Celebrate

In my kitchen is a 2-gallon size freezer bag full of homemade trail mix. Rice chex, pretzels, raisins, peanuts, and about a pound of blue m&m's. I tracked down the "blue ones" in the mall because that's what the characters in our book ate. If somebody can't eat nuts I have just plain corn chips.

Tomorrow I will have my students check their study guides, ask questions about the final, and celebrate what we have learned this year. I've never been the teacher on the last day, but I imagine it will feel like most any other day. I still have to pack up my room but am planning to just tear everything down and sort it on our staff day without 6th graders. I will save the treats and the games for the last 15 minutes. And then my week is done.

Monday we are supposed to have finals. I have learned a lot this year that can't be tested and I know the same is true about the kids. I'm giving them a novel test and asking them to write a letter to next year's students. I have felt emotional about this day for a while, but now I feel less anxious. I look forward to ending the year smoothly and with warm feelings. Asking the kids what they will do this summer was a brilliant idea today, because with only two full days left, no one can ignore that vacation is here.