As the school year winds down, the energy in classrooms tends to wind up. Excitement about summer, combined with the fatigue of a long school year, can turn even a well-managed classroom into pure chaos. But fear not! With a bit of planning and some creative end of year classroom management strategies and activities, you can manage this whirlwind of a time and even have some fun along the way.
Here are 8 end of year classroom management tips and tricks to help you navigate the final days of the school year with ease.
1. Involve Students in Clean up and Organization
We all know the end-of-year clean-up can be stressful if you have to do it yourself, so why get your students involved? Start by listing everything that needs to be done on the board, from sorting supplies to recycling old papers. Then, let students pick their tasks, turning cleanup into a choice rather than a chore. This approach not only lightens your load but also instills a sense of responsibility and teamwork in your students.
2. Provide Clear Options
The question “What do I do now?” can become all too common as the usual classroom routine starts to relax. This end of year classroom management strategy can be used all year long, but is especially important to keep unnecessary interruptions at bay. To combat this, introduce this “Must Do to May Do” chart. This editable chart outlines tasks that students must complete alongside optional “may do” activities they can choose once “must do’s” are done. It’s a great way to keep students engaged and productive, offering a blend of structure and choice.
3. Take Learning Outside
Never underestimate the power of fresh air and a change of scenery. If possible, take your lessons or activities outside. Whether it’s reading in the sunshine, using sidewalk chalk for art or lessons, or organizing teacher vs. student games, outdoor time can improve students’ mood and energy levels. Plus, it’s a nice change of pace for everyone.
4. Maintain a Consistent Routine
While it’s tempting to let routines slide in the final days, maintaining a consistent schedule helps keep a sense of normalcy and security, which many of our students need. It doesn’t mean you can’t introduce new activities or fun twists, but having a predictable framework for the day helps students stay grounded amidst the excitement.
5. Plan Engaging Activities
End the school year on a high note with activities that are both fun and educational. Whether it’s project-based learning that allows students to explore their interests, creative arts projects, or reflective writing assignments about their year, choose tasks that spark joy and engagement. This is also a perfect time to experiment with activities you’ve wanted to try but haven’t had the chance to implement yet.
Here are two of my favorite enrichment projects to keep students engaged and learning right up to the very end of the year! Influential Person Research Project — students research any influential person they are interested in, create a slideshow or record their findings on the included paper-based template, then (the best part) you host a Wax Musuem! Such a fun and memorable project end the year with. Reading Banners – Seasonal & Holiday Themed use these reading banners to review and reinforce important reading skills and decorate your classroom or bulletin boards with seasonal decor! The Summer Themed banner is perfect for this time of year, and sets the perfect backdrop for a summer class party (think beach balls, sunglasses, leis, etc.)!
6. Celebrate Achievements
Take time to celebrate the year’s achievements, both big and small. This can be as simple as a classroom awards ceremony, a showcase of students’ work, or personal notes of appreciation. Celebrating successes helps students reflect on their growth and leaves them with positive memories of the year.
7. Shake It Up and Try Something New
By this point in the year, your usual routines might be losing steam—and your students aren’t the only ones counting down the days. This is actually a great time to try out a new, super simple behavior system.
Why now? Because it’s new to your students, they’ll be more likely to buy in. And for you, it’s a low-pressure way to test it out before using it next school year. You get to work out the kinks and see what sticks.
One easy option is The 5 Ps—a clear, visual system built around five positive expectations that keep things focused and predictable (even when May gets a little wild).
8. When in Doubt, GAMIFY
If the class energy is off the charts, lean into it with games. Create a Kahoot to review key standards—or make it extra fun with a “Guess Who?” Kahoot about your own class. (Think: “This student wore a Pikachu shirt every Monday. Who is it?”)
You can even turn your lessons into friendly competition. My Print-and-Go Reading Comprehension Activities are perfect for this. Students can work in teams to answer questions, then color a poster-size page together as they earn pieces. It’s low prep for you, high engagement for them, and still full of learning. Game on.
Don’t forget to download the freebie at the top of this page for an editable End of the Year countdown with 10 days of activities to keep your students excited and engaged. They’ll appreciate the surprises and shared memories you’re making day in and day out!
The end of the year doesn’t have to feel like survival mode. With a few creative tweaks, a little flexibility, and a sense of humor, you can turn the chaos into something meaningful (and even fun). Try something new, shake things up, and make these last weeks count—for you and your students. You’ve made it this far—let’s finish strong and maybe even enjoy the ride a little.
Looking for more end of the year ideas and activities? Check out this blog post Class Rewards that Don’t Break the Bank and this one, End of Year Activities for Elementary.
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