Planning the End of the Year in ELA - BNT Team Meeting [S7 EP. 296]

Listen to the full episode below:

You might want your planner, a highlighter, and maybe your teacher bestie for this one, because we are not limping our way to summer. We’re finishing strong! In this team meeting episode, I (Amanda) am walking you through exactly how I plan the end of the school year without falling into that classic trap of thinking I have way more time than I actually do. 

We start with the real numbers (actual instructional days, not wishful thinking) because if you don’t know what you’re working with, you can’t really plan. From there, I’m having you map out your musts first: the non-negotiables, the assessments, the projects, the presentations, all the things that absolutely HAVE to happen before that final bell rings. 

Once the essentials are on the calendar, that’s when we get to the good stuff..the wants. The traditions, the ceremony, the moments your students will remember for years to come. I’m sharing some of my favorite end-of-year ideas, from countdowns using iconic final lines from books, movies, and TV shows, to collaborative story writing that somehow turns your warm-up into a full-blown class tradition. 

I’m also talking about a literary awards ceremony I’m honestly way too excited about. Think “Main Character Energy,” “Best Glow Up,” and the “Emotional Damage” award. Because the end of the year shouldn’t feel like survival mode. It should feel intentional, a little reflective, and kind of fun!

topics discussed:

  • A surprisingly simple Canva printing trick

  • New books from T.J. Klune and Ruta Sepetys (YAY!)

  • Why end-of-year planning has to start with your actual instructional days

  • How I separate my “musts” from my “wants” when building my calendar

  • My favorite end-of-year countdown activities using famous final lines and creative writing

  • Ways to build ceremony and reflection into those last few weeks of school

resources:

check out other bnt episodes:

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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