The semester is almost over (🤸🥳), and as the school year comes to an end, taking some time to reflect with your child is essential to make the learning experience more productive. What are you most proud of this past year? When we pause to reflect, we consider what we learned, what was challenging, what we conquered, and what we can do differently next year. There are many fun ways to build memorable connections between what students experienced and what they gained from it. You can start by simply checking in with them and feed their curiosity for reflection by asking questions like:
- What did you find challenging about this school year?
- How can you be a better friend?
- What don’t you want to repeat next semester?
- What was the peak of your year? Why?
Beyond conversation, here are four ideas for ending the school year on a positive note and building up the excitement for what’s to come. Check them out!
Vision Board
“There is a difference between a dream and a goal. A dream is a gift you want to be given. A goal is something you work to achieve.” – Brian Knapp, Director, Business Development, Prime Video.
Have you ever heard “if you can see it, you can be it”? Encourage your child to visualize what they want to accomplish during the next school year and turn challenges into opportunities. For example, it might be trying out for a sports team or venturing into a new hobby; the purpose is to give it their all and have fun in the process. So as this school year comes to an end, help your child focus on how they want to feel by putting together a vision board using magazines, pictures, markers, and stickers. Take some time to create it together, and you can even invite some of your student’s friends and make a party out of it. By cutting, pasting, and sharing their creations, everyone will feel more relaxed and excited about the amazing opportunities ahead.
Top Ten Memory Box
Help your child reflect on the most significant parts of their school year by creating a memory box. You can include pictures, notes, school projects, tickets to their favorite events, and much more! Make sure to highlight how proud you are of them and acknowledge all they have accomplished throughout the year. Regardless of age, feeling proud of ourselves is essential to reach new heights.
Summer Countdown
Ready for summer? You are not the only one! Celebrate the end of a successful school year with a countdown calendar for summer. You can create a fun and colorful calendar and paste it on the fridge or your child’s bedroom door so every morning they can see how many days are left for summer or any special summer activity. For the older students, you can encourage them to download a countdown app, such as DayCount or How Many Days Until, so they get daily reminders on their mobile devices to keep them excited about summer plans with their friends and family.
Thank You Notes
Positive psychology research shows that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. As parents, you can teach your child from a young age the power of gratitude. It can help them feel more positive about themselves, build stronger relationships with their peers, and relish good experiences. Keeping in mind that every goal we achieve is a combination of efforts by ourselves and our support system can help all of us live a more grateful life. Help your little one create ‘thank you’ notes for their teachers, counselors, coaches, and everyone who has helped them conquer their school year. This simple gesture of gratitude can have a long-lasting impact on themselves and the people around them.
Keep in mind that summer break can evoke different emotions from students. Though most students are eager for summer break, for lovers of learning and students who have many friends, leaving can be a bit of a bummer. By reflecting on the year and making it a fun experience, it’s helpful for both types of students. Plus it even helps make it a habit for future ventures.
If you are interested in fun activities to do with the entire family and educational opportunities to keep your child learning during the summer break, visit our Schola Blog for parents. We will share weekly resources and recommendations to make the most out of students’ summer. See you there✌️
