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Preparing your classroom for the end of the year is always the worst! We are always told that we have to take everything off the walls (just in case they decide to paint), and to move everything to the center of the room (in case they need to shampoo the carpets). Now, unfortunately, most of the time, neither of those things happen. However, that is a completely different blog post. Regardless of why you have to do it, preparing your classroom for the end of the school year requires a lot of work. Since I have done this so many times, over and over, I have learned some of the best strategies to getting your room up and ready for the next year.
How to Prepare Your Classroom For the End of the Year
1. Get rid of extra supplies
I have an issue of holding on to school supplies…construction paper, 
tissues, markers, crayons, etc., just in case I need them to next year. Eventually, I will have collected so many school supplies that I could fill an entire black cabinet all of it. One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is to randomly choose students to take home the extra supplies. The kids love it! They are able to either have stuff to use over the summer, or hold on to the class supplies the next year. This way, all of the supplies end up going to a good home, as opposed to sitting in a cabinet for years.
2. If you haven’t used in two years, get rid of it
A cluttered classroom is one of the worst things you can have. Not only does it decrease student behavior, but it also just makes you feel terrible. Yes, I understand it is hard. You think that maybe one day you will use it. Well, if you haven’t in the last few years, you probably won’t. Michael Linsin does a great job talking about the different type of hoarders in his book, “The Happy Teacher Habits: 11 Habits of the Happiest, Most Effective Teachers on Earth.” If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend checking it out before the beginning of the year.
I have stuff in my room in a bin that I bought before I even became a teacher. Never used it. This year, I finally passed it on to other teachers who actually would. The same goes with books. Unfortunately, books over time get damaged. If you can’t fix them, but they are still readable, send them home with a student.
3. Organize as you pack
The end of the year is stressful. However, the beginning of the year is 
even more hectic! I have caused myself much more work at the start of the year because when I packed everything up, I just threw everything in a box. Have you ever seen those memes that show the beginning of the year where all supplies are immaculate, and at the end of the year, it’s a disaster? It’s so true. Keep yourself from having to make it perfect again at beginning of the year. Do it now. You will definitely thank yourself later.
Three quick and easy steps to preparing your room for the end of the year! A great way to make sure the beginning of your school year is stress-free.
While you’re here, read some other end of the year teaching posts: end of school year motivational quotes, end of year student awards, and an end of year gift idea to students.
