Here are some great tips to keep you sane and your students out of trouble!
Teachers, it’s the end of the year! Yay!!! But then again, not yay! We’re tired! We’re done with student misbehavior! We’re ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer. Not so fast! You still have some time left before summer, and your students still need you. I know, I know . . . you’re done!
Here are some things to keep in mind as summer creeps slowly towards us: 
- Your students still need to learn so they don’t forget too much during the long, hot months of summer.
- Your students still need structure. In fact, they thrive on it. Without structure, they are left feeling off balance, and they will LET YOU KNOW that’s how they are feeling with their behavior.
- Your students are also tired. They have worked hard and stayed focused. They have also had a stressful year, especially if they are learning online or in a hybrid format.
- Some of your kiddos may be a little nervous about summer, because maybe there is stuff going on at home.
- Maybe they don’t get enough to eat when there’s not school.
- Maybe they don’t get to see their friends during the summer because they live too far.
- Maybe they’re moving at the end of the school year.
- Maybe they won’t have anyone to take care of them when they are home, and they could even have littler siblings to take care of.
It’s important to remember that every student has a story and a reason for their misbehavior. 
They are not purposefully behaving inappropriately. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that when behavior is happening. Try to remind yourself that their inappropriate behavior is a signal that something is wrong, and they just don’t have the vocabulary and social skills to talk about it. That being said, silly, inattentive behavior is a very real part of the end of the year. We all have goals; skills we want our students to know by the end of the year, but at this time of the year, I say Let it Go!
I design my end-of-the-year music curriculum to be more active and less work intensive. I’m still working on skills and music theory, but I let go of anything that is going to work students’ brains too hard at this time of the year. I say that’s o.k. Why keep beating your head against a wall that’s not moving??
So I’m sure you’re next question is, what kind of activities do I use at the end of the year??
DO USE these types of activities:
- Movement
- Line dance units
- Outdoor Music games
- Games that review skills learned
- Center activities
DON’T use these types of activities:
- Movies!!!!
- Projects that require a lot of thinking
- Sedentary activities
- Instrument play that requires a lot of attention to detail
Teachers, no one is judging, or if they are, let them!! It is the end of the year, and we all know how hard that is! If you’re looking for some great activities to use at the end of the year, check out my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. There are even some outdoor activities that review rhythm reading and note value skills! Here’s are some links:
Note Value Ball Toss – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Note-Value-Ball-Toss-6842656
Red Light Green Light Poison Rhythm – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Red-Light-Green-Light-Poison-Rhythm-6842697