“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carl W. Buehner
Each year we say goodbye to a group of students we have forged relationships with and made an impression. The last few days of school, students and teachers feel restless as they anticipate ending the semester. As a teacher you may feel overwhelmed with what you have to accomplish before students leave. Students are anticipating the break. However, before our journey ends for this year students and teachers days should reflect on their growth. Students and teachers need to also determine how they will continue to use what they have learned for years to come. Below, are tips, resources, and ideas to help you end the year making a lasting impression. Feel free to download the slides and share them with your staff. If you like these ideas then be sure to check out my new book published this summer with more ideas, Hacking Digital Learning Strategies: 10 Ways to Launch EdTech Missions in Your Classroom.
Get your copy of my books, The 30 Goals for Teachers or Learning to Go. Ask me about training your teachers, ShellyTerrell@gmail.com!
Ideas
- Write students a farewell letter like this one or create a goodbye slideshow Kizoa, Biteable, Photopeach or Magisto.
Students can:
- create a time capsule. @MsDrasby provides tips on setting a time capsule with Google Slides and Calendar.
- reflect by creating digital scrapbooks or a digital yearbook. Try EduBuncee, Biteslides, and EduGlogster.
- reflect on goals and set some goals for the summer in a vision board or goal poster.
- create a digital magazine or newspaper of their favorite moments and memories. Try Issuu, Flipsnack, these Google newspaper templates, or these resources.
- make a teacher appreciation video or slideshow using Kizoa, Biteable, Photopeach or Magisto.
- end the year with a short live presentation. Try having them share their passion in a TedTalk, Ignite, or Pecha Kucha format.
- watch and write their own commencement speeches.
- provide advice to future students. Check out this Voicethread of 3rd graders giving advice.
- play and move. Use GoNoodle.com for 5 minute brain breaks in class that get you and the students moving!
- learn outdoors. Check out my presentation with over 10 school ground activities.
- play games or create their own games. Check out my game based resources.
- learn from a guest expert physically or virtually! Skype has a list of guest experts you can find here.
- connect with other classes virtually. Find classes to do Mystery Skypes here.
- make a video together, such as lip dubs, a farewell video, or memories video. Find my resources here.
- explore the world with virtual fieldtrips. Try these resources.
- Students can explore the world with Google Cardboard. Get resources, help and ideas in the Google Cardboard Teacher Community.
Challenge: Try one of these resources to end the year meaningfully!
If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to get your copy of The 30 Goals for Teachers or my $5.99 ebook, Learning to Go, which has digital/mobile activities for any device and editable/printable handouts and rubrics.
