After my fourth or fifth year of teaching, it dawned on me (duh!) that I was always the last teacher to check out at the end of the school year. I knew what part of the problem was—I could see it all around me. Other teachers had their students help with year-end tasks, such as taking down bulletin boards, packing up the classroom library, and washing desktops. Not me! I wasn’t going to do THAT! I was keeping my classroom shipshape until school was officially over. I actually convinced myself it was best for my students if I maintained a normal routine. But who was I kidding? It wasn’t like my kiddos would be warped for life if I invited them to help close up the classroom.
Yes, the first year my students helped me was a bit chaotic. And yes, that year I totally stunned the school secretary by checking out before two other teachers! Fortunately, the secretary survived the shock. And my students? They loved being so helpful.
Do you have an end-of-the-year lesson to share? After all, learning and sharing are among the many things teachers do best!
Happy Monday!
Diane
Wouldn’t it be fun if after you had the room all cleaned and empty that you could get creative and have the kids design their own magical school room.
Start with pictures of fun things like swimming pools and slides. You may want to provide them with a blueprint of your school or room to give them dimensions to work with. Then, show pictures of things like what the offices of Google look like… there are some really cool things there like a slide… and then let their imaginations run wild as you let them design their very creative working space. It could take up your room or the entire school.
Due to time constraints I have always had my kiddies help close the classroom down. I begin my having them wash the toys and we proceed slowly from there. On the last day there is every little to do but thats ok because we spend it dancing and doing special activiities.