Tuesday was our last day of school and, as always, I tried to end things on a positive note. I wanted the kids to feel as though they were finishing strong, in spite of the many changes they’ve faced due to coronavirus this spring.
Here are my three tips for a happy ending:
- Complete all work.
- Hold a progress report meeting with each student.
- Do something fun.
Completion: Get to whatever you determine is the end point for any projects, books, chapters, assignments, etc. by the last day of school.
Progress Reports: You can read more about the yearly evaluations I do in this post. These assessments are totally worth the work. I cover academic accomplishments, but also recognize gains in areas such as independent learning, adaptability, patience, etc.
Something Fun: This can be anything big or small, from a weekend away to a special dessert. For us this year, it was a simple late afternoon family outing up into the mountains.
I can’t tell you how nice it was up there. While my husband and boys fished, I hiked nearby. It was quiet and quite beautiful. Although there’s still plenty of snow at higher elevations, I saw only a few remaining patches in deep shaded gullies. The aspen were even starting to leaf out. A few deer made appearances and, weirdly, a couple of Great Blue Herons perched on the tops of pine trees.
I know – a photo isn’t that great if you have to explain it. 🙂
As the sun began to go down, I returned to hang out with my fishermen. It was good to finish our school year in such a nice way – schoolwork done, accomplishments recognized, and the end capped off with some time together in the mountains… along with a little alone time just for me.
