I always end the semester with a special activity that allows students to share their thoughts about each other and thank members of the class who have helped them through the semester.
I wrote about this assignment a few weeks ago and explained how I have students write notes and comments to each other.
Want to Give Your Students a Gift?
Today, after we take our final vocabulary quiz and complete the self-evaluation for class participation, I will read aloud the final essay that we will discuss for the semester. It’s a simple essay that is extremely poignant for high school seniors. I read Robert Fulghum’s “Credo” from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
Afterward, I’ll pass out small gifts that I have for students and distribute the comments that students wrote for each other. We’ll sit around and eat cake and discuss the semester and laugh and bring the class to a close. (Our final exams start tomorrow.)
Most of all, we’ll end the class with laughter and happiness, a memory that I hope will remain with students for many years. It’s my favorite day of the semester.