Oh my!—the last five minutes of the school day. I think that’s probably all I need to say. Some days, it’s smooth sailing. Other days, it feels like a perfect storm of classroom commotion. 
I’d like to tell you that end-the-day hubbub is not a concern during the final month of school, but I’d be fibbing, wouldn’t I?
So what’s your solution to end-of-the-day chaos? This is today’s million dollar question! Too bad I don’t have a million dollars! 🙂 What I do have is a prize basket that just might make you feel like a million bucks! Tell us what works for you before the end of the day on May 22 (Sunday) so your name will be entered in our drawing for a Million-Buck Basket!
Happily,
Diane
Congratulations to Cheryl. She’s the winner of the Million-Buck Basket!
First, our routine is always the same, even up to the very last day! And during the school year I give them 5 minutes to pack up, but at the end of the school year I give them 10 (but I don’t tell them that). Lastly, I try to make myself 100% available for last minute questions or help during this time.
If we all get ready early, then I read a story or we watch a movie. I tell them, if you get ready quickly, we can read a story or we can watch a movie.
Before they come to my room they have to pack and be ready to go. I work with them and they grab their things and go
While we are lining up I have my students tell the person in front of them 1 thing they learned in reading or math that day. Then they have to tell the person behind them 1 thing they learned in science or social studies that day. Before they can go home they have to tell me 1 thing they learned from a friend in front of or behind of them. It’s a fun way to review the day and it helps the students that are really shy.
I take them outside the last 15 minutes of class and the Parents have to pick them up there. The children that are left line up on the fence and we march or skip back into the school.
I try to save a silly 5 minute game for the end of the day. I’m a plan-ahead kind of person, so I have 5-10 silly, nonsense games that I keep written on large popscicle sticks in a can and I pick the quietest and quickest helper to pick one. I also have a few silly songs on hand to teach or review so that even the wildest of my bunch can get up and participate, but only if they’ve done what I’ve asked and are ready to go. I’ve found that if I want them to sit down and be still during those last few moments of class, I go home disappointed every time. But if I teach a new silly song, my class is singing it out the door. If we play a silly game, it’s usually the first thing their most excited to tell their parents about at pick up time.
We all go home with smiles!
This is in response to Sarah’s posting-What silly games? You have me very curious and sure would like to know some of them. As we gather together ont he carpet by my ‘Reading rocking chair’ I play the last 2 songs on Dr. Jean’s cd Dr Jean and Friends and/or the songs I Think You’re Wonderful and/or Four Hugs a Day song on Red Grammer’s Teaching Peace CD. Sometimes we do silly cheers too if we have had a day where “we” have been able to stay under control and “come back”(calm down) quickly.
We do the same thing everyday: pack backpacks and then sit on the floor and talk about the favorites of the day. Try to keep routine.
I usually try to read a child pick from the Media Center” book basket. We also like to play the Clapping Machine part 1&2 by Jack Hartmann. I also make sure that no matter how rough a day we have, each child gets a hug before they get on the bus.
The last five minutes of our (first grade) day is spent packing up, cleaning up, and then we come to the carpet. I ask them their favorite part of the day or I ask the 1st grade Brainquest questions for stickers if they answer correctlyy! Sometimes we even play head up 7 up to end the day on a fun note.
I try to keep to our routine as much as possible.
Of course, things are a little different we end the year with our school talent show. After we return to the room and I give the kids time to talk about the show then we follow our regular end of day routine.
We review the day and when their parent arrives they have to answer my question of the day. For example, if we were learning about vegetables they have to tell me what their favorite vegetable is. Towards the end of the year they have to spell their first name or tell me what 3 plus 2 is…things like that.
After we pack up I do a quick review of what the homework is for that night and read them a story or have a student share a story.
We stick with our routine. First, we eat snack. (I like to make sure that each of my students has had something to eat before heading home. I worry that some don’t get much to eat at home.)
Next, we change the jobs on the Helping Hands chart. Everyone learns what their job will be for the following day.
After getting our backpacks & passing out papers, we head to the cafeteria for dismissal. While waiting for students to be called, we do “how many more/less” math problems — fun transition activities. 🙂
I have the same routine every day of the school year. We always pass out folders, pack up, put up chairs, and get in line according to how we go home. I usually go through the line and show flash cards with numbers or sight words. I also spend that time talking to students about their day. I like the ideas about doing a silly song at the end of the day.
The end of the school year will be diffrent than the daily routine. I will start with a favorite song that the childen leaned and love. Its call “A Circle of Friends.” I will bring out EleFun game, and what other games and puzzles they want to play with. Remembering that it is their last day of school and they deserve to have FUN!
After lunch and nap. The will finish the sentence:
What I liked the most about Mrs. Elizabeth’s Class…
My gift to them is a booklet I made for them on things that learned, painted, and things to remember.
Most of my children will be moving up. This new school year I will be getting about 4 new students.
I am so happy to see this strand on your blog. I left a comment a week or so ago about the problems I encounter at the end of each day and how it’s even more of a challenge at the end of the year. I like the idea of using flash cards once they’re lined up but I still need ideas for the chair stacking, paper gathering, and packing up portion of time. There seems to be chaos no matter what I’ve tried. I would LOVE to find a song for 2nd graders.
Thanks for the posts.
I have found that keeping my 2nd grade students busy and engaged is key. Near the end of the school year, we pack up about 25 minutes early and then we participate creative and critical thinking type activities. One of these activities involves placing my students in groups of three and handing each group a baggie. Inside each baggie there are five straws, seven toothpicks, and a piece of masking tape that is twelve inches long. I give each group ten minutes to build the tallest structure they can build. I am amazed at not only how well they work together, but also by the structures they are able to create. This has worked for me for several years now. It keeps the students busy and me sane!
Silly games that you play can be anything. My class favorite starts out a lot like Simon Says except I let the kids take it over with their own silly things to do. (I pick only the quietest children.)
Something else we practice is spelling words or sight words using silly accents such as roaring the letters like a lion, whispering them like a mouse or even trying to spell them while sitting on our heads!
More active games include doing jumping jacks, sit-ups, etc. while spelling out our names (as a group). You can also go to the music teachers or PE teachers for ideas for more silliness. These are simple transitions that can go on forever!
At the end of the day, we sit down with some of our favorite books and read until all of the kiddos have been picked up!
I announce a number and that number is the number of things that each student has to pick up off the floor and put away. I usually have students show me before they put them away. I always give directions one at a time and tell students I’ll be ready to give the next direction when… This way students only have one thing to concentrate on at a time.
After we pack up, students select a book and SQUIRT. (Super Quiet UnInterrupted Reading Time)
It seems as if we always run out of time at the end of the day! My fifth grade students leave my room, but not for home. They have one more class to go to so there cannot be any wasted time. I try to leave enough time to complete our daily planners. I like to review what we accomplished or what items will be homework this way kids can grab the needed supplies before they head out to their next class.
I really like Diane’s SQUIRT idea and can’t wait to use it!
During the last 5 minutes of class, my bus riders get lined up and sit on the floor so they are ready. Car riders sit at their desks/tables. We usually play a game like I spy but use some type of language skill to review. For example, the words might be rhyming words, opposites, compound words, etc. the leader will say a word and another student raises their hand to say another word that rhymes, is the opposite, etc., of the word the first person said (map and flap, big little)The kids love it and this way, they are all focused and ready to leave, but still learning!
I have a job list with a child “assistant job checker”. The jobs rotate monthly. They are simple such as stacking chairs, closing windows, erasing the board, etc. The job checker awards points based on the child’s performance and the kids try harder for my assistant than they do for me. Points are traded for either tangible or free time rewards at the end of the week.
I saw this a little too late. However. I really like some of the ideas. Thanks!