It’s important to prepare students for the next grade level because moving on to the next grade level can be full of emotions for our students. In addition to all of the end of year overwhelm, we need to prepare them for the upcoming grade level too! If you are looking for some ideas to get your students ready for the next school year, while also closing out your current school year, keep reading!
5 Tips To Prepare Students For The Next Grade Level
Take A Field Trip To The Next Grade Level
Having your students see what they will be walking into after summer can help ease their minds. So, ask the next grade level’s teachers if you can visit one of their classrooms. The teacher can talk to your students about what to expect, what new and exciting things they’ll learn, what field trips they’ll take, etc. While you’re there, set up interviews with the students in that classroom. Students can think of their questions or use the premade questions in our end-of-year interview pack.
End Of Year Interviews:
Reflect On The Year You Had Together
Encourage students to reflect on the experiences, challenges, and successes they had throughout the school year. This reflection can be facilitated through various activities, such as creating a classroom memory book where students write about their favorite moments, achievements, and lessons learned. We have two different end-of-year craftivities that you can do with your students to reflect and close out the school year. They also make for a fun end-of-year bulletin board or can take the place of a memory booklet.
The End of Year Ice Cream Craft includes the following prompts:
- My Favorite Part Of The Year
- Our Field Trip
- My Favorite Lunch
- My Friends
- My Favorite Subject
- My Teacher
- My Favorite Book
- About Me
- Also includes: First, Next, Then, Last to create a sequencing story instead
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The End Of Year Flower Craft includes the following prompts:
- I am most proud of myself for…
- The most fun I had this school year was when…
- What I struggled with and kept trying…
- What I liked learning the most this school year…
- I hope I keep blossoming in…
- Something I want to try next school year…
Click here to buy on Missing Tooth Grins.
Reteach and Review Important Skills
Another way to prepare students for the next grade level is to take the opportunity to revisit key concepts and skills that were covered during the school year. This can be done through review lessons, interactive games, or hands-on activities that reinforce learning objectives. For example, if students struggled with certain math concepts, you could plan a series of mini-lessons or review stations to address those specific areas.
If you are looking for end of year review, check out our review packs:
1st Grade End Of Year Printables
Write A Letter To Next Year’s Students
Invite students to write letters to the incoming students who will be joining your class next year. In these letters, students can share their experiences, offer advice, and tell them how much fun they are going to have in your classroom! Encourage them to reflect on their own growth throughout the year and provide encouragement to the new students. This activity not only helps current students reflect on their own experiences but also fosters a sense of responsibility and empathy as they welcome newcomers into the classroom community.
Send Home Summer Learning Activities
Help prevent the “summer slide” by providing students with a summer work packet that reinforces essential skills and encourages continued learning during the break. Providing clear instructions and resources for parents can also support them in facilitating their child’s learning at home during the break. However, on the flip side, remember your students are on summer break so try to offer learning activities in a fun, relaxed way.
You can send home this sight word menu with a list of sight words to encourage students to continue practicing reading and writing sight words. Head to the bottom of this blog post to download it.
Celebrate Achievements
Celebrate students’ achievements and milestones as they prepare to move on to the next grade level. Whether it’s through awards ceremonies, recognition assemblies, or special events, acknowledging their hard work and growth can boost confidence and motivation for the upcoming transition.
My favorite way to do this was with red butcher paper. I would roll it out like a red carpet in my classroom. Then, when doing awards, students walked the red carpet to accept their award. It was fun and cute!
I hope you enjoyed these tips for how to prepare students for the next grade level!
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