Tips to Enjoy Teaching at the End of The School Year.
So you've come to the end of the school year and you're feeling a bit frazzled? Want some tips to help you finish the year strong with energy and enthusiasm? Well, here are two methods I like to use:
I would now say, "in all seriousness" if I wasn't completely serious about the fact that red velvet cupcakes and cherry coke are a big part of my end-of-the-year routine, but here's a healthier alternative to help you through the final days of the school year.
Plan something you'll look forward to.
The end of the school year is filled with a lot of things that are not much fun. Final evaluations, testing, cleaning... So one way I keep my energy up at the end of it all is by planning something that the kids and I can get excited about. One year the teachers and I planned a grade level kickball tournament, which meant that, leading up to the tournament, we had an excuse to take the kids outside every once in a while, and get some vitamin D while we practiced kicking.
Many times I have participated in end of the year singing events. One favorite was a tribute to Disney where all of the teachers dressed up like Disney characters. In others we sang songs around the world, twelve songs around the year, or a celebration of reader's theater. All of these programs were filled with fun and excitement. My daughter's team celebrates the year with a dance festival in May; each class learns a fun dance to perform for each other, as well as parents. And let's not forget fieldtrips!
I think the key is to plan something that you, personally, really love. Something that excites you; something you can set aside and look forward to every year. Because music energizes me, most years I plan a class musical for the end of the year. It doesn't have to be a large affair, but it's something that lends excitement to those final months for me. One of my favorite plays The Wizard of Oz is based on the book by L. Frank Baum. Did you know that there was a stage musical of the play in 1903 with songs written by Baum himself? Lyndsey found these old songs and put them together as sort of a musical "reader's theater/musical" that her class loves!
If you're interested in doing a play yourself. Here are some tips:
Try to find the time to read the original story first. Many children will not be as familiar with well loved stories as you might imagine.
Teach the songs during Shared Reading. Songs can be a great tool for teaching vocabulary, rhyming words, phonetic skills, and many other language arts opportunities!
Play the songs in the background of your class whenever it will not be distracting. The kids will catch on quickly!
Let each child choose 3 parts that they would like. They will usually pick what fits his/her comfort level, and, this way, everyone should be able to be at least their 3rd choice. You can even double cast parts, and have the students switch off for each performance.
Remember that for each child to benefit from the experience, they need to be involved. Try to give everyone a chance to shine.
Your shy children may surprise you by volunteering for a solo, give them a chance, this can be a great opportunity to build their confidence!
Have the kids stand in way that reflects when it is their turn to sing or speak. This will help them remember what to do.
Let the children know that no one watching them knows the words or the narration, so if they don’t get the words perfect no one will know as long as the meaning stays the same. This will help them relax.
Before doing the reader’s theater/play for parents, perform for other classes to help the kids get over any stage fright.
If you would like to try The Wizard of Oz Musical Script is your classroom, and you should, because it's awesome, you can find it at our Teacher's Pay Teacher's Store, or right here!
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Description
Wizard of Oz and Wicked Fans alike will love this Wizard of Oz Musical Play for Young Children! Our goal is that as your students participate with this script and musical performance, they will, not only become more familiar with one of America’s great novels, but some musical history as well!
Put the Science of Reading into action the most authentic way possible! Integrate literature and music with this musical play of L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with song lyrics written by Baum himself! Your children will have the opportunity to participate in an experience they'll never forget.
These performance materials contain everything that you will need, including background information, 2 script versions (varying reading levels), sheet music for each song, and 2 mp3s for each song (one that has vocals to help the children learn the songs and one that is accompaniment only). These songs are both original and/or adapted by the Frank Baum's 1902 musical. This leads to a great opportunity for an author's study!
The parts for the play are: Narrator(s), Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, Dorothy, Locasta, Munchkins, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Poppies, Guardian of the Gate, Wizard, Wicked Witch, Flying Monkeys, Glinda, Chorus The numbers of poppies, monkeys, locust and munchkins can vary depending on class size. The show is easily adaptable in size!
There are ten songs in the play. (Of course you can add songs from the movies as desired).
Gray
Just a Little Girl
When We Get What's A-Comin' To Us
Locasta
The Poppy Song
The Guardian of the Gate
The Wicked Witch
Flying Monkeys
Humbug
Home Sweet Home
The performance lasts 30-40 minutes.
We have used this play with K-2 students and they love it!
What customers are saying...
"We have used this play with K-2 students and they love it!
"This was such a fun play!! Kids loved it."
"Great resource for my drama class! My students and I made adaptations and performed the play for our Spring Performance."
You can also find some other great reader's theater scripts here →
Celebrate the memories
Another way to make the end of the year fun is to focus on all of the fun memories that your class has made during the year. If you've been collecting work samples in a portfolio now is the time to give them some final entries and share them with parents. If you've taken photos or video over the year, you can compile them into a class video presentation or scrapbook and then plan a day for the children to see/watch their memories together. Class graduations are another great way to celebrate the progress that the children (and you) have made!
For those of you gearing up for the end of the year, here is a collection of portfolio essentials! Use the code endyear at checkout and you will receive this product for free!
These pages are a portion of our growing portfolio collection. If you do not have a full-year student portfolio, simply use these pages to create an end of the year memory book. Enjoy!
The complete portfolio includes monthly samples, memory pages and more. You can read more here.
And here is a must-do activity for me!
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Bring guided reading to a new level by using "Partner Plays" also called "Reader's Theater." These books have simple, adorable scripts, that will increase student's ability to read with expression and fluency.
Contents:
Henny Penny
Jack and the Beanstalk
Little Red Hen
Little Red Riding Hood
The Three Little Pigs
The Three Billy Goats