Teacher Goodie: End of Year Countdown
- simplyaaronni9
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 27
There are many things we have to avoid as a teacher, and one of them is starting the "end of year countdown" too early! Not to say it doesn't happen, I've totally done this before, but I can't express how doing this backfires every single time.
The goal is not in immediate sight.
As human beings, we're all drive by some kind of motivation. Whether it's family, friends, future, or past, there is something that motivates us.
When we were younger, striving for distant goals like being a doctor, lawyer, or teacher were reasonable because we were growing up. But what happens when you've pretty much reached those life goals?
Well, you begin to develop smaller goals. Let's get through the day. Let's get through this meeting. Let's work until lunch. Let's get through dismissal. These goals are so important because they are immediate and easy to achieve.
This where starting the end of year countdown early comes in. We are setting ourselves up for failure when we set a goal that is not in immediate sight. Meaning, if we start counting down 50 days before school ends, our goal is hard to achieve and we will make ourselves miserable as we wait.
Students will notice you getting antsy.
If you are anything like me, your emotions are (nearly) all over your face. You have a kind of solid poker face, but yet how you really feel often shines through. I've had to work through this as a teacher, but I still struggle! Throw in the end of year countdown.
As teachers, we are so focused on the day to day; making it to 3-day weekends, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, and onto Sprint Break. Like #1, we use mini goals to help us get through a long year. But here's the thing. Working towards short-term holidays during a school year is moderately painless. Working towards a two month (or two and a half) break? Painful.
You will come to dread each day.
This ties directly to #1. Every day to the end of the school year is one day closer, but the only way we can even begin to enjoy our new school year is by not focusing on what comes months and months ahead.
When you get into the mindset of "we only have # more days until school is out" you're subconsciously loosing the reigns on a few key areas:
Discipline. It's possible student discipline, as well as your own, can begin to wane as the year winds down. After all, "we only have # more days until school is out."
Motivation. If school's about to be out, then why should school work be important? Exactly! School work loses its value and meaning as summer comes closer and closer.
Energy. It's almost as if we teachers are born with one pot of energy.We pull from this pot every day, but we can't run out of energy, so we try to store it by having lounging evenings, restful weekends, and useful week long breaks. However, the energy we build grows veryyyyyyy slowlyyyyyyy and when that energy is gone...it is gone.
What now?
Well, you start by toning down your countdown list to 10 days. Why 10 days? Well, that is two weeks of countdown. After 180 days of teaching, 10 days manageable.
& of course, using a 10 day countdown means you can use the resource below!
Ten Day Countdown
Let's do a 10 day coountdown. It is easy, simple, and can be 100% free. You can:
Post 10 balloons somewhere in your class w/ sticky notes inside. You write the activity on the sticky note.
Post 10 sticky notes with the day's activity.
Project a digital version.
You can get a free copy of this resource (Canva slide presentation, Google Slide, or PDF) below:
End of Year Countdown
Look below for a few end of year countdown ideas!
Shoes off. Allow your students the chance to let their feet breath as they do their work. Word of advice: make sure all the kids are wearing socks.
Pajama day. Give your students a chance to wear their comfy "jammies" to school!
Choose your seat. This is a great chance for your students to exercise the self-control they've been working on all year!
Movie day. Preface this reward with movie "day" being a period of time that does not mean you're watching an entire movie.
Stuffy day. Let your students bring their favorite stuffed animal to school.
Selfie day. Either let students bring their Instax cameras to school, use your own Instax, or your phone to take selfies. You can project them on the last day of school!
Class picnic. Tell parents and students to come to school with a blanket or towel. Enjoy some time outside.
Class shoutouts. Give every student a sticky note with someone in their class that they would like to "shout out." Challenge your students to "shout out" someone they don't know very well.
Popsicle party. Go to the dollar store for popsicles, pop them in the fridge, and have a popsicle party with your class!
Game day. Bring out your games and your students bring games to school. Spend some time playing games with your students!
There are many things we have to avoid as a teacher, and one of them is starting the "end of year countdown" too early! Not to say it doesn't happen, I've totally done this before, but I can't express how doing this backfires every single time. So try starting your countdown at 10 and see how big of a difference it makes!
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