Teachers need to calculate grades as the first priority for closing the school year. All grade sheets should be printed out so that all marking periods can be averaged. All final averages should be recorded clearly. Many schools require grade sheets to be handed in at the close of the year. All columns should be clearly identified. Parents of any students failing for the year should be notified as soon as possible so arrangements for summer school, if applicable, can be made.
Once grades are complete, teachers should focus on the organization of the classroom. Since schools can be used over the summer, teachers should put away all classroom materials. Bulletin boards should be cleared; personal items should be stored. Do not forget to return any textbooks or related materials that are not stored in the classroom itself. Label all teacher desks, lecterns and chairs as furniture often gets moved for cleaning and painting over the summer.
Many teachers know their schedules for the upcoming school year. Before leaving for the summer, teachers should gather materials to prepare for the next school year. The summer provides an opportunity to fine tune or tweak lessons without the rush and demands of the school year. Take advantage of the time off by gathering materials to work on during summer. Lesson and unit plans can also be created during time off.
High school teachers write many college recommendations. Before leaving school, alert junior students that if they are interested in getting a recommendation to submit a "brag sheet" about themselves before leaving for the summer. This sheet allows the teacher to get ideas for the letter and also solidifies the request from the student. Writing countless letters of recommendations when school is in session can cause undue stress on teachers. The quality and ease of the recommendation can be sacrificed if it is rushed. Breaking up 20 recommendations over the summer is much easier than dealing with college deadlines that are often around the same time.