Ah, May is here! The onset of the final stretch of the school year stirs up a whirlwind of emotions within me. It’s a bittersweet time, really. Every year brings its own blend of cherished moments I’ll miss dearly and aspects I’m eager to bid farewell to. I find myself eagerly anticipating the prospect of transitioning into the role of a summer mom/wife, relishing the promise of a more leisurely pace. Yet, before long, my thoughts inevitably drift towards the upcoming year, brimming with plans and ideas, fueled by my genuine passion for teaching.
Now, let me share with you how we conclude the academic year in my 2nd-grade classroom.
Last Days Chain Countdown
Our last days chain countdown commences. It is SO easy to put together and it’s FREE. Grab your free last days countdown chain here.
I usually start this with about 10 days left. I went with a paper chain because there was just NO way I could keep balloons inflated during the last few weeks of school. That would make me go bonkers on top of all the other craziness! I also like the chain because if I forget to write down the order of the activities (which I always do), I can sneak a peek. We rip off the chain link at the end of the day to see what’s in store for tomorrow. The last week usually includes a 2nd grade kickball tournament, popcorn and movie day, ice cream party, and awards day.
You can read more about it here.
End of the Year Slideshow
Truth: I am HORRIBLE at remembering to take pictures throughout the year. My end-of-the-year slideshow would always end up being like 30 seconds long. Here’s the first day and our field trip we went on last week–ha! But that all changed when…
I added “Classroom Photographer” as a reward my students could buy in our classroom store. This allowed them to use my old digital camera to snap photos throughout the day. The rules were they had to make sure their classmates knew they were taking a picture (not secret snapping!) and it couldn’t be while I was teaching. Having a classroom photographer every so often made it SUPER easy to have lots of photos to choose from for an end of the year slideshow.
Class Awards Ceremony
My absolute favorite book to read the last day of school is No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher’s Dirty Looks by Diane deGroat. I read Brand New Pencils…at the beginning of the year and I usually have at least one student who remembers it! After we read it, I roll out the red carpet and hand out their end of the year award certificates.
These certificates cover all sorts of accomplishments, from academics to character traits like being a good friend. Plus, the easy-to-use editable version makes adding your own text and customizing the description simple.
End of the Year Games
Incorporating games into your end of the year lesson plans is the perfect way to have fun learning! Sometimes they are academic, and sometimes they are just for fun—and that’s okay too! Here are a few of my favorite games fo the end of the school year.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament
- Blooket
- Memory Games
- Math Baseball
- Heads up, 7 up
- Sparkle
- Jeopardy
- “Who Wants to be a _____ grader?” trivia game
- Connect 4
- Kickball
- Scavenger Hunt
- Escape Room
- Kahoot
Whole Class Incentives
Let’s be real. This time of the year requires getting creative with keeping students motivated to work hard and make good choices. Using whole class incentives to encourage positive behavior at the end of the year is fun and effective! These incentives not only promote cooperation and teamwork but also instill a sense of collective responsibility within the classroom community. By setting achievable goals and offering rewards that appeal to the group as a whole, such as a movie or extra recess time, students are motivated to work together towards a common objective.
Ultimately, by leveraging whole class incentives, we can effectively celebrate and reinforce positive behaviors while fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie among their students as they bid farewell to another school year.
No matter what you plan to do during the last few weeks of school, I hope you have an amazing end of the school year. I know it can be crazy and stressful, but the end result (summer!) will be here soon!
Stay smart and sassy!
