You’ve officially made it to the last few weeks (or DAYS!) of school. Even when you felt you couldn't make it another week or another lesson…you did it. I hope you are so proud of yourself and of what you accomplished.

At this time of year it is so easy to be completely consumed with thoughts of summer that we miss what’s right in front of us. Some of the most beautiful moments as a teacher are often created in those last few weeks. I want to give you a few ways you can create those lasting positive memories with your students and then coast into a much-deserved summer.

Tip #1: Have an unearned extra recess

I know this first one may be a bit controversial. I also once scoffed at the idea of a recess given “just because”. However, I found after teaching for a few years that my students AND I needed that class-building, low stress, fun-filled unearned recess at the end of the year.

One benefit is that the entire class can participate (because it is unearned) which can help create a sweet memory before you all leave each other. Another benefit from having a structured unearned recess is team/class-building. Sometimes I would take the students out for a structured kickball game. I gave the students a choice to either play or watch, but it was the only activity they could participate in. Most of the time, all of the students wanted to participate and I even joined the fun with them.

In those moments I felt like all of the stress and hard work and friendship building that slowly happened over the school year culminated on the field. They demonstrated their communication skills, they demonstrated empathy and positive regard for others, and working hard collaboratively to achieve a goal. The game, though simple, was priceless.

Other times for unearned recess, we would just have open play on the playground. I would climb the jungle gym with them and we’d chase each other and play “lava” (even when I was 9 months pregnant! Gotta build the relationships somehow (: ) Those times also stick out as super special because there was room for true open-ended play, creativity, and conversation while also the safety of having a teacher present.

Tip #2: Embrace the sentimentality

Because I taught 5th grade, the end of the year was always a super emotional time. It was so tough because we knew it was one of the last touch points we as teachers would have with the students before they entered the huge middle school. In many cases, it was the last time they would truly be pliable and “buy in” to what someone older than them was telling them. It felt like a huge responsibility to leave them with some wisdom or guidance they could take with them. However, it was one of the parts of the job that I relished the most because my whole entire mission was to foster and mentor change makers who loved learning and loved others well.

I tried to have lots of informal chats those last weeks about what the middle school might look like, what peer pressure may feel like, and allowed for a Q and A if they wanted to ask something in a safe context. Most years, I also created a slideshow and wrote a letter to the class that detailed all of my memories and hopes and dreams for them. Despite being pretty time consuming, I found it provided the perfect opportunity for me to process the big emotions I felt over leaving these students I had grown to love. Many tears were shed creating and delivering those slideshows, but I think it really created a beautiful memory for the students.

Finally, we had a little tradition on the last day of school where all of the 5th grade teachers would follow the buses out and wave at the end to every single one. Both teachers and students would be crying at times because we knew it was goodbye for a long, long time. The teachers also knew that summer vacation was not always easy for some of these students and that food insecurity and other risk factors were really prevalent in certain homes. Having the physical chance to say goodbye in that meaningful way always felt like the perfect way to get closure.

Tip #3: Have the students write a letter to the future class

This tip I started about 3 years into teaching and it was such a meaningful exercise for my current students, myself, and the future students. Our letter looked like a little newspaper template called “5th Grade Times” and there were various headings on it such as “Field Trips to Look Forward to”, “What You’ll Love About Being in Mrs. ______’s Class”, “You’ll Love Learning About”, and more.

I loved that rather than just asking for their favorite memories (which always end up being recess or my friends it seems haha), it got the students to really think reflectively on what would impact a future class as well. Plus, they always enjoyed doing it because they liked the idea of leaving behind a little legacy others would read.

Additionally, this letter was so healing for me as their teacher. Often, the most beautiful messages regarding what future students would love about my class were written by the most unsuspecting students. The quiet ones or the ones who maybe gave me a hard time often had really heartfelt things to say, which was such an encouragement to me. I also love that it prompted students to write about the classroom environment, not just me. Being able to read those messages before going into summer break was exactly what I needed.

Finally, the following year, I would put a copy of the letter on each of my new student’s desk when they came in on the first day. They loved hearing from a specific student that had already been through it. They also loved reading all of the exciting things we would do and experience that year. It’s one thing for me as the teacher to say “Get excited!” a student to hear it from another student.

Hopefully these 3 tips can help you soak in the last few days and weeks with your students. You deserve to make some positive memories with them. My best wishes on a relaxing, well-deserved summer!

-Erin