Treat the End of the Year Like It's Going to Be Your Last

I’m not a huge country music fan. But recently, a song popped into my head that I just couldn’t shake: Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw. In the song, the narrator reflects on a life-changing realization—the idea that we should embrace every moment, appreciate what we have, and live fully, even when we think our time is limited.

And during this time of the year, as I watch my students wrap up another school year, that message suddenly feels personal.

Teachers often treat the end of the year like a marathon—exhausted, scrambling to check every last box, enforcing rules, making sure everything gets done. But what if we flipped the script? What if we treated these final weeks as if they were our last time teaching?

Think about it—if you knew this was your final year in the classroom, how would you teach differently? What moments would you cherish more? Would you ease up on the pressure and let laughter take over?

The truth is, we don’t know how many school years we have left. But we do know that our time with each group of students is fleeting. One day, these faces—ones we’ve coached, encouraged, and taught—will move on, and their lives will be shaped by the experiences they had in our classrooms.

So let’s make this time count. Let’s fill it with connection, joy, and memories that last longer than any lesson plan. Let’s do that lesson on ice cream that has nothing to do with our standards just because it’s fun. Let’s read some extra stories. Let’s break out the math games and let the kids play a little while longer. Let’s take our students out for extra recesses or take them out to recess a few minutes early just because the weather is nice.

Because in the end, teaching isn’t just about content—it’s about connection. And if we treat every year like it might be our last, we might just make it the most memorable one yet.

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