Over the past year, I’ve taken up boxing through Class Pass, a membership that allows you to try different workouts and gyms. I tried several boxing studios in my neighborhood. First, I started with the revered Rumble Boxing, where they turn the lights off, so you’re literally boxing in the dark with red lights feeling like you’re in a dance club. This wasn’t my favorite. Also, since it’s dark, no one comes around to help or make sure you’re boxing correctly.
Next, I tried Box Union, where they don’t teach you the names of the punches but rather the numbers, and you are, as my girlfriend says, “boxing to the beat.” (She found this hilarious and texted all her friends to tell them that I’d taken her to some bougie boxing class where you box to the beat.)
And finally, I made my way to Prevail Boxing, a small brick gym with about a dozen boxing bags and classes set up in 4 stations — 2 in front of the bags and 2 on the floor. This class was an equal mix of men and women, and from day one, I always felt like the instructors were there to help fix my form or show me how to perform the moves correctly. I also love that Prevail feels like a community. People cheer each other on, and there are definitely regulars I see and smile at every time I’m there. The instructors all know my name, which is important to me.
Cut to the other week when I walked into class, Rob (the owner) and Vince (the assistant) were clapping for me and yelled, “Happy 50th class!” They even made a chalkboard sign just for me!
I wasn’t counting, but they were! I appreciate that they took the time to celebrate me as a community member. I had shown up, sweated, and boxed my way through 50 classes!
As I got ready for class, Rob announced to everyone that it was my 50th class, and the whole class clapped and cheered! At the end of class, he reminded everyone that if they kept coming back, they could hit 50 classes, just like Dahlia did today!
Celebrations matter. Making a big deal of our accomplishments feels good.
It matters to make a big deal about someone’s actions — when you speak up and say that you notice and see what they’ve done, it can make someone’s day. This unassuming boxing gym had a little party, made me a sign, and took a dorky picture of me — and it means a lot. I feel proud, appreciated, and like I’m part of a true community.
This makes me think about our students as we wind down our school year.
Many of us are so exhausted that we’re literally crawling our way to the finish line — to limp into our final day of school. But what I’d love for you to think about instead — is the pride, appreciation, and feeling of true community your students will feel when you slow down during the last week or two of school and celebrate!
Here are some ways to celebrate in the classroom:
Celebrate Read-Alouds
Spend some time reviewing the books you’ve loved throughout the year and read them aloud to your class. Ask kids which ones were their favorites and which ones they didn’t love a whole lot. This may even help you figure out which books to read again to your incoming students in August. When I did this with my students, I found that they loved the fantasy books most and didn’t enjoy the books about experiences that were very different from theirs. My experience inspired this article on Culturally Responsive Read Alouds.
Create a bulletin board where kids can sketch or write their favorite read-aloud book titles and why they were their favorites.
Celebrate Writing Growth
Have kids look through their writing portfolio — including on-demand writing, notebook entries, and published pieces. If you didn’t retain these, make a note for next year. Ask students to think about the writer they were when they entered your classroom and the writer they are now. How have they grown and changed? You may want them to write about this and perhaps even share them aloud or create a bulletin board or chart full of them. Feel free to offer a scaffold to help them, “I used to be the kind of writer who… And now I’m the kind of writer who…”
Celebrate Reading Logs
Have kids look through their reading notebooks or logs and even book baggies. Ask them to think about the reader they were when they entered your classroom and the reader they are now. How have they grown and changed? You may want them to write about this and potentially share their thoughts aloud or make a bulletin board or chart. Here’s a scaffold to assist them, “I used to be the kind of reader who… And now I’m the kind of reader who….”
These reflection times are a great opportunity to celebrate with each other. Have your kids share their reflections in a way that best suits them:
- As a class out loud
- With a partner in the class
- With a partner in another class on your grade level
- With a book buddy partner (older/younger class paired together)
- With parents
- With the greater school community
Your celebration can be whatever you like — elaborate or simple, snacks or no food, it’s totally up to you.
Cheer the kids on for their hard work and genuinely celebrate their process and progress — that’s what workshop teaching is all about.
When you wrap up your celebration, you may want to have a little chat with your kids to set them up to read and write all summer. Help them find all the possibilities.
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