Today is our last day with kids. I have cried 3 times already and the day is not over. I had them write letters of advice to the incoming 2nd graders. Here are some quotes: "Don't worry...your lovely teacher will always be by your side" "Your teacher will always make you feel so smart." "When things get hard, DON'T GIVE UP!" "Don't be a bully and stand up for your friends who are being bullied"
This might sound weird but I am not emotional on the last day, just happy. I will see most of the students next year, as we're a continuation school, and at least half of them will return, and I'll have them again in my classes. Another 25 % of students will return at some point, as they will most likely get expelled or locked up again. It is sad and happy to see the seniors go, but that's only a handful of students each year. I do get a little emotional at graduation, but not to the point of wanting to cry, etc.
I pretend to be sad. I'll even cry on command for them. In reality, the moment the last student is no longer within eye shot, I have my 'last day of school happy dance' that is now famous at my school.
I am also happy to send them on their way, because I teach multi-age and will have them all back again next year.
I'll cry horribly, since I am not planning on returning and my kids are asking me every day to come back. They love me, say I am the best SPED teacher they have had and are desperate to keep me. Not gonna happen due to work environment. But planning ahead, I will not wear my contacts that day, because I know I will cry them out. Yep, I'm gunna cry out my contacts......an full on ugly cry.
I've been telling my students all year it's going to be a cry fest on the last day. They are graduating and moving on to middle school and most are not going to be in classes or in the same school like they were for elementary. Nobody's cried yet but anytime someone mentions school is almost over its greeted with many boos and thumbs down. I have students who I clicked very well with this year and we've all been through a lot together in a short time. I told them watch, you're look at her and start crying, then I'm going to look at you crying and I'm gonna cry and then she's going to cry and then I'll say I told you this is going to happen. I laugh when I say it now, but we won't laugh then. It's all fun and games and smiles until the day comes. I predict one maybe two of my boys will cry with all us girls. If the others do I'll be shocked. My boys already look at me like I'm crazy sometimes. Lol
I tend to hold in emotions when around people, so while I might not have tears while the kids are here, I'm sure I will have a bunch once they leave. They're my first full-year class, and are just the most warm-hearted group I've encountered. Naturally, I'll be excited as well, but that will be more that I'll be able to finally take a deep breath, and the fact that I'll be able to begin the long summer process of truly preparing for next year and being able to give that group of kids an even better me than I was able to give my kids this year.
Mine is not. I teach kinder and I love my students but I never cry on the last day of school. Really the last few years I've been annoyed that so many many came on the last day. It's a half day and we don't have teacher work days after the kids leave. I have to clean, clean pack up the room, and checkout with the students still there.
I have always felt like it makes me a bad teacher, but I never get emotional. Yesterday was our last day and I gave hugs and said goodbye, but honestly it's been one of the hardest classes I've ever had , and I'm ready for a fresh start next year.
Students are dismissed at 11:00 on the last day (we start school at 7:40). I've never been one to get emotional on the last day. Plus, I see my kids everywhere: Walmart, Target, the grocery store, pumping gas, etc. It's extremely rare for me to go anywhere in town and not get approached by a student.
