Wow! Do you feel as though May is flying by at warp speed? I sure do. And I’m not the one who’s looking at wrapping up a school year and closing out a classroom in the next few weeks.
This leads me to ask, “How do you do it?” In all my years of teaching, I never once succeeded at getting my classroom readied for summer while I was finishing up the school year. I had colleagues who did. On that last day they would say their goodbyes to their kiddos, complete their last smidgen of paperwork, and then happily sail into summer. Not me! No way. I didn’t set sail for at least two or three days!
Is it too early to be thinking about end-of-the-year tasks? Or are some of you already forming a plan for an easy and breezy exit into summer?
Happily,
Diane
I totally understand!!! I look at the curriculum and think, “Will I really be able to get in all the lessons I need to?” I think after Spring vacation, my kiddos are already sailing into summer. I have to remind them of classroom rules and get their focus often throughout the day.
Wow. We are already packing things away and getting ready for summer in my classroom. I start with the things used the least and have the children clean them during their free time. Each day a bit more is done. Each day at circle we countdown to the end of our school year so the children are aware it is coming.
I recognize that jealousy is not a valuable character trait. Knowing this, I felt great guilt each May. It was then I’d watch as other teachers breezily waved goodbye, carrying only their recently acquired gifts. As each participant in the parade of done-gooders passed my door, I turned greener. Fortunately, by the time I packed my character education poster and finally headed out the door (likely after dark), my jealousy melted like lime jello left out on the picnic table. Still,like Diane, I wonder, how DO they do it??
Actually,I will begin next week. I start by packing up a some of the things that we have stopped using in thelast month or so. I do a little bit every day until the end. I use the last post planning day to be sure my room is ready for another summer. Then I am done until preplanning in August.
I was just thinking, “What happened to January?” that is one of my favorite months- long and usually quite productive.
May is really going by so fast with June and preschool graduation right around the corner. I always feel there is so much more I’d like to teach them, but then I smile and realize they have their whole lives to learn and explore. We touch them for such a short time, but make quite a little impact on their beginning knowledge.
As I sat on a hay bale, riding behind a tractor with my group today (field trip to a dairy) and thought how they each took a turn to milk a cow and then turned around and bottle-fed a calf with that same milk, I realized that was a pretty sweet experience and that I’ve given them all they need to continue the learning and the confidence to step up and take their turn.
Let’s graduate!
At my school we have to pack up everything, this summer the district is doing abestos removal everything has to go. My concern is that the job will be done by August. School’s not even out and I’m already thinking about August.
I have NEVER been ready to check out on the last day of school. I am so focused on the kids, activities, Open House (which isn’t until May 27)that I can’t even think about it! I’m envious, but it all gets done ….. eventually!
I TOTALLY agree with what Becky has stated previous to this post! May is much more difficult for my K’s to stay focused than ever before. The lessons planned have to have lots of “wiggle’ room or I loose their attention quickly. We try to plan special days for the last week such as luau day, fiesta day, beach day, field day and a bubble day.
I slowly start packing things I up. I make it a point to put something away everyday, so by the last day I am ready to enjoy summer!