The end of the school year is quickly approaching…

My principal just sent her staff an article from the National Middle School Association’s “Middle E-Connections”…a monthly e-newsletter for middle school teachers.

However, the article on the end of school year doesn’t just apply to middle school teachers…it applies to teachers of all grade levels.

Here is the article…feel free to discuss this article at the Teaching Tips Machine Forum @ www.Teaching-Tips-Machine.com/forum

Five Ways to Make a Difference
Judith Baenen

The school year is racing to its end. A teacher’s role at this time of year is similar to a charioteer trying to manage a team of 40 horses and still stay upright around the curves! Nevertheless, I suggest teachers take a minute and think about these five things to do before they turn in their keys.

Evaluate your year. Take a look at that portfolio you’ve been keeping all year. What worked? What didn’t? Have students evaluate their year with you. This can be done by a paper and pencil evaluation, focus groups, or try a 360 degree evaluation with input from students, teammates, parents, and administrators (don’t forget the counselor and special education teacher). Keep the evaluation simple–eight to ten questions at most.

Throw away stuff. Teachers are notorious for saving everything. This can be a sign of frugality or laziness. Didn’t use it last year? Toss it. Several copies of a worksheet you particularly like? Keep one. Examples from students you taught in the 90s? Goodbye. If you are running out of file or shelf space in your room, you are keeping too much stuff.

Decide how you are going to be a 10% better teacher next year. We all know where our weaknesses are or the evaluations above will have pointed out a few. How will you work to make things different next year? How can you use your strengths to a new advantage? Can you be a better team member? Can you work harder to differentiate instruction? Can you revamp that unit you’ve done every year for the past six years? Can you get your opening days more organized to set a tone for the year?

Pat a new teacher on the back. Studies show that many teachers leave the profession within the first five years. Some of them who leave have terrific potential and would have been great teachers. If you have a new teacher at your school, let that person know how much you appreciate him or her. Let that teacher know how he or she has done well. Be specific. Offer to assist if they have questions about how to prepare for next year, and let new teachers know they will be welcomed back next year. If you are the new teacher yourself, pat another new teacher on the back or see if an experienced teacher you admire will sit with you to evaluate your year and plan for next.

Make intentional plans to rest. Teachers work harder during their months of teaching than almost all other professionals during their work year. Teaching is intense, demands long and constant hours of interacting with students at crossroads in their lives, and requires tremendous flexibility and thinking on one’s feet. What you do makes a huge difference in the lives of young people and their families. Granted your vacation time will be filled with things that “need” to be done around your home or with your family, but make sure that you make time for yourself in the midst of summer’s bliss.

Now get back to maneuvering that chariot!

Judith Baenen, a former classroom teacher, speaks and writes about middle grades students and the issues that affect them. She is author of National Middle School Association’s HELP, More HELP, and HELP for Teachers.

Share