I’m not going to name any names, but the word on the street is that some of us are counting down the days until the end of the semester. If a semester is a marathon, we are at mile 22, sweaty and tired, our feet heavy as lead as we scan the horizon for the finish line. (This is, of course, how I imagine marathon runners feel. I’m more of a witty-sign-on-the-sidelines kind of gal… but back to the analogy at hand.) The question is, how do we want to finish the race? With arms held high? Or might we crumple over the finish line into a quivering heap on the asphalt? I, for one, envision an end of the semester with minimal crumpling and maximum “Chariots of Fire,” and I know that if a happy ending is what I desire, the time to plan for it is now.
Over the last few semesters, my curriculum buddy, Holly Jacobus, and I, have tried out a few different strategies for ending the semester on a high note. Our favorite methods always involve inviting students to engage in reflection.
Strategy 1: Give Students a Voice (Minimal Time Required)
A great way to bring the semester to a close is to solicit feedback from students. Some instructors give students a Google Survey that invites students to share thoughts about the semester. Though a survey allows students anonymity, it removes the powerful opportunity for students to discuss their experience with one another.
An easy alternative to an anonymous survey is to use a good ol’ pad of sticky tabs and about 20-30 minutes of a class session. Create columns on the board in the front of the class and label the sections with phrases such as ‘support hours,’ ‘course pacing,’ ‘course policies,’ ‘Tips for future students’ etc. I like to ask students which lessons or skills were their favorite, or which skills stuck with them, as well as which lessons were the most challenging to slog through. Allow students to jot down their feedback, stick their notes to the appropriate category on the board, and then do a gallery walk. (Invite them to add further feedback as they see what others have written.)
This activity gets students moving and talking with one another (and you!), and they enjoy seeing their classmates’ feedback. At the end of the activity, you have some honest feedback that you can use to improve future courses.
Strategy 2: Goal Setting (marginal time required)
In my ‘gateway’ writing courses, we set SMART goals three times during the semester, and we reflect on our progress with those goals around midterms and at the end of the semester. (The ‘SMART’ in SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.) Even if goal setting is not a regular part of your course, leading students through one round of reflection and goal-setting in the final weeks of the semester is an impactful way to wrap up the semester on a positive note.
Ask students to think back to the beginning of the semester. What were their hopes for these 16 weeks? Through writing or small group discussion, ask them to reflect on the semester’s roses and the thorns, in other words, what went well and where they faced stumbling blocks. Next, ask them to write goals for next semester. I like to encourage them to add an image (a meme, clip art, or a little drawing) to each goal to help them visualize each goal’s success. This activity encourages students to pause, and to think about what they accomplished as well as the obstacles they overcame. Students report feeling motivated as they strategize how they will grow and improve next semester. This activity also presents a great opportunity to connect student with campus resources.
Strategy 3: Close with a Reflective Unit (Significant time required)
If you have a little more time, you can create a reflective module or assignment. In our ENG 101 courses, Holly and I ask students to complete a slide in a collective reflective slideshow or create a reflective infographic. We share our creations during one of our final class sessions. Here are some elements I frequently ask students to include:
- A Song or meme that represents your semester
- Your most successful writing piece (You decide what made it successful; do not use your final score as a factor)
- The biggest challenge you overcame this semester
- Top three (to five) resources offered at GCC (Choose resources that you used)
- Your favorite photos from your time at GCC this semester
- “I wish I knew”… advice for next semester’s ENG 101 students
- The skill from ENG 101 that you’ll use the most in college
- Goal(s) for next semester at GCC
- Top tips for being successful in college
Not only do these activities help students end the semester on a positive note, but their presentations boost my mood, as well! I appreciate any chance I get to glimpse my students’ lives outside of the classroom. I enjoy learning about their highs and lows and witnessing their pride at having overcome hardships in their first year of college. I also use their feedback to set my own goals for the semester ahead.
If you try one of these strategies, let me know! I’d love to hear what strategies you use to help you and your students cross the finish line with arms raised in triumph!