Finishing Well: Balancing Relationships, Curriculum, and Assessment in the Final Months

As the school year winds down, it’s easy to feel like time is running out. There’s curriculum to cover, assessments to complete, and a classroom to eventually pack up. But the last months of school are also a powerful opportunity: a chance to strengthen relationships, reinforce key learning, and reflect on the journey you and your students have taken together. Remember the last months of school are close to 30% of the year - that's a lot of time that you can use productively and intentionally.

For new teachers especially, this time can feel overwhelming—but with a thoughtful approach, you can finish strong and meaningfully.

1. Lead with Relationships

Before anything else, remember this: your students will remember how you made them feel far more than they’ll remember the last math lesson. These final months are a chance to reconnect, refocus, and remind students that they matter.

✅ Strategy: Go through your class list - next to each student create a relationship or connection goal for the last 3 months. Also remember that students get antsy in the last months. Give them some leeway and don’t take anything personally. In two or three months everyone will be enjoying their summer and this moment in the classroom will be a distant memory.

2. Reassess Your Curriculum Goals

Now is the time to take a step back and look at the big picture. What are the essential learning outcomes you want students to walk away with? Which topics still need to be introduced, and which could benefit from review or reinforcement?

✅ Tip: Use your curriculum map or long-range plans to highlight key outcomes, then adjust your pace or depth as needed. Prioritize clarity and consolidation over rushing to “cover” everything. Print out a blank copy of your final reports to parents. What do you need to report on or communicate?

3. Plan with Purpose

Create a roadmap for the final weeks by balancing teaching, assessing, and reflecting. Consider what assessments still need to be completed and how they can be structured to inform your final evaluations without overwhelming students.

✅ Idea: Incorporate formative and summative assessments that invite students to demonstrate learning in different ways—projects, reflections, or performance tasks can be more engaging and meaningful than just another test.

4. Reflect Together

Encourage students to think about how far they’ve come—academically, socially, and emotionally. Reflection builds metacognition and reinforces learning.

✅ Activity: Have students write a letter to their future selves, create a portfolio of proud moments, or share personal growth goals they’ve reached this year.

5. Celebrate the Journey

Make space to recognize effort, growth, and the relationships you've built. Whether it’s through simple acknowledgments, awards, or a classroom celebration, find ways to leave your students with a sense of pride and belonging.

Final Thought:

The last weeks of school are more than a countdown to summer—they're a culmination of a year of growth. By balancing meaningful relationship-building with intentional planning for curriculum and assessment, you set your students—and yourself—up to cross the finish line with purpose and pride.