Tears, Transitions & Tissues: Helping Kids (and You) Through End-of-Year Goodbyes
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Welcome to our yearlong series on Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers. Each week we will give you a new piece to the classroom management puzzle to have in place when you need it this school year. Think of it as a Lego kit just waiting to be built.
Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers: Tears, Transitions & Tissues: Helping Kids (and You) Through End-of-Year Goodbyes
I’m Lauren, and today’s episode is one I think we all need as the school year winds down:
💛 What to do when emotions are running high, the goodbyes are creeping in, and both you and your students are holding back tears.
Because let’s be real…
This time of year is more than assessments, countdowns, and classroom clean-ups.
It’s the season of big feelings—and sometimes, they hit harder than we’re ready for.
Here’s what most people forget:
Primary students might not know how to say,
“I’m scared to leave.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“I don’t know what next year will be like.”
So what do they do instead?
They act out.
They withdraw.
They become extra clingy or extra distant.
They test your boundaries, or they cry over something small.
And it’s not just them.
You feel it, too.
Because teaching is relational—and letting go of 20+ little humans you’ve poured your heart into? That’s not just hard. It’s gut-wrenching.
So if your classroom feels extra tender right now, it’s not a coincidence.
It’s the cost of caring deeply.
Let’s walk through three simple, heartfelt ways you can support emotional regulation and transitions in the final weeks—without getting overwhelmed yourself.
🧸 1. Make Space for Feelings—Without Forcing Them
Not every student will want to talk about feelings. That’s okay.
✅ Try this:
Add a “Goodbye Journal” station with open-ended prompts
Let students write letters to next year’s class
Create a feelings thermometer or emoji check-in board for mornings
Make it okay to feel joy and sadness at the same time. Because both are true.
📚 2. Read-Alouds That Gently Guide Transition Talk
Books give kids a way to talk about things they don’t know how to say.
✅ Some of my favorites:
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg
When I Was Little by Jamie Lee Curtis
Goodbye House, Hello House by Margaret Wild
Read one a day, then discuss:
“What makes you excited about next year?”
“What will you miss most?”
“What’s something you want to remember about our class?”
💌 3. Create Closure, Not Just Chaos
✅ Try this:
Make a class “Memory Book” with shared stories and drawings
Give each student a simple affirmation note (yes, even just one line)
Do a final “Circle of Gratitude” where students say something kind to a peer
This isn’t fluff. This is the emotional glue that helps kids feel safe moving on.
And honestly? It helps you move on, too.
I want to remind you of something that matters more than any checklist:
Your students will remember how it felt to be in your room.
Not the bulletin boards. Not the tests. Not the line order.
They’ll remember your voice. Your smile. Your steadiness. Your silly Friday dance moves.
And when it comes time to say goodbye?
Let the tears come if they do.
Cry in the staff bathroom. Cry in the car. Cry when you hug that student who made massive progress this year. That’s not weakness—it’s evidence that you showed up fully.
📌 Here’s your teacher affirmation:
“I give myself permission to feel it all—because this work is heart work.”
So whether you’re ready for summer or aching to hold on a little longer—both are okay.
You’ve done something beautiful this year. Don’t forget that.
If you found comfort in this episode, would you share it with a teacher friend who’s feeling all the feels right now?
Tag me @classroommanagementforprimary and tell me what moment made you cry, laugh, or breathe deeper.
And hey, if you want a printable “Goodbye Journal” or memory book template for your class? I’ve got one for you in the show notes.
Until next time—breathe deep, hug tight, and remember: this classroom was better because of you. 💛
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DID YOU KNOW…
Did you know I organize a FREE Facebook Group for Mastering Classroom Management? We are gearing up for our school year quarter sessions, so if you’re looking for a simple way to improve your classroom management join the already 200+ teachers that have signed up: Mastering Classroom Management Facebook Group
Your ebook GIFT: Empowering Primary Teachers: Effectively Manage Disruptive and Violent Behaviors in the Classroom
FINALLY…
If you enjoyed the tips in this post, you might also enjoy this series of videos Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers:
Unlock the Key to Supporting Neurodivergent Learners - Without Overwhelm
Finished Early? Now What? 10 Brilliant Ways to Keep Students Engaged Without the Chaos
A Guide to Creating an Intrinsically Motivated Classroom
Expanding AI's Role in the Primary Classroom
Unlock the Power of AI in the Primary Classroom
Supporting a Student Being Bullied
What to do With a Bully in the Primary Classroom
Don’t forget to follow us over on Instagram!
Teach~Relax~Repeat
Lauren
