This whole idea of an annual schedule, the end of an academic year and summer vacation, is all so big and quite abstract for four- and five-year-olds, so how do we help make this reality more concrete?
Well, in addition to the end of the year conversations you read about in Ms. Greene's blog (scroll up!), we also build in some visual cues that things are coming to an end. Remember how blank the rooms were at the beginning of the year? Other than a few plants, the schedule for the day, and the Nest T-Shirts, the walls were blank! It was the work of the children that have made the spaces beautiful throughout the year. Our rooms have filled up with the wonderful beautiful clutter of work and learning.
In these last two and a half weeks, we will be saying goodbye to one or two things every day. You will notice that as the year comes to a close, the room will become more and more simple and empty.
We will be saying goodbye to self-portraits and other artwork, mailboxes, photographs on the wall ... eventually, even clipboards and other work materials. On the very last day, the walls will be almost completely blank, the portfolios will have already been sent home, most of the activities will have been put away, and all we will have is each other to enjoy ... and a lot of wall, mirrors, tables, and chairs to clean. (The children love this part.)
Saying goodbye to things helps create a calm environment as we prepare for the somewhat more emotional business of saying goodbye to each other.In all of this, remind your children (and yourselves) that ...
"God's angels will protect you wherever you go."
