When the final bell rings for summer vacation and the buses have all departed, it doesn’t take long before the staff parking lot empties. I get it; you are exhausted from planning, marking, and from containing 30-some students who are itching for freedom. However, I am here to try and convince you to put away your keys, have a seat at your desk, and get back to work (just for a little while). By doing just a few extra things before you lock your classroom door at the end of the school year, you can avoid spending your precious summer months thinking about work. When it’s time to come back, you will be prepped and ready for a stress-free back-to-school season!

1. Reevaluate Procedures and Routines

The end of the school year is the perfect time to reflect on what procedures and routines worked well during the year and which ones need to be adjusted or scrapped altogether. For example, you might want to consider what procedures you have in place for behavior tracking and consequences, incomplete assignments, absenteeism, technology usage, early finishers, and student celebrations (and the list goes on). It takes time for a teacher to find the classroom management procedures that work best for them. Below are some of the set-up resources I prepare at the end of the school year so I am ready to go when the students arrive.

2. Declutter and Decorate

It is time to purge the paper. File any really important documents or student exemplars that you will use during the next school year, but everything else should go. Get your classroom as tidy as possible and then start setting up what you can for next year. I know some people have to tear down everything in their classrooms each year, so this may not work for everyone.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to make your classroom Pinterest-perfect, but adding a nice bulletin board display, or a sign to welcome your students now will give you one last thing to do during back-to-school when your to-do list is a mile long. One of my favorite displays for back-to-school is this English is Weird poster set, but you could also use funny grammar posters, inspirational quotes, or even your class rules (check out the rules posters I use inspired by famous people).

3. Plan for the First Day (or Week)

Make a lesson plan and photocopy everything you need at least for the first day of school. If it is too much, prepping the first week is even better. When the rest of the teachers in your building are frantically prepping the first week back you will have time to personalize your classroom and materials for your particular student list(s). Even a point-form list of what you will cover the first week is a good start.

Here are my two favorite activities to do on the first day:

1. 1. Use a snowball writing icebreaker activity (my favorite!)
   2. Have students write a letter to their future self.

I also have this social media-inspired student profile on each desk when students arrive, so they have something to do as soon as they sit down. I attach each profile to a student folder, so I can find information about the students easily during the year. Photocopy a class set of these and you already have the first 10-15 minutes planned! If you’d like to try it out, you can download your copy here: FREE Social Media Student Profile.

4. Map Out Your Year

Keep this one very simple. Break it down by month and write down what units or what content you will cover during that time. A general pacing guide will give you some direction. It will also allow you to think ahead to make sure you are covering all of your outcomes. When you get back to school, you will have a framework to start prepping for your year.

5. Get Ready For Open House / Meet The Teacher

Most schools have an open house or meet the teacher night in the first few weeks of school. The day before open house, I always seem to be frantically preparing for the parent’s arrival. I go into full stress-mode. My suggestion is getting an open house presentation or handout prepared at the end of the year. I have one that I used each year and just tweaked depending on what procedures, routines, or content I was changing.

Ok, you have done enough! Check all of these things off your list at the end of the school year. Then, head home for a stress-free summer holiday where are you thinking of nothing but sunshine, family, and friends. I hope you enjoy your vacation, teachers! You deserve it.

If you haven’t yet, you might also want to check out my post: What I Do the First Week Back to School in Middle School ELA