why don't they just end the term, already?

don't half complain, not have. Too tired to type properly clearly.

We have two weeks left and I will not be showing DVDs. The kids don't have complain though when they realise they are actually doing work. Still have some assessments to do. Most teachers do not give up and show DVDs for the last few weeks and in fact I am working really hard at making lessons work, because the children are hot, tired and therefore (understandably) hard to motivate.

Ds1 (Year 9) is having a great time at school winding down. They are still getting homework though.

They have a choice of activities in the last week. He is going to Boulogne for the day. But there were loads of other trips to choose from.

We broke up two weeks ago and go back in late August. Everyone was tired and ready for a break. We are now enjoying the wonderful weather and doing exactly what we want. Bliss.

Our school went up a year at the start of this half term. That kept that momentum going. Now this week they all go on activities, school holidays or work experience. It's a fantastic half term and I'd not want them to finish any earlier.

Our schools keep going.

DD1 doesn't as is a leaver and doing fun things before she enters sixthform.

DD2 though...she's 13. She has normal lessons with even more homework, more tests than usual and is getting more and more stressed.

And DS has a month to go and is ready to kill for some free time, poor mite.

We have activities week next week. In the past, we've done it earlier in the term, then done normal lessons til the last day. It makes much more sense to do it this way. I think it's a nice way to end the year, and think it's good for the kids to have a week of doing stuff they wouldn't normally get to do. We have a range of workshops provided by outside organisations, plus year group trips, walks etc. The students work with others not in their year group and it's a good socialising/team building week. Of course, some parents think that school is all about exam results. I like to think it's about developing the whole child, and some DC don't get the opportunities out of school that others do.

We have to work like Trojans until the last minute. Everybody has had enough and the hideously high temperatures in the classrooms are not helping.

I have eight teaching days left, I will teach until the end, I may relent on the last day and do a history quiz.

Ds's school finished last week and their last week was spent doing activities rather than studying. They have 60 days off this summer, which seems ridiculous.

My Yr9 dd is still working, except for sports day and the afternoon of the Summer Fete (when they were working behind the stalls).
My ds (in lower 6th) is having a 'University Preparation week' - former students coming back to talk about university, people to talk about finance, starting to look at how to write a personal Statement,etc

Only one who has really finished lesson (but are very busy with end of year productions and leavers assemblies and sports competitions and displays etc.,etc., is my Yr6 dd.

I think a bit of downtime in school is a really good idea.

In my DC's school,the last week of term has 3 days of activities then sports day. Friday is a half day, most of which is taken up the awards ceremonies.

Some of the DC will not have the chance to do any of these things outside of school, as their parents either can't or won't take them.

Y7 go camping for 3 days, it is free, and for many of them, it is the only holiday they will get this year.

Y8-10 have a variety of activities including theme park trips. This is the highlight of the year for some of them, who will not be doing anything else for the rest of the summer.

Perhaps your DC are lucky enough not to need their school to provide these experiences, but many others are not as fortunate.

We've done early transition and then the final week is enrichment week. New yr 11 do work exp, new year 8 camping, year 9 and 10 do team building, educational trips, theme park, army things. All for free. A few go abroad but the trips that are free are good. It's used as an incentive for the rest of the year as naughty ones don't go. Ones who aren't up to date with work have to stay aswell. And the students see the teaching staff in a different light. I think its really good.

I'm doing a controlled assessment with some of my pupils next week.

They feel hard done by...

My yr7 DD has been on Activities week this past week. Yr11s gone, yr10s on work experience, many in yr 9, 8 & 7 on residentials, so they've all been doing different stuff. She's been doing art, drama, music, etc.

Next week they all move up and start next year's timetable.

At DH's school a lot of teachers have stopped and are showing unrelated DVDs etc. It annoys DH as he's still teaching but the DC resent it because they tell him they aren't being made to do anything in their other classes. He just tells them that they should have plenty of capacity for learning in his classes then.

hols started here 2 weeks ago. Kids go back in August. Either way you'll be tearing your hair out when kids are home, make the most of it. It's too hot i don't want to take the kids anywhere, husband has been lumbered with the task llol

Yep the kids (12 & 14) have had this week and the next two weeks playing games and watching DVDs.

No homework for he last 2 weeks and none expected.

Still, teachings an awful job isn't it, so as far as I'm concerned they can take it easy for a couple of weeks.

Activity week here too for DD. DS is Y10 and will be doing work experience.

Mountain biking is an option - but school has its own mountain biked and a trailer.

You do have to have your own horse if you choose riding, but to be fair we are a very rural area and lots of DC do have horses (not mine)

Yeah we have actives week, so no pe/ games. The kids are shattered as are the teachers no doubt!

My school do the activities week thing, for KS3 while Y10 do work experience. It's great for them to get a chance to do interesting stuff outside of the curriculum, team building and the odd treat like a theme park to celebrate the end of a hard year. It's nice for the teachers too, if they have an interest like mountain biking (PE!), to share that with the kids by offering an activity.

I'm also teaching lessons until the bitter end. We have been told to. Where are these schools that let all this stuff happen? We only do fun stuff on the very last day

I'm teaching 'proper' lessons to the bitter end - it's getting harder every day as the students moan.