I am definitely bad with endings, good-byes, closure. I just never feel like I know what to do or say. This makes being a college instructor difficult because I have an ending every single semester! I know other teachers who do them so well. One reads Dr. Seuss’ The Places You’ll Go (he has upper division students, so it makes more sense – they are often moving on and going places). One does this awesome reflective activity where students toast someone in the class for something or things they did that stood out to others (they are given this assignment early on so they can watch for things).
Between often being behind in grading, behind in what I planned to cover (because how do I ever get through everything I am supposed to cover??), and just being exhausted, I often just want the class to end. But, there are always some students who I’ve really enjoyed and I feel bad about not recognizing that more. But, then there are always students who I felt like were barely there and didn’t really invest and do I make them feel bad if I recognize the ones that were engaged and I enjoyed?!?
I’ve done different things in the past. In my Small Group class, I give them all half sheet card stock (let them choose their pattern or color) and they write kind messages to each other. Kind of like a year book in HS. I’ve had students do sticky notes with responses to a few different reflective prompts and then everyone can walk around and read them. But, all of them feel a little meh. Often, we just end the class with a final exam and students leave. I will send a closing message to everyone, but it seems anti-climactic. And my online classes are even worse. How do I do something meaningful asynchronously?!
This semester, I will be doing speeches on the last day in my public speaking class because I got sick the Sunday after Thanksgiving break and missed class on Tuesday (that behind thing) and I have a final exam in my Argumentation classes that is some will skip because they are doing a Rookie Debate Tournament this Saturday instead. So…what to do?
Anyone out there have great closing activities for my future classes? I will try to schedule better so I don’t end up rushed or behind or scrambling in the end and can do something really meaningful for myself and my students.
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