Five Simple Ideas for Packing Up Your Classroom for the Summer
Packing up your classroom can be the most satisfying part of closing up for the year. Planning how to pack it all up can also feel daunting, making you want to throw it all in a box and call it a year. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Join me for the End of Year Classroom Closeout series to prepare for the end of year with success and walk out for summer feeling like a rockstar! Check out my free End of Year Checklist.
Collect textbooks and Clean Lockers/Desks
Whether textbooks are assigned to each student to take fro the classroom or you use a classroom set, having a list of books assigned will streamline the collection process at the end of the year.
Cleaning out lockers and desks is a student's responsibility, but being prepared will ensure that this task is completed.
Waiting until the second to last day will help student behavior and motivation. Inevitably, students will have materials and items that won’t fit in their bags. Have plastic bags and baggies (for smaller items) available to ensure all items and materials make it home.
Large trash cans and recycle bins are also helpful when students clean out for the year's end.
Packing up your classroom and cleaning out lockers are best done as close to the last day of school as possible. This helps with student behavior and motivation.
Label Furniture
Labeling everything is an obvious end-of-year task and a simple enough task to enlist student helpers.
Labeling everything with room number and last name when packing up your classroom will help ensure that all furniture and large items will stay in the classroom.
Organize Novel Sets and Classroom Library
Keeping an inventory of classroom novel sets and your personal classroom library can be a challenging task.
Having an inventory of classroom novel sets may depend on your school district guidelines - always follow those guidelines.
Keeping track of classroom novel sets follows the same guidelines as textbook inventory in the classroom. The novels are numbered and assigned to students.
Maintaining an inventory of your personal classroom library can be tricky. Keeping a spreadsheet or list of every book could be an unrealistic task. If sitting down and writing or typing out every book you have acquired is not your jam, try Booksource. (Not an affiliate link, I am in no way associated with Booksource).
I used Booksource this past school year, and it was a seamless way to track the books in my library. Setting up and scanning all of my books was work on the front end, but it was worth it to have a way to check out books.
Posters, Anchor Charts, Boards, and Supplies
Packing up posters, anchor charts, and wall decor is simple; however, it can take time to get it all down and remove the tape or other sticky material you used to keep it up all year.
This is a student-friendly task and having tubs ready means the students can also pack it all up for you. If tubs or storage containers are unavailable when removing the wall decorations, don’t fret; just have a place for the items to be kept or stored.
Some wall decorations may need a refresh; have a place to dispose of the charts and posters.
Cleaning boards and packing supplies is another student-friendly task. The whiteboard spray tends to leave a film, making it hard to keep the board clean; therefore, I use water and a rag.
Students test board markers before cleaning and then clean the board. It’s quick and simple.
Pack desk and Check Out
The final tasks for packing up your classroom are packing up your desk (if necessary) and completing school check-out tasks.
If it is required that you pack your desk or if you are moving from your current classroom, packing your desk should be one of the last tasks.
I don’t know about you, but my desk holds my essentials, and I will need most of it until the last day of school.
Of course, you may have an excess of items, and packing some of your may be an advantage. Do what works for you.
Completing the school checkout sheet is the last item on the end-of-year to-do list. Once all items have been completed, turn in your keys and enjoy your summer.
Whatever system you devise to close out the year, make it simple and make it work. I hope you can find time to rest, recharge, and spend time with the people you love - you deserve it teacher friend!
More Articles to Help Close Out the Year
5 Tips to Successfully Closeout the Year
Prepare to Closeout with Ease to End the Year
13 End of Year Activities for Secondary Classrooms
