The end of the year is a flurry of things to do, never ending activities, and for a lot of music teachers, more performances, sing a song at this event, and coordination of extra activities. It can be really easy to forget some tasks at the end of the year. Hopefully this list will help you remember some of those things that could slip your mind.
- Return emergency cards, IEP info, medical info and other FERPA info to the office for storage/shredding/whatever they want to do with it. It shouldn’t be left out, or in a drawer all summer where it may be accessed by other people.
- Lock up any documentation you keep from year to year.
- Update inventory – your personal one, and the school one.
- Clear out anything that isn’t useable, in good condition, or excess. Get a good checklist for this here.
- Make a list of repairs to be done over the summer.
- Toss anything you don’t need and isn’t worth saving (old copies I’m looking at you).
- Put in building needs requests.
- Spend your budget! Don’t let money sit unused. Check out this post for ideas to finish off those dollars at the bottom of the account. Consumables and things you can get at non-music stores are great for that last minute spending.
- Clearly label what’s your personal things that you leave at school (like furniture or lights).
- Take home what you can easily transport, even if it’s heavy. Use suitcases to bring your books home and save your back.
- Take down bulletin boards and posters.
- Clear out your school issued devices. Make sure you have what you want in your PERSONAL Google Drive. Check out this post for more tips.
- Send thank you to parent volunteers.
- Make a list of summer to-dos. (I KNOW….) But, you’ll need to get a grip on personal things over the summer, want to make a list of events you’ll need to keep track of, and maybe even prep letters for back to school days so you don’t have to do it in the swing of summer when motivation is at -25.
- If you need to, pull up tape, sit spots, velcro or whatever else is on the floor, walls, and ceiling.
- Take inventory of consumables like pencils and place supply orders.
- Make a list of where what grades are in the curriculum, what you’ll need to review or cover in the fall, and make note of what was going well.
- Make note of what you want to add or remove from the curriculum.
- Pack up any materials you want to use this summer for things like courses, folk song analysis, or curriculum planning.
- Send home/prep any info letters for beginning of the year ensembles. If your info is sent out with back to school things, get it ready to go to avoid having to do it over the summer.
- Replace labels that are coming off.
- Cover instruments, or store them safely. Make sure that instruments that can be easily damaged (think drums and barred instruments) are stored with the least amount of access possible.
- Collect student materials.
- Unplug wires and tech that needs to be packed up.
- Wipe down instruments and vacuum inside of barred instruments
- Wipe down surface areas with the proper cleaner.
- Cover shelves and things you are leaving up to prevent dust accumulation and sunlight damage.
- If you have. a storage closet or a desk, do a deep clean.
- Finish grading.
- Turn in grades.
- Write some meaningful report card comments.
Looking for more lists? Make sure you check out the Editable Music Teacher Essential Checklists and get some order for all the things you have to do!
Hope this has given you a little help with all of the things you have to do at the end of the year!
