The students at MPLS celebrated END OF THE YEAR by trying their hardest and tuning into learning until the very last day of school in the month of May.  Students and teachers worked together to meet the challenges of the last stretch of the year.  Everyone kept "running" until they crossed the "finish line" of the school year.

1. End of the Year Rally May 2003 Theme

This is a school wide activity to end the year. So many students (and teachers!) quit learning before the end of the year. This is a motivational activity to keep everyone going. 

The narrator introduces what a rally is and talks about the end of the year coming up.

Rally: to come together with enthusiasm for a common purpose.

End of the year we can be enthusiastic about our common purpose at school which is to learn. We need to finish out the year learning and have fun while we are doing it.

We brought in middle school/high school track runners. They talked about their track experiences and running until the end. The end of the year is like a track meet. Everyone is excited about the race and the key is to keep running until the end of the race - don't stop. It's the same way in school, keep learning until the last day of school - don't give up.

The middle school/high school track runners did this rap for the elementary students:

The race is on,
4 weeks to go.
Don't slow down,
There's more to know.

Goals, Goals, Goals,
To Set, Set, Set.
Fun, Fun, Fun,
Is what you'll get.

Here's the fun part.
The classes set group goals and individual goals. The group goals are written and placed at the front of the classroom for all to see. We had a big tennis shoe that the goals were written on each week. Individual goals were written on a tennis shoe on the students' desks. This could be used for self-monitoring. Each Friday in the month of May you celebrate if you meet those goals. We chose tangible reinforcers as a part of our celebrations. What you choose for tangible reinforcers is up to your school. We don't use many tangible reinforcers, but at the end of the year it's merited!

First Friday Ice Cream
Second Friday Principal Reads To The Class
Third Friday Extra Recess
Last Friday Eat Outside - School Picnic

Extensions:
You can create your own end of the year theme. We have also used "Wrap It Up." A package is put in the room with a lid that you can take off. As students accomplish group and individual goals, they put packaging peanuts (or whatever you want) in the box. If the box gets filled up, the students are able to celebrate. Use a smaller box so the students can fill it in one week. The celebrations can't wait until the end of four weeks. The reinforcers need to be sooner than that.

2. End of the Year Rally - Goal Setting: May 2004 Setting

     Students and teachers get distracted the last month of school.  In order to keep everyone focused, set weekly goals accompanied by a Friday reward.  At the beginning of each week, write that week’s goals on a visual poster of the weekly reward.
     Week 1    cotton candy
     Week 2   snow cones
     Week 3   picnic

     The principal visits each classroom on Friday to see who made their goals.  The classes that meet their goals receive their treat in the lunchroom on Friday.  We had actual cotton candy and snow cone makers.  Individual students that do not meet their behavioral goals do not receive their treat on Friday.
     As a side note, the teachers also receive extra perks in May.  The PTP does lunch and the principal brings in snacks and a massage therapist for five minute massages in the teacher’s lounge!




End of the Year Rally
song- all of the
previous songs