#23 Termination and Closure with Students after Total Teach by Linda Galvan

Objectives:

Student teachers will learn the importance of closure and termination with a class of students and how to do it.

Materials:

Handout on important things to remember to do when terminating with a class of students.

Seminar Format:

Presentation and Group discussion

Assessment:

Each student teacher will plan how and when they will terminate, what project or activity they will do with the class, and turn in a written description of how things went.

Questions to think about and discuss:

1. Have you ever had an experience where a teacher in your past just left and did not say goodbye or passed away unexpectedly? How old were you? What were your feelings surrounding this experience?
2. Do you remember being close to some teachers and missing them when you moved on?
3. Do you think that most of the students in your class this semester have bonded with you in some way?
4. How do you think they will be effected by your departure before school ends?
5. What kinds of issues might your leaving bring up for some students?
6. Which students do you think will have the hardest time with the fact that you are leaving?
7. Do you think that it is okay for a student in your class to be sad and/or mad that you are leaving?
8. What are some effective ways that you can deal with these students?
9. What kinds of activities or projects can you incorporate which will add closure for the students?
10. Is it okay for you to feel sad that you are leaving? How can you effectively deal with these feelings?
11. Is it okay to "promise" students that you will come back to see them?

Termination and Closure with your Students

• Your students will suffer a loss when you leave.
• They will miss you.
• You will miss these kids more than you think you will.

1. Never underestimate how closely bonded your children are with you. Those that give you the most trouble will usually take it hardest when you leave.
2. These children need some closure with you and you with them. You must let them know the last week in April that May 7th will be your last day in the class. Do not spring it on them the last day. Kids need time to adjust to this change and loss.
3. Plan some time to tell them why you are leaving. Tell them the truth!
4. Tell them that you will miss them. Thank them for allowing you to be their teacher. Share with them how proud you are of them and all they have accomplished this year.
5. Tell them about all that they have taught you this semester.
6. Let them cry and feel sad. You need to do the same. It's okay for kids to be sad or mad that you are leaving. Let them know that these feelings are normal. Let them tell you how much they will miss you. Be understanding with those that will need more time to adjust to the fact that you are leaving. They may need to have an individual meeting with you to share these things with you in private.
7. Let the kids draw good-bye pictures for you if they want. Let them write you a good-bye letter in a sealed envelope that you will read the day you leave.
8. The kids need some type of symbolic object to remind them of you when you leave. Examples: Take a Polaroid with each child and have them frame it and decorate it with Popsicle sticks. They can keep it asa remembrance. Or, make them each a friendship bracelet. Buy some colored yarn and have them each make you a friendship bracelet as well.
9. Some kids may begin to have behavior problems with your because they will feel abandoned by you. Remember that this is their own stuff. They may have had abandonment issues in their past. Be sensitive but still have consequences for misbehavior. Acknowledge that you know that they must be mad that you are leaving, but that misbehavior is not an appropriate way to show it.
10. On your last day, do something special with your class.
11. Discuss all of this ahead of time with your Coop Teacher. Plan it together.
12. It's hard to say good-bye to children, but you have to do it! This goes for anytime you may have to leave a school for whatever reason. Do not just up and quit and not say goodbye. This damages kids emotionally more than you know. The hurt little hearts you leave behind will come back to haunt you one day.