As we approach the end of this school year, the remaining days can feel as though they drag on for students and teachers alike. Consequently, it can be challenging for teachers to motivate students to finish the school year strong. 

The following strategies can help teachers inject fresh ideas and excitement into their classrooms, helping their students shine all the way to the finish line: 

1. Publicize a daily student “shine-out.” Watch for moments of kindness during the day—letting someone else go first, picking up in the lunchroom, etc. Recognize these non-academic moments by revealing the “shine-out” during daily class announcements, posting on the class website, or sending emails home to families. 
2. Display students’ accomplishments. Make a series of sun cutouts for windows or a special bulletin board and allow students to write down achievements that make them feel proud—an improved grade, a successful project—to encourage students and brighten the classroom on those gloomy spring days.
3. Start the school day with a song. Ask students to share the titles of their favorite songs. Then, at the start of each day, play one of the (school-appropriate) “Spotlight” songs, and ask the contributing student to share something about the song that can help the class start the day on a positive note. 
4. Assign fun, unique projects. Engage students on a deeper level by having each student choose a book they enjoyed reading this year and then advertise it for the incoming class in a one or two-minute “book commercial” that doesn’t give away the ending. 
5. Allow students to earn free time. Keep a free time “clock” at the front of the room and allow students’ positive, cooperative behavior to “earn” extra time. They can see the minutes add up or be withdrawn toward something special like extra minutes of recess or time at the end of the week for reading, socializing, or playing games. 
6. Interact with other students in the building. Invite older students in the building to read or present a project to younger students. The older will get practice in public speaking, and the younger will embrace the attention from the students they admire. 
7. Incorporate technology in a new way. Personalize the content and create excitement around the novel use of technology by having students create movies that teach their classmates a new concept relating to your curriculum. 
8. Invite community members to visit the classroom. Spark interest and motivate students by asking parents with special skills to present to the class, grandparents with unique experiences to tell their stories, and/or community members to discuss their career paths with students. 
9. Promote an attitude of gratitude. Have students periodically write thank you notes that will be distributed at the end of the year to help them gain an appreciation for their school communities. They can address their notes to anyone involved with the school—teachers, students, administrators, bus drivers, etc. 
10. Give them teasers for the next school year. Ask teachers from the upcoming grade to stop in and visit or take a field trip to the school/classrooms the students will attend next school year to get them excited and keep them engaged until summer break. 

Anne Davidson Kusmer is a former high school English teacher and guidance counselor who currently tutors for college entrance exams and coaches writing. Married to Jim for 30 years, she recently became an empty nester, spending much of her time with her rescue puppy, Monty.