Planning for the end of the school year is not as easy as it may look to an eager student ready to hit the beach. The key is to change the classroom routine so that it has a built-in end of the year appeal. Not every idea is feasible. Here are a few tips for planning the end of the school year.
Group Competition or Games in the Classroom
End of the year games provides a lot of end of the year school fun. Here are a few tips:
- Make a list and prepare ALL materials in advance. This also includes room set-up, technical issues from computer use to DVD or disc player if needed, purchasing prizes in advance, or writing certificates, preparing the actual game materials. Brainstorm with another teacher and predict any problems. You'll be glad you did.
- Competition games such as Scavenger Hunts are fun for the end of the school year, but they require a bit more leg work. Before preparing a list of tasks, make sure those tasks are in fact technically feasible. For example, expecting a group to find three names of endangered animals is feasible, but expecting them to go to the lab or science room and copy the names of the fossils when the lab room is occupied by another class is probably not such a good idea.
A fun lesson can include end of the year blackboard games. Starting with the blackboard is an appealing option because it centers and focuses the students' attention. A new teacher can review vocabulary words in a hangman game or provide definitions for words starting with each letter of the alphabets if students are early decoders. To ensure success, try doing the following:
- keep instructions for the games short and to the point.
- explain what you want with an example. Always model your responses.
- provide positive statements like "good job" or "nice try"
- provide positive reinforcement. Certificates are a better option than edibles.
- be flexible. If you only have half a class, plan a different type of activity or shorter activities that require perhaps less preparation.
End of the School Year Lesson Plans
If your students aren't in the mood for playing games, you can have them do a more lighthearted learning activity. Have them write an informal letter to their next year subject teacher. They should give a little bit of details about themselves explaining what they have learned, what their expectations are for next year and what they would like to see in the future lessons. Students like to feel they are a part of the planning process. There is nothing like feedback and information that helps guide the future teacher in his/her lesson planning as s/he gets to know his/her students.
With a little bit of pre-planning and organizational tactics, you can finish the end of the school year with a good feeling that will leave your students motivated and happy.
Dorit Sasson - Hello! I'm an ESL instructor, teacher diversity coach and writer for the educational markets who writes on English language learners ...
