What Does the End of the School Year Mean to Me?

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End of the school year assignmentNow that the end of the school year is already upon us, it’s time to evaluate what has been accomplished. Does your school have a formal evaluation system besides testing? Did you enjoy the year? Were your goals met? Can you recognize growth in your students? How about in your teaching abilities and lesson plans?

Taking time to really assess how your school year went can make all the difference for next year’s satisfaction and success. As we have tried to bring out in past blogs, test scores do not tell the whole story. Perhaps that shy student has finally gotten to the point of asking public questions or making friends. Maybe you were able to build up the self-esteem of a troubled child. Did you take a difficult subject and make it exciting to study? Did a self-absorbed student learn to work well in a group? Were you able to nip bullying in the bud? 

There are many ways to appraise the school year which can not only increase your job satisfaction but also highlight moments of triumph which may not be recognized just through testing. Additionally, having students note their experiences throughout the year can make their future years more successful.

Ideally, one can structure the classroom environment from the beginning of the school year for the teacher and student alike to record special moments. It’s a long year and much can be forgotten. Setting up a record keeping system can offer encouragement all around. Both teacher and student can have public and private notes. That struggling student asked a profound question? Write it on a special wall chart with a date for public recognition. However, when the shy student finally makes efforts to socialize, it might be better to take personal notes for end of year evaluations. 

You can also encourage students to write down their special moments throughout the year. For example, when a student can’t master his multiplication tables and then finally has a break through, have him write it in his journal. In this way, students can also recognize areas where struggles paid off and have a record for posterity.

Maintaining records of successes and challenges throughout the year offers one an easier path for end of year evaluations. Noting what works and doesn’t work will give a clearer way for implementing more future successes. 

As the school year winds down, we all know that everyone gets a bit fidgety. Shake things up a bit is always a good idea. Why not ask students to write a letter to themselves about their past year? Have them think about their growth and blockages and write down some resolutions for the coming year. You might even make copies of these letters and mail them to your students the week before the beginning of school to remind them of their goals. They should write about areas they are proud of themselves and places where they would like to improve. They can note things that were particular difficult or upsetting and how they were overcome or can be avoided or better handled in the future.

 Brave teachers can also ask students to write to them. You can ask them to write their favorite experiences in your classroom and places where you can improve things for your students.

We all know that life is a process. Recording both the positive and challenging experiences of the year along with growth and blockages emphasizes this reality in a healthy way. Teaching this to students might just be the most important lesson you can offer.

What special ways do you end your school year? We’d like to hear from you.

8 Responses to What Does the End of the School Year Mean to Me?

  1. The end of the school year means that it’s time to ‘undo the wrong’ and ‘redo the right’. Recruit, hire, and retain teachers who teach well.

  2. Dr. Assi says:

    The end of year means that I complete my classroom-based research, read and reread findings and, consequently, make decisions as to how to avoid pitfalls and how to be more creative.

  3. sharmila Gaur says:

    Being a teacher in Govt School means something different and somewhat challenging also , specially when one has not been trained well for the purpose !!! Sometimes it seems as if their passing the exam is our greatest achievement !!! The students , who can not read what they have written , are our greatest challenges !!! We have to start with ABCD even in class VIII .No doubt , as a teacher we know a lot , and need to know more and more , still somewhere, at some point , ( that of inculcating the real knowledge into our students) we fail !!! By dint of our experience and knowledge we try to give them so much , still the aftermaths are so discouraging !!
    So the crux of the matter , as I do construe , is —->
    ” As flies to wanton boys
    Are we to the students,
    They kill us for their sport…”
    And , we get a “D” grade for our yearlong sweat and elbow grease !!!!!

    • Tsivya Fox says:

      Thanks for your honestly felt assessment. I hope that a “D” grade is too harsh. However, your feelings are certainly felt by many.

  4. K. Scot Reynolds says:

    The end of the school year always gives me a sense of accomplishment. Time to review district programs and plan for the upcoming year. Time to work on the FY 16 budget, time to improve the physical plant, time make adjustments in staff. Really is a busy time of year!

    • Tsivya Fox says:

      Thanks for sharing your special feelings! It is wonderful that there is a sense of accomplishment and a looking forward to even better.

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