Surviving the Summer Count Down
Everyone can feel it.
The days are dragging by.
Your kids are losing their minds.
The summer heat is creeping in (well...in AZ it's been here since January).
Parents are daydreaming of summer vacations.
And you, dear teacher, are hanging on trying to survive the last couple of weeks.
Even if you're working at a year-round preschool, the seasonal transition can certainly be felt by both students and staff, and trying to stay motivated during this time period can be rough to say the least.
If you're hanging on by a thread, here are a few tips to keep your classroom, and maybe even your sanity, intact until summer.
Take it easy on yourself and the kids.
Knowing that summer is around the corner can really change the atmosphere of your classroom. You'll most likely find yourself getting a bit more frustrated than you usually would.
During these moments don't forget to offer your kids and yourself a little bit of grace. The end of the year is tough for everyone and we might not be performing at our optimal best.
This is the perfect opportunity to tap into self-regulation techniques (for both teacher and students), affirmations, and stress-relieving activities.
Plan less (or more).
Depending on your classroom this might be the time to ease back on the lessons and elaborate classroom designs and opt for simple and easy activities instead.
The end of the year is a great time for review, book-themed lessons, process art, and more unstructured free play.
On the same coin, however, you could reserve the last two weeks for something super special just for the end of the year. Water days, “messy" sensory days, or special guests (like a firefighter) are all great ways to end the year with a bang and some memorable fun.
You might have some more flexibility too since ratios tend to drop as more kids stay home and you have fewer kids.
Remember that you'll have to remind often.
It's almost magical how quickly little ones will forget a whole year of rules reinforced.
You'll probably spend the last few days reminding your kiddos about rules that you know they understand. Brace yourself, breath through it, and know that it's not your class falling apart or suddenly your teaching skills have deteriorated.
This regression is completely normal.
This is a good time to make future plans.
Whether you have a summer break or not, the transition into the summer months is a great time to start reviewing the last couple of months (what worked, what would you like to improve, what goals do you have for your class, etc.) and set an intention for what’s next upcoming.
The kids would probably love to help you purge through old toys and papers as well.
Take a look at your to-do list and the things you've pinned on your "one-day" board on Pinterest and see what you can knock out or what you're willing to do.
When in doubt, dance party.
You can never have too many dance parties and kids love it. When the energy is just too much, throw on some music, hand the kids some colorful silk rags and ribbons and let them wiggle around.
If you want to get extra fancy, have some glow sticks stashed away and break them out in dire situations.
Bonus points if you join in!
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