Is school out for summer yet?

How many days until summer vacation? I would be willing to bet that you have a pretty good idea. My students asked for a running count down. So, how do we cope with x number of days left of school when our students (and let’s be honest, not just our students) have decided they are ready to check out for the rest of the year? Can we make these last few days/weeks amazing? I believe the end of the school year is a chance to leave a lasting impression on your students. This opportunity is so important, and I hope I can help you navigate through it.

First, try something new. This breaks up monotony and gives a new sense of excitement. Trying something new is helpful to you and to your students. This year, I decided to try literature circles with my students. This is something that they had never seen before, and it really did seem to give them new energy in Reading. I am not saying totally reinvent the wheel, though you can if you have the gumption to. Just pick something that you haven’t tried before and give it a go.

Second, listen more. I know that it feels like all you do is listen to them talk, and they never want to listen to you. Am I right? It’s not that I want you to stop teaching, but I do want you to listen to what your students are telling you. Some may be acting out, and they are trying to tell you that they are scared of what summer will be like at home. For some of our students, summer vacation is not all fun and games; it is actually a scary and dangerous time. Some may be talking your ear off because they are sad that your time together is ending and have already begun to grieve the parting. You may have students who are excited about what the future holds and just want you to be excited with them. Listen to what they say and what they don’t say. Many problems can be helped by just listening.

Third, ask the students ways that can help make the end of the school year more palatable for them. I just asked my students yesterday to give me 3 ways that will help them through the last month of school. The overwhelming majority wanted more time outside. Not for recess, although a few would like an extra recess or two, but doing our lessons outside. They would like to have independent reading outside in the grass. They want to eat snacks outside sometimes. The next highest one was more “Would You Rather” times. This is something I do with them and it helps me get to know them better. We just take 5 minutes and I ask random would you rather questions. They feel as if they are getting a special treat every time we do.

Each year and each class will be different. They will each need you to help them through the last month of school blues differently. If you do your best to know your students, and take the time to really understand what they need it will help. I am not saying that the end of the school year will be easy, it usually isn’t. I am saying that you can get through it with your sanity intact. Here’s to the end of the year, and the start of summer break.