Feeling overwhelmed by end-of-year classroom chaos? This post walks you through six teacher-tested strategies to purge, organize, and prep your space before summer. From what to toss to how to get students involved (without losing structure), you’ll find practical tips that save time now—and next fall. Includes a free printable checklist to guide you step-by-step.

The end of the school year is the perfect time to show appreciation for the students, parents, colleagues, and support staff who made your year meaningful. This post shares creative, low-cost, and heartfelt gift ideas—including free printables—for each group. From student reading kits to thank-you notes for staff, you’ll find thoughtful, easy-to-implement ways to close out the year with gratitude (and minimal stress).

Worried about summer learning loss? This post is packed with practical, engaging, and free activities to help families and teachers prevent the summer slide. From daily reading strategies to creative writing, this post offers detailed, actionable ideas that support continued growth all summer long—without the stress. Perfect for teachers looking to empower parents or send students off with confidence.

You made it to the end of the school year with your students. Let’s make sure it ends on a positive note. I have five tips and activities for the end of the year that are easy to implement, involve little to no prep, and will put smiles on the faces of you and your students.

One of the best pieces of advice I could give to any teacher is to establish (and stick to) daily classroom routines at the very beginning of the year. Not only will creating routines help you manage all there is to accomplish in the classroom every day, but it also provides much needed structure for your students. Consistent routines are one of the best strategies for avoiding behavior management issues as well. Let me share with you a few tips on how classroom routines benefit you, the best places to have routines, and advice for sticking to them.