8 Things You Must Do at the End of the School Year

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and we are already making our must do bucket list for the summer,

But…

There are 8 things you can do before you close the doors behind you, that will allow you to rest and enjoy your summer and come back to school refreshed and ready to go.

Are you ready to hear about that list?

​Here are my 8 “Must-Do” tips for the end of the school year.
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​Reflect
Once assessments are finished I like to find a peaceful place to reflect on all the successes and all the flops that occurred throughout the year.  I begin by just writing about all the thing that I loved about the school year and all those funny moments that make you love to do what you do.  Next I make two different list procedures and routines, I make note of which ones worked and ones that need to be reworked or put in the don’t do again pile. The last list I make is what the children were interested in over the last year.  This process helps me develop a meaningful plan for the follow year. 
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Yearlong Planning
Use the reflect notes to help guide you through the yearlong planning process. Start with your list of procedures that you want to teach, then move onto lessons based on children’s interest.  If your district already has the new calendar for when things are due like assessments, progress reports and parent teacher conferences put those dates in your planning calendar to help you with the planning process. There is no better feeling than walking out on the last day knowing that you already have a road map for the new year.
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Communication Folders
Communication folders throughout the year can sometime be a little overwhelming, but if you prepare them before the end of the year it will take some of that pressure off.  Make copies of your first few weeks of communications folders.  Fill each folder with the first week of communications, then all you will need to do when you return is add your student’s names to each folder.
Send home your communication folders one last time with summer activity calendars.  
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Assessment Binder
Assessments begin the minute children walk through the doors.  Be prepared by having your assessment binder ready to go.
I like to set up my assessment binder with sheet protectors and small group tabs.
Now all I will need to do is add names and away I go.
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Portfolios
As part of the assessment process collecting sample work is the best practice.  If you have ever collected work samples before you know that they can start piling up fast.  Begging prepared right from the start at the beginning of the year will help you keep those piles at a minimum.  As your bulletin boards come down and the last of the sample work goes into the children’s portfolios to take home at the end of the school year.  Restock your portfolio supplies at the end of the year and prepare your new portfolios for the new year.
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Parent Orientation Packets
Parent orientation on or before the first day of school, so why wait tell then to prepare your packets.  Have them ready to go before you even leave.  That will be one less thing that you will need to worry about over summer break.

Copies
Make one last trip to the copy machine, you will be glad you did.  If you are hesitant to make those copies now remember what the line of teachers at copy machine looks like during the back to school rush.  Here is a list of what you can copy to make back to school a breeze.
Assessment Data Sheets
August Communication Folders
Summer Activity Calendars
Parent Orientation Packets
August and September Draw Person
By doing this one simple task before school ends, you will shave off hours during your classroom set up.
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Supply List
One last thing before you close your doors and walk off into the sunset.  Make an inventory list of all the classroom supplies that you already have, this way when the back to school sale happen you know exactly what you need.  The best thing about doing this is that you will be able to close the door on your supply cabinet next year.   
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When doing these 8-simple ends of the year tips you will be less stressed at the beginning of the new school year.  You will walk out the door for summer break ready to relax and enjoy some much need time off.
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