How close are you to the end of the school year? Those last few weeks of the semester are unavoidably filled with projects, grading, and cleaning with some excitement mixed in there. You and your students have worked tirelessly these past nine months, and you truly deserve a celebration for all that you've accomplished. Instead of rushing to the end of the year, here are six easy ways you can celebrate the end of the school year with your students.
Though students might be extra chatty and unfocused these next few weeks due to their enthusiasm for summer, embracing the time of year can help move your students in the right direction and get them back on track. Being delighted with them might just get them on your side for the next few weeks. Continue reading for easy ways to celebrate your students.
6 Ways to Celebrate the School Year
- Incorporate a Countdown Calendar. Creating a visual or physical reminder for students gets students looking forward to summertime while allowing them to recognize it's now quiet here yet. Consider adding small gifts, puzzles, or jokes to your daily countdown!
- Plan a Walk of Fame. Nothing shows students how proud of them you are than a standing ovation. If possible, plan a walk around your classroom or your school hallways to commemorate the challenges they've overcome and projects they've finished. Fill the hallways with signs, projects, photos, and possibly some staff to help celebrate your students as they walk around the school.
- Start a Donation Drive. Pass along the excitement for summer by encouraging students to donate food, unwanted items, etc. for others in the community who may need it. Nothing brings people together like helping others.
- Bring in an Assembly Experience. Assemblies are one of the best ways to reward your students after the school year ends. They are tons of fun and are often interactive and hands-on so students get to participate in an exciting new experience. Oftentimes these assemblies can culminate the lessons learned throughout the year. Students won't stop talking about how much fun they had!
- Grab Some Treats. Whether you have a picnic, pizza, or a pinata, a small treat or meal can be seen by students as a thrilling reward. There's comradery, games, and the last memories made for the school year. Please be weary of allergies when planning celebrations with food.
- Create Summer Bucket Lists. Help students practice the skills of planning, goal-setting, and dreaming with a summer bucket list. Short or small, you never know what students will achieve over the summer with just a little dreaming! Make sure you do this activity, too!
After you're done celebrating with your students, it's time to celebrate yourself after the school year ends. Click here to read about how to prioritize rest as an educator over the summer break.
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