The end is in sight! But sometimes that makes it difficult to stay motivated. Here are a few helpful tips as you press toward summertime, and freedom!
STAY ONE STEP AHEAD
Spring fever has sprung and students can practically smell summer break getting closer and closer. Keep your students (and yourself!) motivated by developing a concrete game plan for the end of the year. Start with a goal in mind and follow through with a variety of activities to enhance your end-of-the-year instruction.
RELATED: THE ONE THING THAT CHANGED THE WAY I TEACH
KEEP IT ORGANIZED
After a long school year, one of the most difficult tasks for teachers is to stay organized. Just remember, the small amount of work it takes to organize your end-of-year plan provides immense benefits when it comes to your actual instruction. Studies have proven that organization significantly increases efficiency in both planning and class time.
RELATED: HOW TO AMPLIFY YOUR LEARNED NOTEBOOK
SIMPLIFY YOUR PLANNING
To assist with organization, simplifying your planning time is key. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by finding new and creative things to do, but establishing a simple process can work wonders. Develop a system for each review day and stick to it! It will make your life easier, your class time will be more efficient and your planning hours will drop significantly!
RELATED: FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE
REVISIT, RENEW AND REFRESH
You’ve worked all year to develop meaningful lessons and it’s important to remember the benefits of revisiting familiar activities. Students can contribute knowledge they gained after the original lesson and can reevaluate their current comprehension. Don’t be afraid to lean on your pre-existing plans to refresh student understanding.
RELATED: 10 COOL REVIEW STRATEGIES
DON’T FOCUS ON THE DATA
At least, don’t focus on the data too much. We have our goals that we want to reach, but becoming to bogged down in numbers, scores and high-pressure expectations can seriously hinder your effectiveness. Maintain high goals but don’t let the numbers rule your life. Students feed off of your energy, and stress is never a positive learning tool.
RELATED: MIXING EMPATHY WITH EXPECTATIONS
JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT
Just. Have. Fun. The end of the school year is a time of anticipation and excitement. It can even be bittersweet as your students prepare to move on to continue their learning in other classrooms. Decreasing stress and maintaining a positive learning environment will have you and your students embracing the finish line rather than crawling desperately across it.
RELATED: 60-SECOND SCIENCE: NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID
CELEBRATE MILESTONES
The fulfillment of watching students grow, comprehend new ideas, and fall in love with new subjects is unlike anything else. Celebrate the fact that the school year is coming to an end as students reflect on their journey, discuss what they have learned, realize how their thoughts have been impacted, and even evaluate how their futures may have been shaped.
Follow LearnEd Notebooks on social media! Pinterest // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // YouTube
________________________
LearnEd Notebooks provides teachers and students with an innovative notebooking solution. We specialize in providing educators with a unique curriculum that allows you to break free from conventional methods of instruction and spend more time on labs and inquiry-based science. We provide the framework of an interactive notebook with the flexibility of teaching strategies that seamlessly integrate with each teacher’s own methods of instruction. Our complete programs include printed student notebooks, digital presentations, and access to teacher resources — each focusing on diverse learning styles and engaging instructional strategies.
Click here to get LearnEd Notebooks in your classroom!
________________________
