Do you notice how your students get a little crazy at the end of the day? Not only are the students excited to go home, but also you, as a teacher, are trying to get everything ready for them to take home. It can be a crazy time of day. During college, I observed many classrooms. Even the best teachers I observed had some crazy times during those dismissal and pack up minutes at the end of the day.
My first year of teaching, I tried to have some procedures at the end of the day. I would call groups to pack up, the students had to stay at their seat, and I even had a closing circle. I quickly realized that no matter what the procedures were, students would ALWAYS find something to do or someone to talk to. Soon, it looked like a circus in my classroom every time we packed up to go home. It was exhausting, especially at the end of the day when I was tired as well.
So what will save your sanity during the end of the day procedures?
READ ALOUD!
This is the number one tip I give any teacher about classroom management, especially that end of the day chaotic time! Scheduling a read aloud time at the end of the day WHILE students are packing up will seriously save your sanity, make you feel calm and relaxed, and will end the day on the right foot.
How did I implement this in my classroom?
At the end of the day, all my students would go to the carpet. They have spots on the carpet so they don’t talk to friends. I have tried the students sitting at their seat, but they always seem to talk or play with something. Students can sit on the floor for read aloud, even in fourth and fifth grade!
I would start reading a book. The expectation during this was COMPLETE silence. No one should talk since we are all listening to the story!
While reading, I would call groups to go pack up their things. My students are sitting in groups of four to five, so there are not too many students up at a time. The students would get their backpack, coat, and things from their mailbox. They would pack everything up at their seat and as soon as they are done, they come back to the carpet. Students leave all their belongings on top of their desk! This way, the carpet area doesn’t get tight.
BONUS TIP:
Having a mailbox system is so important. All information that should go home is in the mailbox so it is all ready to go at the end of the day.
When each group is done and everyone is sitting back at the carpet, I will call the next group.
This whole time doesn’t ever take more than 10 minutes and it is completely silent! Teacher win!
Once everyone is packed up, every student is back on the carpet sitting quietly. I will stop reading and we will begin a closing circle, since all the kids are on the floor and ready to start.
When we are done with closing circle, I will tell the students to get their belongings, push in their chair, and line up to be dismissed for the day. Sometimes, I will call certain groups of students at a time to line up, like everyone wearing blue.
This makes my end of the day procedures go so smoothly. I’m not constantly reminding students what they should be doing. It is a relaxing time for everyone in the classroom. This saved my sanity as a teacher and I was able to end each day on a good note.
BONUS TIP:
Sometimes I read aloud from a book. Other times, I play an audio book. This is especially nice so you can monitor students or do some end of the day organizing while the students are listening to the book. I use the app, LIBBY. I logged in with my public library card and checked out audio books for FREE. It is a great resource to use.
I hope you find this helpful. Read aloud is a powerful tool where students are learning but are quiet and focused! Use it to your advantage!
Thank you for Continually Learning with us!
Kyle and Sarah
