End-of-Year To-Do List for Teachers
School is almost out and it’s about time to call it a wrap! But, do you look around your room and feel a bit overwhelmed with so much to complete? Oh, I have been there! Between field day, assemblies, and actually closing up shop, there is so much to do! So, I created an end-of-year checklist to get me through this chaotic time of year. Yep, I’m a list kind of gal! If you are too, let’s take a closer look at some tasks that we as teachers need (or probably should) complete before we hang up our classroom keys!
TASK ONE: Clean and Organize Student Supplies and Spaces
First things first…clean out student desks and cubbies. It ends up probably one of the messiest days of the year! Students will need to pack up their personal items, return books and classroom community supplies (it’s amazing how they suddenly find them), and help store textbooks. I suggest spreading out this task over a couple of days as well as keeping several grocery bags handy for your students that won’t fit everything into their backpacks. Be sure to have students wipe out the insides of desks and cubbies as well. The custodians shouldn’t have to clean up all of that mess!
Besides ensuring that your students take care of their personal spaces, there is so much more your students can do to help you get your room summer ready! Have your students help with other tasks as well, and trust me, they will LOVE helping!
Do you have a classroom community supply area in your room? Ask a couple of students to dump each bin and check all supplies one by one. Are there any broken scissors, dried out markers, chewed up pencils, glue sticks missing their caps? Oh, you bet there are! (I always wonder what happens to all of these poor supplies, don’t you?!) Once they have checked, all of these supplies need to be dumped into the trash! Also, before reorganizing good supplies back into their appropriate bin, be sure to have your students wipe out each bin. Do the same with any other student supply areas and spaces.
Next, tackle that classroom library! After students have returned all books, have a couple of helpers reorganize your classroom library. It would also be a great time to pull books off of shelves and out of bins to wipe down each shelf/bin individually.
TASK TWO: Clean and Organize Teacher Supplies and Spaces
These are the tasks that you and only can do as they are related to files and your personal space.
So first, be sure to file and update all student records. Besides ensuring that report cards or student profile sheets (if you school requires them), be sure to have anything student related completed and ready to hand off to the right person at the appropriate time.
Next, you’ll want to be sure you clean out your desk, drawers, and personal space, just as the students. Take any personal items that need to go home, throw out the things you don’t need anymore, and just clean it up! No one wants to come back to a messy desk!
Lastly, PURGE and ORGANIZE the other stuff that we tend to put off. When was the last time you went through your files (both digital or paper) or went through your cupboards? Yep, these are some of tasks that I have the hardest time doing myself. I always think to myself, “Oh, I can do this over summer vacation or when I come back.” But the reality is…I never do! So, I started doing some of these tasks BEFORE heading out for summer. Not only did it help me get better organized, but it allowed me to stay more focused on back-to-school tasks rather than trying to “clean up” from the year (…or years…) prior!
TASK THREE: Inventory & Label Items
I’m sure your custodians are just as amazing as mine! They work so hard to keep our classrooms clean each and every day, and then they manage to get them just perfect over the summer! However, in order to get that deep clean accomplished, everything that is in your room, must end up out of your room! This is why taking an inventory and labeling your bookcases, teacher chair, or any other large item that could be moved, is so important! Not only does this ensure that your items will find their way back to your classroom, but it will definitely help out your custodians as well! No second guessing where things belong, and no need to track anything down!
Before heading out, take note of your setup that worked well for you or things you would like to change. Perhaps take pictures if it helps! This also includes bulletin board displays if you are required to take them down as part of your check out procedure (be sure to label and store pieces together in this case). This will help setup go much more quickly and smoothly when you return in the fall!
Friend, as you bring your school year to a close, I wish you a smooth transition into a well-deserved period of relaxation and rejuvenation! Wishing you a joyous and fulfilling vacation ahead!
