Tis the Season to Celebrate

End of the school year Celebrations are beginning.

For me, the end of the year really kicks in on my birthday, Today. As a kid, it was the true sign that summer was on the horizon.

The last few weeks of school are filled with not only brighter days, and brighter attitudes but also activities!

Now of course these activities would be fun no matter when they happened. But there is a power behind the end of the year.

Six Flags trip, Outdoor Ed, School Olympics, Field Days, and classes outside.

Motivation, drive, and dedication all increase when there is something to look forward to.

Or some ending in sight: Grades due, summer.

You can see it outside of our classroom too.

Vacation, race day, or some completion date.

Personally, I improve my dedication when I have a race or competition I am signed up for. To increase priorities I've signed myself up for 2 triathlons this summer and the Chicago Marathon this fall.

I have something to look forward to, something to work for. Something to succeed at.

I see it for my students. The 8th grade is going to 6 Flags in a few weeks. In order to be eligible, they can't have any major referrals for a certain time period. Another motivating factor could also include grades. Referrals are a good behavior manager and motivator for soon-to-be-high schoolers to continue to act respectfully, responsibly, and safely.

While they might want to check out academically, they have exciting events to look forward to that keep them coming to school.

Their engagement is still present, while there are a few more complaints than usual.

Celebrations are special, irregular events.

It adds light.

I don't think we need more major celebrations, necessarily, but how can we incorporate minor celebrations?

Daily, weekly celebrations that the students have. Or celebrations they are looking forward to?

One easy way is to release your "work mode" reigns and find out what is going on with students' lives.

What parties do they have coming up?

What competitions are they competing in?

What trips/activities do they have planned?

If you can bring in their outside world into your world, you may in fact find more motivation.

How?

Add it to your conversations. Are they complaining about homework? Well you know they have a hockey tournament this weekend to why not use the fact that they are STUDENT athletes before they can become professional athletes. In order to get to a pro level they have to have high work ethic and productivity. Being productive and hard working on the ice can roll into the classroom.

If you can work hard in one area, there is high correlation to working hard in others.

But you can't do this and have a conversation like this if you don't get to know them beyond the math student you see them as. Or the employee. Or the English student.

Having these conversations is three-fold

1. you show interest in them as human beings, making them feel seen, heard appreciated, and valued. Improving their willingness to work for you

2. You can apply what is going on outside of their student life into the classroom. Relating, motivating and connecting to what matters to them

3. Lighten the mood. By talking about them, it takes the formal sting of a lesson away, grounding you in commonalities and finding ways to laugh, connect and enjoy conversations.

Celebrate big at the end of the year.

But celebrate small, every single day.