5 Tips for Teachers to Finish the School Year Strong

5 Tips for Teachers to Finish the School Year Strong

These last couple of months of school can often be the most trying on teachers! Students are starting to see the prize at the end of the year that is summer vacation, and as the days move forward it can often be harder and harder to keep everyone focused on the present. Here are some quick tips.

1. Set your priorities.

The end of the school year can be a bit overwhelming. Make a list (or many lists) to keep your priorities straight. Focus on doing what really matters first and the rest will fall into place.

2. Focus on what really matters.

Are you looking at your curriculum that’s left for the remainder of the year and feeling overwhelmed? If you’re left with too much material and not enough time, be strategic with what you choose to include in your lesson plans. It may be best to take the time to go over everything that is left and prioritize what is most important to cover. Focus on those items to start.

3. Be intentional in everything you do.

Sometimes when you see the light at the end of the tunnel and get excited about the anticipation of summer, it’s easy to coast through the end of the school year. Instead of hitting the autopilot button, make the last weeks, days, hours and minutes count. Setting goals is a great way to stay on track and stay motivated. Work with your teaching team or even your students to set goals to hit by the end of the year and work towards them together!

4. Take some time to get organized.

As you near the end of the school year, you may be looking around your well lived-in room and feel overwhelmed. That feeling will only be amplified if it’s left like that! Make games out of organizing with your students and tackle one small project every day. You’ll have plenty to do this summer without worrying about reorganizing everything first.

5. Have fun and embrace it.

The end of the year can be crazy when the kids are getting antsy for summer vacation. It’s more fun to embrace it than fight it! Ask yourself how you can create lessons with games and movement to burn off some of that energy. Make a conscious decision to enjoy these last days with your students. Summer will arrive before you know it, but you can’t get this time back with this unique group of students. If you’re making the decision to be positive and enjoy your time left in the classroom, chances are your students will too!