your routine running smoothly in the classroom to keep everyone engaged.
2. Create A Countdown
Everyone loves a good countdown. Creating a countdown to an exciting event like the last day of school is fun for students and gives them something to look forward to. This ABC countdown to summer calendar is the perfect way to keep students engaged and excited for the closing of the school year.
Not sure what an ABC Countdown is? It’s easy! Every day for the last 26 days of the school year, you will add in one special activity for a letter of the alphabet! For example, on A-Day, you might do a fun art project that ties in with your social studies curriculum. On B-Day you might go outside and look for butterflies. Each activity can be simple, but a great way to make memories with your kids those last couple weeks! The calendar I always used is editable so you can add your own ABC countdown activities or keep the ones I have selected. It is simple and easy to use, just print and send it home with students!
3. Provide Fun, Independent Activities
Another fantastic way to keep students engaged those last few weeks of school is by providing fun, independent activities for them to work on throughout the day. It can seem like the days drag on forever during the last month of school, so keeping students engaged and focused is key!
Provide them with activities they can work on at centers that are both fun and interactive. This Research Project template is a great start! Prep is super simple, just print and go and it gives students the opportunity to cut, color, and write their research on any topic you choose. This is a great project for the end of the year and can be used for any subject you choose! Using these independent activities give students time to unwind and learn while giving you time to get ahead of end-of-the-year tasks you have as well!
Fun and Stress-Free End of the Year
As the end of the school year approaches, it is time to plan a way for kids to have fun, stay focused, and create a stress-free close to a great year. Help students enjoy their last few weeks of the year by creating memories and engaging them with fun activities. I hope you find these tips helpful as you celebrate the end of a fantastic year with your students!