The Highway to Success
Ending the school year with a strong finish
"Are we there yet?"
The end of the school year is a lot like those long car trips. Your students are ready for school to be over and for the summer to begin. We, as teachers, have to encourage students to stay engaged and to keep their eyes on "their road to their destination"---a successful ending to the school year. We must help them plan for a strong finish to the school year. Here are some strategies to keep your students thinking positively and for staying engaged.
1. At least once each week—until the final class—remind students where they started and how far they have come, academically and socially, as well as in their attitude and effort.
2. Be precise when reminding students of all the attitudes and actions that have gotten them to this point. We might say, “These are the reasons for your success. Do not abandon these characteristics in the last days of school. Build upon them. Perfect them.”
3. Lay out both a daily and weekly plan of achievement for the final days of school. Students must know about and understand the plan, the need for it, and the achievement that is expected.
4. Resist the urge to change the rules of the game—especially now. If you want to guarantee a troubled ending, all you need to do is change your expectations, initiate new procedures, install new rules, or change your approach.
5. Celebrate work, effort, improvement, and success frequently.
6. Remember the importance of relationships. Relationships are very important to students at this time.