As an educator, the countdown to the last day of school can be exciting, but it can also be stressful due to the enormous amounts of things that have to be accomplished before summer starts! It can be an interesting mixture of high anticipation and stress.
The end of the year can also be a mixture of excitement and stress for students. End of the year schedule changes, special events, anticipation of summer plans, worries about the unknown of summer, and moving from structure to no structure can easily create dysregulated kids. And kids who already tend to be dysregulated, can become even more dysregulated. Which then sometimes causes our patience to decrease, and we start to question whether or not any of our behavior "stuff" has actually worked at all this year.
So, here are some things to keep in mind:
The end of the year can also be a mixture of excitement and stress for students. End of the year schedule changes, special events, anticipation of summer plans, worries about the unknown of summer, and moving from structure to no structure can easily create dysregulated kids. And kids who already tend to be dysregulated, can become even more dysregulated. Which then sometimes causes our patience to decrease, and we start to question whether or not any of our behavior "stuff" has actually worked at all this year.
So, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Transitions to an unknown can be hard for students. What can you do to help them think about the next grade level? Can you help build positive anticipation for the next grade level?
- Some students don't look forward to summer in the way that we might, or in the way we would expects kids to look forward to summer. Instead of talking about big vacations, encourage simple ideas and activities that are accessible for all kids. Consider connecting kids and families with local resources and programs that are easier for families to access. Not everyone gets to take a trip to Disneyland!
- This can be a good time to review goals set by students and set new ones for the next school year. Celebrate growth and encourage more growth.
- This can also be a great time for some Social Emotional Learning work. If we're not seeing the behaviors and interactions we want, maybe we need to stop and do some direct work on behavior, character, and social skills.
- Keep those routines and procedures tight until the end! Predictable and regulated environments keep kids more regulated and settled amidst stress.
- Extra patience is needed for the kids who need it the most! It's super hard and exhausting, but sometimes those kids starting pushing away to protect themselves. Keep at those relationships!
Edutopia Article: