3 Things to Do Before Leaving the Classroom for the Summer
As students gear up for summer and the school year winds down, it can be tough to stay productive during prep time. However, here are 3 things that you can do, before you pack your bags for the summer, that you will thank yourself for later!
1. Organize the Clutter
This might be the hardest one to get motivated to do this time of year, but organizing any loose game cards, task cards, math manipulatives, and any other odds and ends is worth the extra time during those last few weeks. Remember, your students are sometimes your best helpers when it comes to classroom organization! Coming back to a classroom that is organized and ready to go is a huge plus in August. If you are feeling extra motivated, try to have this organized before the final bell rings, so that you can get started with your break right away!
Storage bins that include all math workshop game pieces and materials, sorted by type of activity!
2. Get a Few Things Prepped for the Start of Next Year
The back to school rush can be crazy in the fall. Having materials printed, cut, and prepped for the first week or two can be a huge benefit at the start of next school year. Middle school students can be awesome helpers when it comes to cutting, folding, and prepping activities. If you already have textbooks collected those last few days or have students who finish work early, having them help with this work can be a perfect activity for them!
Looking for ideas for the start of next year? This free Math is Everywhere Tile Project has always been a student favorite!
3. Write Down a Few Things You Want to Change or Explore for Next Year
While your brain is still in all out school mode, jot down a few things that you want to try out or look into for next year. This could be something as small as sliding furniture around or as something as big as restructuring your daily routines in class. As the summer progresses, it can be tough to remember all those things you thought of during the school year! Write them down now, so you don't forget and can start thinking about them!
Feeling really motivated? Start cutting and prepping materials for the following year. I personally have found that is is much better to do this at a leisurely pace during the summer than trying to cram it in the night before teaching an activity. Some of my math center activities and task cards are the types of activities that I always find are nice to have prepped ahead of time.
As many of you know, I am a big proponent of using math workshop in the middle school math classroom. If you are considering a switch or interested in more information, you can check out my book, Making Math Workshop Work, which is available on Amazon. The beginning of summer is the perfect time to begin researching a chance such as this, so that you can be ready to start fresh at the beginning of the school year.
