How Many Days Left?

A few tips on how to stay motivated until the end of the year.


We have all been there. The countdown is on (8 days, 16 hours, 3 minutes, and 27 seconds….but who’s counting?)  Students are getting antsy and teachers are tired.  And the end of the year does not come without its own type of crazy. There are field days, celebrations, field trips, final projects, report cards, grades, paperwork, meetings, testing, testing, oh and did we mention testing?  

With so much chaos happening around us, our focus can become skewed and our energy can start to wane.  How can we stay motivated to end the year strong?  How can we keep our energy up for our students and for ourselves?  


Here are some things we have done/are doing to help keep us motivated and focused during the end of the year craziness!

Student Motivation:

1. Keep your routines!  Whether it's your routines at home or your routines in your classroom, try to keep them as close to the same as possible.  It will help give students a sense of normalcy and it will help keep you centered as well! 
   
2. Keep it FUN! Get students engaged and excited with adding some different elements into your daily routine!
   
   1. Games 
      
   2. Stations
      
   3. Themed Celebrations 
      
   4. Lessons Outside
      
   5. Bring in the arts (visual, music, dance)
      

Keep it Moving!  It is the time of year that the weather is getting warmer.  Incorporating any type of movement into your lessons will help keep your students engaged and it will help get out some energy! ​

Teacher Motivation:

1. Keep your routines!  Routines keep us centered and will help your days run smoothly, rather than just “winging it”. Try to stick to your routines in your classroom and in your personal life and the days will go more smoothly and quickly! 
2. Keep it FUN!  Everyone at the end of the year just needs to have a little fun! Play a few games with your students, plan some outrageous celebrations for them (I mean , we all made it through 2020 AND 2021 teaching in a pandemic….let’s celebrate that!!!!).  Enjoy the last moments with your students and use the time to build memories and strengthen relationships. 
3. Keep Caffeinated!  Every teacher needs their morning cup of goodness to help their day run smoothly. :) 
4.  Stay POSITIVE!  How many have ever noticed that by the end of the year it is not just students who are getting after one another, but teachers who are short with one another too?  This can be so draining.  Remember to stay positive with both staff and students.  The end of the year can be difficult and stressful.  We need to stay positive and build each other up!  We are all on the same team!   ​