LAUGH
Ah, the end of the school year—a magical time when students are feral and teachers are holding on for dear life. Whether you’re counting down the days or trying not to scream into a stack of ungraded essays, here are 5 helpful (and realistic) tips to help you survive that final stretch.
1. Keep going with those routines.
The last week of school is NOT the time to get experimental, folks—this is survival mode. Stick to your routines like your sanity depends on it… because it absolutely does. You will 100% regret it if you let go of your routines because your kiddos will turn into mini tornadoes in sneakers without them. No routines = unfiltered, end-of-year, sugar-fueled chaos. The only thing holding the fabric of your classroom together right now is the sacred ritual of your morning routine or bell ringer exercise.
Stick to what works. This isn’t really teaching anymore. This is classroom triage.
2. Pick out an engaging project for that last week.
Let’s be honest: no one’s winning Teacher of the Year in May. Your goal now is simple—keep them alive, vaguely engaged, and mostly seated. This is the perfect time to whip out some multi-day projects that the kids will enjoy and keep them occupied as you slowly pack up your classroom for your long-awaited summer break.
Need inspiration? Search for end-of-year projects, Genius Hour ideas, or even “last week of school activities” on Pinterest, teacher blogs, or TPT. Here are two of my fav projects for that last (very long) week: let them create a survival guide for the next year’s class OR do this “Zombie Apocalypse” project I found on TPT last year (worth every penny). The kids loved this one in my middle school classroom and it helped me stay sane during the last few days of school last year!
3. Strategically pack up your room.
As tempting as it is to just trash your run-down decorations away and throw everything in boxes all at once, take your time packing up your classroom. Your August self will LOVE you for it! Want your bulletin boards gone but lack the will to lift a stapler remover? Turn it into a classroom job. No matter the age of your kiddos, there always seems to be some kids that want to help in one way or another. Give kids mini projects – organize your colored pencils by color, pull down wall decor, genre-fy your classroom library…keep those kids busy!
4. Let go of the guilt of grading.
You know that massive stack of assignments on your desk? The one judging you every time you look at it? Let it gooooo (in my best Frozen sing-song voice). Not everything needs a score, a rubric, or your tears. Give feedback in class, do peer reviews, or go full pass/fail mode. You’ve already earned your gold star. Stop acting like every worksheet needs a full dissertation critique with 3 days to go.
5. Bribe yourself daily and slap that countdown on the board.
You’ve heard of positive reinforcement for kids—now it’s your turn. Promise yourself a treat each of those last 5 days you show up. That fancy iced coffee? Earned. Gas station candy at 3 p.m.? Deserved. Friday happy hour? Practically medicinal. You are doing the impossible: holding it all together when the glue sticks are dried up, the Chromebooks are turned in for the year, and the kids have emotionally checked out.
On top of that, make it a spectacle each time you get to change the days left on your summer countdown. Get the kids excited! Let yourself be excited! This is EXCITING!
Final Thoughts
The end of the school year is like the last mile of a marathon—except you’re running it in flip-flops while dodging broken crayons and stumpy pencils. Lower the bar without losing routine. Laugh often. Hydrate AND caffeinate. And remember: you’re not alone. Summer is coming. Hang in there, teacher bestie. You’ve got this (kind of)!
