April 2025

Picture this: It is the final two weeks of school. Students are cleaning out lockers, signing yearbooks, and looking forward to celebrations and milestones. Meanwhile, in your classroom, things are flowing just as you have always envisioned—your students are engaged, collaborating, and taking ownership of their learning. The hard work you have put in all year has paid off, and your classroom feels both productive and celebratory.

Now, back to today. We are almost there. Some teachers I work with have already started backward, planning from the last day of school, mapping out the home stretch. But as the testing season wraps up, many find themselves asking, “Now what?”

What experience would you like your students to have during these final weeks? Will they be calm and bittersweet as you prepare to send students off? Will they be chaotic, filled with restless energy? Will they be joyful, reflective, and productive? If you have taught long enough, you have likely experienced all of these.

The final stretch of the school year brings both opportunity and exhaustion. Your students are feeling it. You are feeling it. This is why now is the time to work smarter, not harder—by making small shifts that keep engagement high without adding stress. How you approach these next few weeks can make the difference between just getting through and truly finishing strong.

That might mean adjusting your classroom routines to take some of the load off your plate, leaning into collaboration for fresh ideas, shaking things up with new assessment strategies, or reinforcing the student relationships that keep your classroom running smoothly. With a few intentional moves, you can create a meaningful, energized finish to the year—one that leaves both you and your students ending on a high note.

Here are some ideas to help you make that happen.

Prioritize Your Well-Being

Most importantly, take care of yourself. Teachers give so much throughout the year, and by this point, exhaustion can start to set in. Small shifts in classroom structure can help maintain engagement while also giving you the space to recharge.

• Use team roles so students manage aspects of the lesson and take ownership of their work.
• Lean on Study Team and Teaching Strategies like Swap Meet and Gallery Walk/Exhibit Visit so students take an active role in assessing their learning.
• Build in peer feedback routines—students benefit from different perspectives, and it eases your load.
• Try the Teamwork Rubric from CPM to help students hold each other accountable and build team expectations.

Shake Up Assessment Routines

By now, class routines are well established—but are they still serving students effectively? When structures become too predictable, students may disengage. The final stretch of the year is an excellent time to introduce fresh approaches to formative and summative assessments that reinvigorate learning.

• Try a new graphic organizer, like a Magic Book or Concept Catcher, to help students structure their thinking.
• Use vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS) to make problem-solving more visibly interactive.
• Have students create portfolios showcasing key learning moments from the chapter.
• Offer a project where students use images, drawings, or video to represent their understanding.
• Take class outside—movement and fresh air can boost focus and engagement.

Find a Collaborative Partner

Teaching does not have to be a solo act. Collaboration fuels creativity, provides fresh perspectives, and can help bring those “I’ve always wanted to try that” ideas to life. Partnering with another teacher can make innovation feel more achievable and enjoyable.

• Reach out to a fellow teacher in your building to co-teach or observe each other’s classes.
• Tap into CPM resources, such as CPM’s Middle School or High School Facebook groups; there may be teachers in the CPM network open to a virtual professional learning community.
• Follow up with a connection from a recent professional learning event—send that email!
• Call your Math Coach (sorry, I am only temporary!) to brainstorm ideas or problem-solve together.

Strengthen Student Relationships

Classroom culture is built all year, but in these final weeks, relationships can make all the difference. Students who feel seen and valued are more engaged, more willing to take academic risks, and more invested in their learning. Now is the perfect time to reinforce those connections and celebrate the unique individuals in your classroom.

• Start class with quick share-outs about hobbies, interests, or personal wins.
• Incorporate reflection prompts that connect math to real-world student experiences.
• Set up small team check-ins where students discuss their progress and challenges.
• Celebrate student growth—acknowledge how far they have come since the start of the year.

As we near the final stretch of the school year, now is the time to refresh, reconnect, and take some risks. What is one small change you can make this week? Now that you have had a quick round of coaching, let’s make these next few weeks as engaging and rewarding as possible!