As the school year winds down, the last few weeks can be a total whirlwind – from wrapping up content and grading to the flurry of end-of-the-year activities that disrupt classroom time and whip students into a frenzy of uncontrolled (my worst nightmare) excitement. It’s hard enough to navigate this period in time, and for some, it’s hard to even imagine thinking about NEXT year when you are still struggling to grapple with ending the current one.
Enter today’s blog post. I’ve been teaching for almost 20 years now, and I’ve learned a few things that work for me that just might work for you too! Here are my top tips to wrap up this year and prep for next year at the same time!
1. Take some time for Reflection
Take a “big picture” look at the last year. What lessons worked well? Which ones fell short? What units or lessons might need tweaking? Which ones might need pitching? Look back over any notes you made on lessons, activities or tests? What? You didn’t take notes? If not, make it a priority to start next year because, for me, this is one of the most valuable insights that helps me refine my teaching strategies and informs my future curriculum. Want more details about my note-taking strategies? I’ll be sharing more about the types of notes I take and how they inform my teaching in an upcoming blog. Stay tuned!
2. Conduct Student Exit Surveys
In line with #1, one of the best ways to figure out what worked (and what didn’t!) is to gather feedback from your students. This can provide valuable insights into what worked well and what could be improved. I have a free and totally editable form in my store that you can adapt to your need for this survey. This feedback can be incredibly useful for your future planning.
3. Organize, Declutter & Get a Head Start for Next Year!
It’s so important to spend some time organizing materials, cleaning out old supplies, and getting rid of items that are no longer needed. A clutter-free classroom is a productive classroom! Your August self will definitely thank you for doing this now! Still have students? Get them involved in this process as much as possible.
Tasks students can help with:
-cleaning: wiping down desks, bookshelves, window sills, etc.
-taking down & organizing bulletin boards & other classroom decor
-sort supplies like pencils, markers, and crayons
-organize books in your classroom library
*An extra tip – if you can cover bulletin boards and leave them in place, that is an extra big help when you are setting up for the next school year. Even if you only leave up the paper and border!
4. Create a Planning Calendar for Next Year
I begin by looking at the big picture by laying out what might be covered each quarter. At this point, this can be a rough outline. Then, I love using what I call a weekly overview pacing calendar. It includes a glance at what’s happening each week and then zooming in to the activities we are doing each day. Take a look at what I use in my classroom right here. I love doing this digitally so that I can easily edit as I go, but you can also print it if it’s your preference to have a hard copy.
*Bonus tip: Don’t forget to leave some “Floating Days” (at least 2 per month) for activities that run longer than expected or when the unexpected assembly or weather day disrupts your plans.
5. Plan Your First
Week
One of the best ways I ensure I can truly relax at the
beginning of summer is by taking time at the end of the school year, or during
the first few days of summer, to make a rough plan of my first unit and a firm
plan for the first week back to school. I find that I can't fully unwind until
I have this in place—otherwise, the thought that I will NEED to prepare hangs
over my head and makes it difficult for me to fully embrace summer. So, in this last week of school, I have a
pretty good plan for my first unit and a solid plan for that first week – I’ve
even made my copies for those first week lessons! I do have a little confession
to make – I love creating new content and curriculum, so I will do some things
over the summer when there isn’t the pressure of “all of the other things,” BUT
the key is I know that I can do it at my leisure.
Balancing the end-of-year tasks while preparing for the next
school year can be challenging, but to me, it’s worth it! Here's to a strong finish and an even
stronger start!
**If you are interested in more ideas like these, be sure to follow my blog and join my email list to be notified when new blog posts are released. Joining my list will also give you access to exclusive tips, discounted (and free) resources plus special giveaways that are shared only with my email subscribers. Let's continue this conversation and build a community that thrives on mindful teaching and lasting inspiration.
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