Welcome Back!

It’s that time of year again . . .

Time to:

turn your computer back on
look over the schedule
get a glimpse at this year’s roster
meet a new crop of teachers
listen to new guidelines, themes, rules, etc.
rehash familiar guidelines, themes, rules, etc.
open new boxes
open old boxes
create bulletin boards
laminate
fill out beginning of the year forms
create student folders
rev up that copy machine
agree to every technology update
attend trainings
watch training videos

. . . it’s time to get ready for a new school year.

Take it day by day. Take it item by item. We will all, slowly, frantically, maybe a little enthusiastically, or little hesitantly, be ready soon enough.

End of the Year Checklist

Unless you’re a teacher, you have no idea what the end of the year truly involves.

Here is just a small sample of things that must be done in the final weeks (think 3 or less) on top of teaching:

input final grades
write report card comments
turn in report cards, adjust according to feedback
file report cards, IEPs, attendance, end of the year checklist, final exams, grade promotion, and any other important paperwork–and yes, file by hand
end of the year awards: decide, make, send out letters, attend
end of the year celebrations: promotions, festivities, graduations all require planning & clean-up
take down classroom (days’ worth of time)
clean entire classroom (scrub desks, wipe down boards and shelves, empty out drawers, remove all food from every corner of the room)
take home any personal items (the extra pair of shoes, your water bottle, the candy drawer–all that cannot stay over the summer)
return school property: books, curriculum, posters, manuals
return emergency items: first aid kits, emergency plans, emergency signs, etc.
end of the year trainings (WHY?!)
meetings and trainings for the next school year (Why? I’m not going to remember in 8 weeks what was discussed, or who I met!)

Optional, though often obligatory, or added joyful obligations:

signing everyone’s yearbook
creating an end of the year gift for students and families
attending added events–the ones not affiliated with your current assignment, classroom, or school (ex. former students’ graduations and promotion ceremonies)
end of the year celebrations with co-workers/other teachers

The end of the year is filled with a number of added layers of responsibility. It’s stressful, but on that last day . . . bliss.

Things I never knew . . .

Installment #9:

Five things I never knew . . . until I became a teacher:

teachers are more excited for the end of the year than you can ever imagine
schools have a lot of trash, between cabinets, classrooms, desks, and lockers the amount of trash is startling
the end of the year is crazier than the beginning of the year
schools have an obscene amount of paperwork
schools have a ton of parties and celebrations–in and out of the classroom

Monthly Advice–May 1

I know it’s the first week of May, but I need everyone to start planning for summer now.

Write a list of things for families to do over the summer, local and easy recommendations, to inspire and ignite creativity and learning over the summer.

Recommend free options as much as possible so that all students can participate and see themselves as active participants in their own learning. Start now, ask around for more ideas, build a nice long list.

Need inspiration? Here are some ideas:

Go on a walk every day, talk the entire time (talking is learning, talk about anything your child desires)
Bake/cook with your child–conversations around food are filled with vocabulary, reasoning, and mathematical computation
Visit the zoo
Help around the house–sorting clothing, setting the table, sweeping, etc. help children learn responsibility, practice academic learning, and acquire life skills
Take kids to the grocery store–have your child find ingredients, discuss possible recipes, weigh food, etc.
Visit a museum, visit many museums
Sign-up for a summer reading challenge at the local library
Get some art & craft materials from the Dollar store and make something beautiful
Learn a new skill: embroidery, sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc. (find a YouTube video and go for it!)
Watch TedTalks, documentaries, and other programs that are age-appropriate and educational/spark discussion
Do something athletic: basketball, running, walking, skateboarding, baseball, etc.
- Gross motor skills, fine motor skills, interpersonal & intrapersonal abilities are developed during these experiences
Join a summer program–swim class, recreation class, summer camp, etc.

This list is not complete. It includes items that span the K-12 spectrum. Some ideas require parental approval, supervision, and added effort. Some ideas are easily left to the child. This list is meant to be a springboard for a personalized list for your students as they embark on their summer journey–remember even though classroom learning has ended, their life is filled with learning opportunities and they should seize each moment to grow and learn.

Things I never knew . . .

Installment #8:

Five things I never knew . . . until I became a teacher:

spring makes the end of recess hard, really hard
spring fever is real
spring cleaning is necessary
spring break cannot come soon enough
spring break is very late in the year . . . whenever it is–it’s late in the year, trust me