When the weather warms up and summer starts calling, students feel it – and so do the adults guiding them. The final weeks of school bring excitement, big emotions and shift in energies. To better understand what helps kids stay focused and supported during this time, we spoke with Laura Wollmann, a special education teacher in Grand Forks, North Dakota, who shared tips for keeping students engaged as the school year ends.
The Spring Shift: Why Engagement Drops
“Student engagement can get more complex the closer you get to long breaks such as summer break. Students want to be out of school (especially once the first nice day of spring has sprung). This causes energy towards school work to decrease but physical energy levels to rise,” explains Laura.
That shift can lead to lower motivation and more behavioral challenges. And it is not always just excitement about summer. She adds, “There can be many reasons that behaviors change, such as, not wanting to go on a break due to homelife, not sleeping as much because of changing seasons or more work with projects at the end of semesters.” Understanding these emotional layers helps caregivers support kids with empathy rather than frustration.
What Teachers Can Do to Keep Students Engaged
When attention spans shrink, teachers lean on strategies that bring structure and predictability. Laura focuses on giving her students choices, re-teaching expectations, end of year reflections, and setting goals for the next year. “Making sure that routines haven’t slipped throughout the year also make the end of it easier,” recommends Laura.
1. Stick With What Works
One of the most important tips for keeping students engaged as the school year ends is maintaining structure. Even though it is tempting to shake things up, students rely on consistency. “Students continue to need structure through the year, even when we all are anticipating what is coming next. The end of the year is not a time to try something new or switch up your classrooms learning styles. Sticking with what works allows the students to know your expectations and reducing the amount of behaviors that could arise with teaching something new and different,” she notes.
In practice, this might look like keeping your daily schedule the same, using familiar procedures for turning in work, or revisiting classroom norms. These predictable routines help students feel grounded during a time when everything else feels like it is speeding up.
2. Offer Small, Meaningful Choices
Choice does not mean students get to opt out of work, but it does give them a sense of control during a time when emotions can run high. “The first thing is understanding that not all students look forward to breaks so giving them a sense of choice when it comes to activities,” she highlights. “They don’t get the choice between doing the work or not but maybe where they are doing the work such as on the desk, floor or hallway or how they are going to complete a project, group, individual, or with a partner.” She adds. These small freedoms can make a big difference in motivation and mood. It also creates opportunities to teach healthy decision‑making. You can reinforce this idea with the Choice‑Check Poster, a tool that helps students pause, notice their energy and emotions, and make a thoughtful choice before jumping into an activity. Students can write or draw about a time they used a “choice‑check,” which reinforces the idea that choices are not just about where they sit or who they work with, they are also about building healthy habits and self‑awareness.
Using the poster alongside classroom choices helps students understand why they are choosing something, not just what they are choosing. It is a simple way to support emotional regulation while keeping engagement high.
3. Pay Attention to Shifts in Student Engagement
Students do not always say they are overwhelmed – but their behavior speaks for them. “Students show mental ‘check-out’ by reducing the number of assignments they turn in, looking tired during the day, and some increase the amount they are willing to argue with others,” Laura says. Her strategy to provide students with support is simple – re-teaching expectations, recognizing how far they have come, and discussing the rest of the year help for them to mentally prepare for what is left to come.
Educators can support students by breaking big tasks into smaller chunks, using visual timers, or starting class with a quick movement break. Our brain breaks are a great way to keep students energized and motivated. Some educators create a ‘cozy spot’ where students can take a short breather before rejoining the group. A quick feelings check‑in can make a big difference too, and the How Are You Feeling? activity is a helpful tool for this. These small adjustments help students re-engage without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Build in Reflection
Reflection is one of the most grounding tips for keeping students engaged as the school year ends. It helps students process their growth and prepare emotionally for what’s next. Laura explains, “Students can benefit from talking about how the year has gone, both the good and bad, what they might want to accomplish by the end of the year and how that leads into next year. This also helps them to set goals for summer when most are not going to be in a formal education setting.”
5. Keep Joy on the Calendar
Students look forward to end‑of‑year traditions like field trips and field day. These are not just fun, they are motivating. “This allows students a reward for making it through the year but also a time to relax and enjoy some time with their classmates before they go their separate ways for summer,” Laura highlights. Having something positive on the horizon helps students stay engaged during the long stretch between spring break and summer vacation.
This is also a great time to lean into playful resources that tie into real‑life experiences. For example, if your class is taking a field trip to the zoo, you can build excitement and movement into the day with A Trip to the Zoo: Animal Yoga Poses and Breathing Exercises. Teachers can use the cards before the actual zoo trip to build anticipation, or after the trip as a way to reflect on the animals students saw. They also work beautifully on days when you want to bring the zoo to your classroom – no permission slips required.
Whether you are offering flexible work options, helping students reflect on their growth, or adding playful resources, these intentional touches help students finish the year feeling confident, connected, and cared for. With the right support, the final weeks of school can become a time of celebration, reflection, and genuine engagement for every learner.
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