Now that spring break has come and gone and you are feeling refreshed, it’s time to get through the final weeks of school. But how? The kids are going wild with spring fever acting like it is summer break already and you still have to teach. Three words my teacher friends…you got this! But it’s not going to be easy! Here’s what you are going to do to survive the final weeks of school without going crazy and keeping your job.

Do Not Stray From Routine

There are signs of spring everywhere, the birds chirping, longer sunlit days, and beautiful flowers are in bloom. Forget about spring fever, it’s more like summer fever. Unfortunately, school is not out yet and the number one thing to keep you sane is to not stray from routine. Continue doing your normal routine every day because once you slip, they know that it’s over and it’s not over until the last student is dismissed and the last bus pulls away. Teach the way you normally would, have high expectations, and reinforce the rules to keep everyone in a safe learning environment.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. What to do? Change it up. Take your students outdoors to learn. Do an outdoor stem activity, read a class fave aloud under a tree in full bloom, or my personal favorite, have students do a partner walk and talk about a big idea or concept they are learning about. Bring out the sidewalk chalk and have the kids hopscotch their way through their multiplication facts or draw a visual about a learned concept. Whatever suits the grade you teach, take the learning outside and have some fun in the sun either digging a bit deeper into learning or reviewing concepts or skills. Both you and your students will be happy that you did.

Get Organized

Start preparing now. Think about what needs to be done as far as packing personal belongings, classroom materials, and supplies. What needs to be done on the administrative side, like final assessments, grades and report cards, and cumulative folders? What needs to be done about student’s materials, supplies, portfolios, and projects? How about the physical space? Does anything need to be moved, removed, or repaired?

Don’t do this alone. Utilize your students well. What could they do to help you reorganize, pack up, file, sort, label, rubber band? Make piles to keep, trash, and donate, too. Assign students to help with these responsibilities. They love this stuff!

As crazy as this may sound, start preparing for next year. My best well-kept secret is how I leave for summer each year with all of my copies, lamination, resources, and materials ready for the following September. How you ask? The organized teacher inside me keeps a top-secret folder with everything I need for the first 6 weeks of school. With some small revisions, I’m ready to get many of the things I need to be done for September now. I put this with all of my favorite back-to-school resources and materials in a safe location so I could retrieve it with ease when I returned. Smart, huh?!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On

The end of the year is the best time to plan some really fun events and just have fun with your students.

Field Day – I love a good field day with my students as I watch and join them in outdoor activities, continually building relationships and classroom community. Your school doesn’t have a field day? Well then plan one of your own with your students or with other teachers on your grade.

Project Display – Have your students worked on a special project or writing piece? Well now is the time to show it off and display it. Invite other classes, students and/or parents for a museum walk to ask questions about their work. Show it off, brag about it, teach other students. Encourage students to have fun with the work they produce and to be proud of it.

End of Year Trip – Planning a day out, even to a park to have a picnic lunch, is a great way to celebrate friendship and classroom community. Choose a location where your students will enjoy spending some quality time together. Have a backup if it rains or you will have some disappointed kiddos!

Farewell Breakfast – Feed them and they will come! I plan breakfasts throughout the year on special occasions and we get a nice turnout. For this one parents and students join together one last time to say their goodbyes.  And we didn’t just have coffee and donuts. I’ve had some amazing parents go all out bringing in pancakes, homemade egg bakes, banana bread, pies…you name it, we’ve had it. It definitely beats having a class party with chips and cupcakes. Families join together for one last time and exchange their goodbyes.

Stay Positive

Encourage students to persevere through the final weeks of school with positive words and affirmations. Teach, learn, smile, and repeat. If your students see you setting positive behavior, they will follow in your example. It will be easier for everyone if everyone chugs along on the positive train until school is out. And it won’t be long. Each and every school year does come to an end. Remember you got this!

What are some things you do to survive the final weeks of school? Share in the comments below.

If you like this post, you might like 5 Must Do End of the Year Activities.

Follow me to be notified when new resources are uploaded to the Shop and join the email list to receive the latest posts and some freebies!!

Related Posts:

5 Meaningful Ways to Engage Students at the End of the Year

Tips for Getting Organized Before School Is Out

Thanks for reading!

If you like it, then pin it!