How to Coast through the End of the School Year
Keeping it short and sweet today folks, cuz we just don’t have that much time at the end of the year, right?
When it comes to the end of the year, you know it’s hard. I mean, let’s be real. The kids are done, you’re done, classroom teachers are done . . . everything is tiring, and you can’t wait until the school year is D.O.N.E done! But teacher, you’ve still got a couple weeks left. What are you going to do to make it until that last day???
Here’s my suggestion . . . apply the old adage, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! If you haven’t heard this one before, fret not. I’m not suggesting we beat our children. What I am suggesting is that you allow your students to have fun. That’s what they want. In fact that’s all they want at the end of the year. They are no longer here to learn, no matter how much we still want them to. They just want to have fun, especially when they come to your class.
I know, I know . . . you don’t want to be known as the fun class. It grates on your nerves every time a classroom teacher leaves their students saying, “Have fun!” However, at this time of the year, let’s just go with it. But let’s disguise learning as fun. If you missed last week’s blog post all about reward days, go back and check it out, because this is part of the fun theme.
Here’s a step by step guide to adding learning disguised as fun:
- Use music your students LOVE – I know your music teacher heart may cry, but in the words of Elsa, “Let it go”. Pick out a pop song that you know students are vibing on right now, and use it in your classroom. Be sure it’s one you really love too, because you know how many times you’re going to have to listen to it!
- Add some movement – Keep it simple. At this time of the year, your kiddos are NOT going to follow directions. You’ll be lucky to get them to even listen to the directions. Last week my 4th and 5th graders were jamming to Love Runs Out, by One Republic. We started the lesson by simply walking around the room on the verses and jogging on the chorus. Very basic skills, yes. That’s what we’re going for here. Plus, you can’t imagine how many of my 4th and 5th graders need help with steady beat this year.
- Add some unpitched percussion instruments – Pick the instruments that your students are excited to play. Create some super simple rhythms to accompany the song you’ve chosen. Don’t go too crazy with multiple parts. Stick to one rhythm per section. Remember how my students were walking on the verses and jogging on the chorus. Once we got to the instrument play, congas had a steady beat on the verse and maracas had double eighth notes on the chorus.
- Let them play all the things – Use the bridge of the pop song you’ve chosen as time for your students to do a switch-a-roo and trade instruments. Note that I only added 2 instruments to our accompaniment for ease of teaching but also ease of trading instruments.
This is my favorite, super easy lesson plan for the end of the school year. I’m sure you have questions. I’d love to help, so you can get in touch by emailing me at jeanette@storiesthatsing.net, or connect with me in my private Facebook Group.
By the way, if you’d like the lesson plan bundle for Love Runs Out that includes the PowerPoint and lesson plan, you can grab it here!