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21 Ways to End21 Ways to EndSchool DaysSchool Days22-23 Inspired Teaching Institutes:USING IMPROV TO GROW RESILIENCEwww.inspiredteaching.org 5614 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 258, WDC 20015Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 2022CONTENTS5 Closing Activities to Reinforce Learning............25 Closing Activities to Receive LessonFeedback......................................................................38 Closing Activities to Build ClassroomCommunity...................................................................43 Closing Activities to Connect with Families and the School Community......................................6Get #Inspired2Learn!Please click on the activity names throughoutthis guide, visit https://bit.ly/3xImtsd, or scanthe above QR code to visit the #Inspired2Learnsite. It is filled with full, detailed explanations ofeach activity, examples, applicable CommonCore Standards, and even more resources tohelp you become an Inspired Teacher!

5 Closing Activities to Reinforce Learning5 Closing Activities to Reinforce Learningwww.inspiredteaching.org Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 2022The end of class can feel chaotic, buthaving students reflect on their learningand apply that knowledge in new waysis critical to getting information to stick.2Graffiti BoardPost a content-related question or prompt in the middle of a large sheet ofpaper, and have students write responses, then respond to each others’writing. This form of “discussion” can be particularly helpful for studentswho may be less likely to speak up in front of the whole class.Zoom OutThis activity allows students to see themselves in relation to things beyondthem (i.e. their family, community, town, state, etc.) and apply their learningto a larger context.The Answer is 4This activity involves you providing an answer, and your students coming upwith as many questions as possible for which the answer is correct. Forexample, Prompt: The answer is 4. Possible Questions: How many legs does acat have? How many musicians are in a quartet? What’s 74 minus 70?Hands and Feet StoriesOne way we can demonstrate our understanding of what we hear is bysharing back what was said. This activity challenges listeners to share backwhat they hear without words and provides the speakers with a uniqueglimpse into how what they said was received.*FEATURED ACTIVITY: One BeliefStrengthened, One Belief Changed*Ask students, “As you reflect on what wediscussed today, think about one belief youcame into class with that has been strengthenedand one that has changed—or that you’rereconsidering.” Students respond when theyfeel moved to do so or go in order around theroom. Consider sharing your own views too.2.2.1.1.3.3.4.4.5.5.Click on the activity title to be taken to the detailed explanation on the #Inspired2Learn site.

5 Closing Activities to Receive Lesson Feedback5 Closing Activities to Receive Lesson Feedbackwww.inspiredteaching.org Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 2022With the fun activities below, you cangauge how well a lesson went during thefinal minutes of class. The informationyou receive can help you change coursetomorrow if things aren’t sinking in.3Word at a Time PoemsSimilar to “Share One Word,” Word-at-a-Time Poems invite students to sharetheir insights one word at a time. Writedown the words each student speaks,and read the poem back to the class.This is a beautiful way to showcasestudents as experts as you put their ownwords front and center.3-2-1 FeedbackThis is essentially an “exit ticket,”students write and give you as they leavethe room. The core structure can betweaked in different ways depending onyour goal: 3 things you learned in classtoday; 2 things you want to learn moreabout based on what you learned; 1question you have about today’s lesson.For more examples of ways you canadapt this activity, visit, #Inspired2Learn.More Creative Ways toGather InsightsClassic “exit tickets” can be a wasteof paper and time, but this list fromDitch That Textbook offers severaltechnology-based strategies that cangive you a snapshot of learningwithout taking too much time.Reflective Beach BallUse this activity to add a little movementto the close of class. On an inflatablebeach ball, use a wet-erase marker towrite different questions or prompts ineach ball segment. Assemble students ina circle and toss the ball to one of them.After they answer the prompt/questionunder their right pointer finger, theyshould toss the ball to another studentuntil everyone has had a turn.*FEATURED ACTIVITY: Share One Word*If you have just a few minutes before the bell,simply ask students to share one word thatrepresents their learning. Take note of the wordsstudents share, and where you see a lot of overlap.Their responses will help you identify overall trendsand offer insights into the way they learn.2.2.3.3.4.4.5.5.Click on the activity title to be taken to the detailed explanation on the #Inspired2Learn site.1.1.

www.inspiredteaching.org Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 2022The last few minutes of classcan be a great time to deepenrelationships. Some of theseactivities require advancedplanning, but most can bedone with few materials and inthe spur of the moment.48 Closing Activities to8 Closing Activities toBuild ClassroomBuild ClassroomCommunityCommunityFinding SmilesIn this activity, each student is pairedwith someone they will secretlyobserve, noticing and rememberingwhat this classmate does that makesthe observing student smile. Theobservation can last anywhere from aclass period to a few days. At theclose, students share what theyobserved with one another.1.1.Sing!There are a number of reasons whysinging is important. InspiredTeaching President and Founder,Aleta Margolis, shares some of them in "Why We Sing". You can singanything with your classes, and havestudents bring their own songs too!2.2.Counting UpIn this challenging game, the classsits in a circle with the goal ofstarting at number 1 and countingas high as possible with only oneperson speaking at a time. If twopeople speak simultaneously, thegroup must start over. This oftentakes many tries before the group isable to effectively make it work. Itwould be good to try multiple daysin a row to demonstrate growth.3.3.Click on the activity title to be taken to thedetailed explanation on the #Inspired2Learn site.4.4.Chills and ThrillsA “chill” is something that didn’t gowell or is troubling you. A “thrill” issomething that went well and bringsyou joy. You could frame these toget feedback on a lesson or how theclass is feeling. Check out the#Inspired2Learn site for examples.

www.inspiredteaching.org Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 20225FeaturedFeaturedCommunity-Community-Building CloserBuilding Closer*Shout Outs*According to Merriam Webster, a“shout out” is “a public expression ofgreeting, praise, or acknowledgementdirected toward a person or group.” In your classroom shout outs are anopportunity for students toacknowledge one another. You caninvite shout outs with a simplestatement like, “As we close classtoday, does anyone have a shout outfor something a classmate did/saidthat deepened your learning or madeyou feel supported in today’s class?”It can sometimes help to model withyour own.Setting IntentionsAfter a full day of school or a classperiod, a nice way to reflect onlearning and look ahead is to havestudents set intentions for the nextclass period. (You may need to spendtime taking with students about whatan intention is.) They can do this in anotebook or share their thoughtsverbally with a partner or the class as awhole. Find variations based on gradelevels K-12 here. 5.5.Take a Quiet BreathA truly simple but effective way to endclass can be with silence and some deepbreaths. Introduce this practice byexplaining to students that our mindsneed time and space to process learningand taking a moment to just breathe insilence and be with our thoughts makesthat possible. Students will get better atthis with practice and may even come tolook forward to that last quiet momentof the day.6.6.Bring Something to ShareA favorite elementary school activity isbringing things from home to share, butthis is fun no matter what grade you arein. The opportunity to share something ofwho you are with your classmates can bean important way to build community.Sharing can be random or tied to aparticular goal. If everyone bringssomething in, you can have them share in small groups or have a few studentsshare each day for a couple of days.7.7.8.8.

www.inspiredteaching.org Copyright © Center for Inspired Teaching 2022Share Questions with FamiliesConsider asking students what questions they wantto discuss with their families at the close of class.Depending on the age, you can task them withasking the questions and bringing back answers.Scribe's RecordAs a whole class, ask students to select 3 thingsthey’ve learned that they want to remember at theend of a week. Write these down and share themwith families. You’ll strengthen students’ skills ofanalysis and synthesis, and get consistentfeedback on what they value, enjoy, ponder, andrecall about each day’s class activities.You've Got MailLetter writing may feel old fashioned but it offers agreat way to practice retelling and synthesizinginformation into something succinct that gets amessage across. Have students write letters to theirfamilies about what they’ve learned in class duringthe day. Invite families to write back!2.2.Newsletters home to families do well todocument what transpires in school, butdon’t often foster engagement. Thebelow activities invite a back-and-forthdynamic, and come from the voices ofstudents more than the teacher.Join us at ourNovember Institute:61.1.3.3.Meeting the SocialMeeting the Social& Emotional Need& Emotional Needfor Mutual Respectfor Mutual RespectONLINEWEDNESDAY, NOV. 9 | 7 - 9PM ESTIN PERSONSATURDAY, NOV. 5 | 11:30AM - 1:30PM(NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY)Register athttps://bit.ly/3SiwkNaExplore how you can foster thesocial and emotional need forMutual Respect in your classroom.Click on the activity title to be taken to the detailedexplanation on the #Inspired2Learn site.3 Closing Activities to Connect with Families3 Closing Activities to Connect with Familiesand the School Communityand the School Community