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10 Must Know Tips to Survive Until the End of the School Year

Can you believe that the end of the school year is almost here already?! After what has been a whirlwind of a year, it is FINALLY winding down! So how do you keep sane and totally rock the end of the year with students? Read this post to learn ten must know tips to help you make this time great and say HELLLLOOOO to summer!

10 tips for surviving the end of the school year

1. Keep it Consistent 

The end of the school year can be INSANE. Between assessments, field days, and fitting in those last minute field trips, there can be so much inconsistency that it can drive everyone crazy. While it’s important to kind of go with the flow, it is also important to try and maintain as much normalcy as possible. Students can get a lot of anxiety thinking about getting ready to transition to a new grade after summer and not being a part of their current class family they have enjoyed all year. So while it’s fun to do things differently because school is almost out, try to keep it consistent for students who crave and thrive on their routine that they’ve totally mastered at this point! 

2. Get Outside

Everyone can start going a little stir crazy with the weather warming up while you’re stuck inside knowing summer is coming. So why not get outside?! Switch it up and have students complete a sidewalk scoot, let them explore by going on a scavenger hunt with skills they’ve been working on, or simply read in the grass! It’s a change of scenery that can make all the difference, while alleviating some of that stress by enjoying the warmer weather! 

End of the Year Scoot

3. Expect the Unexpected

The end of the year can be CRAZY right? With awards days, field days, and other events, it seems like the schedule is always packed with something new. That’s ok! This is where you can make the most of all that time with students. Know that days are going to look a little different and your flexibility bone is going to get way more exercise than other times of the year. However,  before you know it you’re saying goodbye to students and heading out for summer so remember to just enjoy each other. Use random down time to spend a little extra time together playing a game of would you rather or 4 corners. There are so many quick and easy games to help students have fun, practice skills they’ve learned, and continue with that strong community you’ve already built. Remember when it all gets too overwhelming, step back and take a deep breath and know that there is joy to be found in every day! 

4. Be Creative in Engagement

Everyone is SO done and tired by the end of the school year. So how do you keep students engaged? You have to be creative!! Engage students with YOUR bag of tricks. Think about what you’re already good at and use those skills to your advantage! Are you really funny? Use that as an engagement tool. Love to sing or rap? Add music into your lessons! Use your bag of tricks and engage students with YOUR passions and interests. Chances are… if you’re into it, they will be into it too. This also allows students to freely be them and makes them feel comfortable bringing their own creativeness to the table. It’ll help keep things light and keep everyone engaged until those last days of school. 

5. Keep it Lighthearted

I may sound like a broken record at this point, but the year will be over before you know it. With all the stress and chaos, keep it lighthearted. Joke around with students and continue to keep things fun for them. Over the course of the year, you’ve built a little family together. Show them how special they all are and HAVE FUN! Don’t let the stress consume you and become bigger than the love. When all the testing is done, spend time making keepsakes, memory books, things that you all can cherish when the year is done. 

6. Take Time for YOU

This year has been TOUGH, but you’ve almost made it to the end. Build in some break times to care for you. Splurge on your lunch break and get your favorite coffee delivered to you. Leave right after school one day and go do something for YOU. Need to count down those days to the end? DO IT! Don’t feel guilty. Listen to your own needs, breathe, and don’t be afraid to shamelessly do what you gotta do to get to those last few days before summer!

7. Have Countdown Fun!

Make those last weeks of school fun and exciting with a countdown! Celebrate the end with a banner of balloons that are filled with themed days. As a class, pop a balloon each day to see what tomorrow holds in store- could be a pajama day, very crazy hair day, nickname day, soak up the sun day- the possibilities are endless! Every day is a sweet surprise and it’s such an engaging and memorable way to end your year together. Learn more about this activity and other fun ways to end the year together HERE!

end of the year freebie end of year ABC countdown FREEBIE

End of the Year Countdown Freebie

8. Ease the Transition

This can be a scary time for students getting ready to leave their little family they’ve built and prepare for a new grade, new class, and new teacher. So how can we help with this transition? There are a few quick, easy, and engaging ways to help ease the transition for students. 

  1. Have a field trip to the next grade level classrooms. Collaborate with a few of the teachers and let the students see how fun it will be to get a new classroom!
  2. Have students write a letter to the new incoming students. They can share all the fun things they got to do throughout the year and show them how much they’ve grown as students!
  3. Show off all their growth and learning with brag tags! Not only is this a great incentive for students to show their A game, but it will make them feel so special and ready for the next grade level! If you love this idea, you can grab the freebie below!

brag tag

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9. Reflect on the Growth

It’s hard to remember all the things you’ve done and learned together, so take time to reflect on learning and growth. Not only will your students love remembering moments during all their learning, but you’ll feel SO good about all the things you’ve taught your kiddos this year. A brain dump is an easy and engaging activity! It’s as simple as a piece of anchor chart paper and their brains. Get together and discuss ALL the things you’ve learned throughout the year together. It’s rather impressive to see what they come up with. You can check out some of ours from first grade below! Then, after dumping brains, go off and show what we know with a topic of our choice. Students LOVE getting to choose their own activity and show what they know! It’s learning AND fun! 

brain dump activity end of the year activity

Another fun way to have students show off how they’ve shined this year is with this reflection writing craft! Being able to reflect is an important skill, not just for students, but all of us. It helps us to grow and learn from past experiences and gives us joy to remember what we’ve already accomplished. Students will love completing this adorable craft while reflecting on what they’ve learned this year!

end of year writing craft

End of the Year Activity Pack

end of year activities bundle

END OF YEAR BUNDLE

10. Pack and Trash

Last, but of course not least, it’s the dreaded time to pack and trash. Don’t get overwhelmed by this task though! Use it as a time to be excited about getting organized for the year to come. Get rid of that stuff you know you NEVER use! Do a good purge and an efficient pack and I promise your future self will thank you! Check out THIS post for 5 easy and quick end of year packing up tips!

I really hope you enjoyed learning 10 must know tips to totally rock the end of the year together!  Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the Brag Tag FREEBIE! You will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me  @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.

To follow me on TPT and get all the latest updates on HALF OFF new products, click HERE!

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A fun place to be apart of the educational journey. Full of all things teaching! The good, the bad, and even the ugly. Join my experiences and subscribe to my email list to get the most up to date tips and tricks.

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It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳 Grab thi It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳

Grab this adorable and no prep color by code activity.

It’s an easy and engaging QUIET activity that students can enjoy as morning work, a time filler, fast finisher, or even as homework!

Grab your FREEBIE now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!

When is your 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️
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Y’all I am SO in love with this new dress from @ Y’all I am SO in love with this new dress from @shop_rbc!!

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I will definitely be getting more dresses from their shop and they have adorable teacher tees too. Check out all the beautiful items now @shop_rbc! 😍

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Have you ever tried using stations for the 100th d Have you ever tried using stations for the 100th day of school?!

They can help make what could be a chaotic and overwhelming day really fun and well planned out. 

There are so many engaging station ideas that are easy and low prep like 

🌟Reading 100 books
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Not only do the students love every second but it gives you more time to go around and be with each group of kiddos as they go through the stations and reflect on all their great learning in the first 100 days of school!

Learn more now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!

Have you ever tried stations for the 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️ 
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Have you tried would you rather with students?! I Have you tried would you rather with students?!

It’s an easy, engaging, and NO PREP activity for the 100th day. 

You can easily build in movement by having students jump for answers or run to a side of the room for their choice. 

This is a great activity that can be used as a morning meeting activity or as a timer filler throughout the day. 

The students LOVE the 100th day themed prompts and have a BLAST!

Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile or drop a 🥳 and I’ll share the link!

Thanks for capturing this @mrs.rappsclass 😍
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Want an easy and super engaging activity for the 1 Want an easy and super engaging activity for the 100th day?!

Have students practice recognizing,  writing numbers, and seeing patterns within 120 with a pocket chart seek and find game. 

There’s a special hidden picture students have to work together to find. (Swipe left to see) they LOVE it and get great practice!

This could easily be a whole class activity or a 100th day station.

Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile. You can also drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link with you! 
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Bahaha I am definitely teacher number 2! 😂 Whi Bahaha I am definitely teacher number 2! 😂

Which are you?!
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Lindsay Sauer

14 hours ago

Lindsay Sauer
It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳Grab this adorable and no prep color by code activity.It’s an easy and engaging QUIET activity that students can enjoy as morning work, a time filler, fast finisher, or even as homework!Grab your FREEBIE now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!When is your 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #numbersense #makelearningfun #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #colorbycode #teachershare #teacherinspiration #100thday #100thdayofschool ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

23 hours ago

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Bahahah accurate! 🤣••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #teacherquotes #teachingtips #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherhumor #teachershare #teacherinspiration #teachermemes #teacherfunny #classroommanagement ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

2 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
Have you tried would you rather with students?!It’s an easy, engaging, and NO PREP activity for the 100th day. You can easily build in movement by having students jump for answers or run to a side of the room for their choice. This is a great activity that can be used as a morning meeting activity or as a timer filler throughout the day. The students LOVE the 100th day themed prompts and have a BLAST!Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile or drop a 🥳 and I’ll share the link!Thanks for capturing this @mrs.rappsclass 😍••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #teacherideas #teachingtips #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teachershare #classroomcommunity #teacherinspiration #makelearningfun #100thdayofschool #100thday ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

2 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
This though. ❤️••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers #teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teachingideas #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #primaryteaching #teacherblogger #teachermomlife #teachermom #teachershare #teacherquotes #kindergarten ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

4 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
Kids love celebrating with crowns! 👑 They are a great quiet or morning activity that students love to decorate. The best part is they can wear them around and show them off all day. Bonus!! They are also a great keepsake to take home to remember the special day. 🥰Learn more easy and fun 100th day activities now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #kindergarten #igconnect4edu #teachershare #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #100thday #classroomfun #makelearningfun #100thdayofschool #classroomcommunity ... See MoreSee Less

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  • Have you been looking for end of year classroom community activities? These classroom community building activities are perfect for your K-2 classroom! I love creating an end of year anchor chart so students can write down their favorite memories of first grade. K-2 students will love the balloon bulletin board countdown with themes. Early elementary students enjoy creating a reflection writing craft, first grade end of year memories, would you rather end of school year game, and much more!
  • If you need some graphing activities for your K-2 classroom, I’ve got some fantastic ideas for you! I love using the CRA Math Model to help with concrete ideas and engagement in math. One of my favorite graphing lessons in first grade is to do real data collection activities for kids. These graphing lessons are perfect to use in math whole group lessons, math center activities, math independent activities, morning work, fast finishers, and more!
  • Do you hear indoor recess and get nervous? Today, I’m sharing my best teacher tips and tricks! These indoor recess ideas in elementary are easy things like GoNoodle brain break or hands on activities. You can easily get play dough activities, pattern blocks activities, or drawing for kids. Don’t forget your childhood favorite games too! Elementary students love freeze dance game for kids, Simon Says game, four corners game, Heads Up 7 Up game, and more. Set your classroom expectations too!
  • In your early elementary classroom, do you need classroom management strategies? It’s never too late for classroom management ideas to be implemented. I’m sharing classroom management hacks in early elementary. One basic classroom management idea is to review your rules. Shake it up with whole class rewards. Don’t forget kind classroom activities. Fun learning activities for kids can really help. Learn more about my whole group, small group lessons, and center ideas!
  • Are you looking for ways to teach kindness to kids in the classroom? Today, I’m sharing my favorite teacher tips on helping your early elementary students understand kindness in the classroom. Some of my favorite kindness activities for kids is setting expectations and modeling kindness. We love reading, How Full Is Your Bucket? By Tom Rath and more. It’s important to role play ideas for kids in the classroom. Kindness anchor charts are great to create during whole group and small group lessons.
  • Do you hear indoor recess and get nervous? Today, I’m sharing my best teacher tips and tricks! These indoor recess ideas in elementary are easy things like GoNoodle brain break or hands on activities. You can easily get play dough activities, pattern blocks activities, or drawing for kids. Don’t forget your childhood favorite games too! Elementary students love freeze dance game for kids, Simon Says game, four corners game, Heads Up 7 Up game, and more. Set your classroom expectations too!
  • Are you looking for ways to teach kindness to kids in the classroom? Today, I’m sharing my favorite teacher tips on helping your early elementary students understand kindness in the classroom. Some of my favorite kindness activities for kids is setting expectations and modeling kindness. We love reading, How Full Is Your Bucket? By Tom Rath and more. It’s important to role play ideas for kids in the classroom. Kindness anchor charts are great to create during whole group and small group lessons.
  • Do you need some ideas about teaching money to your first grade students? Check out my favorite teaching tips on money for kids. First, have your students watch some BrainPop Jr. videos and books about money for kids. Money anchor charts are fantastic to use during math whole group to better K-2 students' understanding. The CRA Math Model is perfect for understanding money for kids. I also share my favorite math centers like money puzzles, money bingo, and math money games!
  • Have you been looking for end of year classroom community activities? These classroom community building activities are perfect for your K-2 classroom! I love creating an end of year anchor chart so students can write down their favorite memories of first grade. K-2 students will love the balloon bulletin board countdown with themes. Early elementary students enjoy creating a reflection writing craft, first grade end of year memories, would you rather end of school year game, and much more!

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