At the end of the school year, we’re tired, overworked, and ready for break, so why am I telling you about stuff to do? Hear me out. These are some things that you can do to help yourself start next year right and save yourself time in the end. Some of these you can even get some help!
Label it
As you are packing up stuff, label the box or folder. It will make life so much easier when you are trying to find things to put out. Use masking tape or a sharpie and take the extra 15 seconds to write it on there so you won’t have to play scavenger hunt in the fall. If you have things in boxes before school ends, chances are you can get an older student to label them for you too!
Clean as you pack
It’s worth the extra time to dust, vacuum, or wipe down things now so that in the fall when you have more on your plate you don’t have to focus on those things. Annoying? Yes. Can you possibly get older students to help you? YES.
Clear out
In your “down time”, or as you are cleaning up, clear out things you don’t want or need anymore. Attack your pile on your breaks from cleaning, grading, packing up. Sit for a half hour with your coffee, and go through things at your leisure. This way you won’t have a pile when school starts in the fall and you know what may need to be replaced or put on a school purchase order in the fall. Have students help sort things like dried writing utensils and dry erase pockets that have too many permanent marks on them. This task may be a little annoying, but you won’t have to sort through this stuff later, store things you’ll never use, or realize you need to replace it in a time crunch.
Things to consider getting rid of:
- Unused copies. Keep one original copy labeled with a yellow highlighter star so you can use them next year without having to reprint.
- Broken things and instruments beyond repair
- Unusable writing utensils
- Decor you won’t use again or that is damaged
- Books and resources you don’t use.
- Things that are falling apart.
- Old cords and cables
- Things with missing pieces that can’t be replaced.
- Things that are past their prime: pocket charts, dry erase pockets, manipulative that are falling apart or the lamination is coming off.
- Past year’s work, lesson plans, etc. (Make sure you keep necessary student records!)
- Things you haven’t opened in a year that are stored in boxes in the back of your class or on top of shelves.
- Old costumes and decorations from past performances that you won’t reuse.
- Old school papers such as calendars, notes from admins, open house flyers, etc
- Old candy and snacks that have been in your cupboard for a little too long.
- Extra water bottles and coffee cups
- Anything left from a previous teacher you won’t use or have never used.
- Samples from vendors you won’t use.
- Handouts from PDs you won’t use.
Repair List
Make a quick list of things that need repair so you can focus on those when Back to School arrives. Have students help set aside these items into a special box labeled “Repair Me”.
- Orff instruments
- Costumes and uniforms you are keeping that need easy repairs
- Things that need a touch of super glue or hot glue.
- Instruments you can repair without a lot of work or when it won’t change the sound.
- Manipulative sets that only need a few things replaced or have a replacement piece added/printed/laminated.
- Classroom things that need to be repaired. This list needs to go to building maintenance before the end of the year!
CHECK. OUT.
Even though it’s last, this is the NUMBER ONE on the list.
Don’t stay later than your check out date. Put on your motivation music, grab an extra large liquid treat (go for that motivational milkshake!) get your stuff done, and GET OUT. No one is holding you past that last day or telling you to stay til 6:00 every night to get stuff done. Make a list of what NEEDS to be done, ex: grades first, and tackle those things first. If it isn’t NECESSARY and you run out of time, ignore it. Go home, start your break, and get in some serious rest and recuperation.
My first year with a classroom, I didn’t know what to really do to pack and was teaching marching band for a July 4th parade too. We ended the first week of June and my sorry behind was in school daily for the entire MONTH OF JUNE. (We ended the first week!) July was a rush of things and I did level 2 that summer as well. I know I’ve talked about this in the past, but when I turned around from level 2 and was back in school on August 4th (my choice…*facepalm*) the DAY AFTER returning from Portland because I felt “behind”, it was one of the worst things I’d ever done for my mental health. That was summer of 2019 which bears a whole lot more weight now since we all know what happened. I was so burned out that school year. The Covid shut downs should not have been the break I needed. Prioritize YOUR rest, time, and time away from school. Please learn from my experience. We don’t know what’s coming. CHECK. OUT.
I hope this gives you some ideas that will help you finish your end of the year strong and set yourself up for an easier back to school season!
