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Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Free End of Year Writing Prompts

By the time the end of the school year arrives, I am digging down deep in my bag of tricks and searching my resources for new ideas to engage my students. Often, we have used our best activities and resources well before the final month of school. This post will give you some fresh end of year writing prompts just for that final month of school (with ideas on how to make them more engaging for students who have checked out).

Free writing prompts for the end of the year! These end of year writing prompts make perfect whole group writing activities, writing centers, writing warmups, or independent writing the final month of school.

Using the End of Year Writing Prompts

These end of the year writing prompts can be used for:

Writing centers or stations
Early finisher activities
Independent writing activities

Want to add in some instant engagement if your students are reluctant writers? Try these tips:

Take them outside to write. Want prompts designed specifically for outdoor writing? Click here.
Let the students write with partners.
Allow the students to choose the prompts they want to write about.
Make these a whole group (and silly) writing activity by choosing one prompt for all of the students to write. Give the students 3-5 minutes to start writing the essay/story. Then have them leave their papers on their desks and rotate to another desk. Give them a few minutes to read the story on the desk they are at now and then a few more minutes to add to it. Continue the activity for about 20-30 minutes. Then have the students return to their desks to read their original stories. This works really well with narrative or how-to prompts.
Let the students write their essays/stories on dry-erase boards. You won’t be able to check them or save them, but your students will love the chance to actually write an essay on a dry-erase board.

Here are the writing prompts…free downloadable versions available at the end of this post.

Narrative Writing Prompts

Thinking back on the school year, write a personal narrative describing your favorite memory and why it stood out amongst the other school days.
Go back in time to the first day of school, and write a letter to yourself describing three of the things you will learn this year and why they’re important.
It’s the last day of school and you get locked in after everyone leaves. Write about what happens next.
Imagine that you’re an object in the classroom (i.e., desk, pencil sharpener, whiteboard, etc.), and write a story about the things that happened during the school year from the perspective of that object.
Write a fictional narrative pretending that you switched places with a cafeteria worker for the day.
You’re working as a school custodian. It’s the last day of school, and you enter the school gymnasium. Write a story about what you find and what happens next.
The principal calls you to his or her office and explains that your teacher will be out for the rest of the school year. It’s up to you to teach the class for the rest of the year. Write a story explaining what happens next.
Finish this story: I was walking by the art room on the last day of school when I suddenly saw…
You’re helping your teacher pack up the classroom library when you find something unexpected behind the books. Write a story describing what you find and what happens next.
Write a fictional narrative pretending that the school just announced that summer break has been canceled and that the new school year will start next week.

Persuasive/Opinion Writing Prompts

Do you think schools should be year-round or follow a traditional school calendar with summers off? Write a persuasive essay supporting your opinion.
In your opinion, should teachers give schoolwork over the summer vacation? Write an opinion piece that supports your stance.
Many people believe that schools should have later start times to allow students to get enough sleep. Write a persuasive essay explaining your position on the issue.
Students must turn in their tablets and computers at the end of each school year. Should they be allowed to take them home and use them during the summer instead? Write an opinion piece that clearly supports your position.
In your opinion, which job is the most important at your school? Write an opinion piece that clearly supports your opinion.
Write a letter to your principal persuading him or her to have field trips over the summer. Include the benefits of having summer field trips as well as possible locations in your letter.

Informational Writing Prompts

Compare and contrast this school year and last school year.
Write a letter to a student who is entering the grade you’re completing, and explain how to be successful next year.
What is needed to have a fun summer? Write an informational essay explaining the things needed to have a fun and exciting summer. Include details about each thing and why it is important.
Write an informational piece outlining a typical school day for a student in your grade.
Write a how-to essay explaining how to have the best last day of school. In your essay, include the characteristics of an ideal last day of school.

Descriptive Prompts

Describe the ideal summer day. Include details about the weather, the activities, and the people involved.
Describe your school in detail. Include details about the activities offered, the mascot, the colors, and the academics.
Describe the perfect day of school. In your description, include details about how the day would be, from beginning to end.

Use these end of year writing prompts to get your 4th and 5th grade students writing as the school year ends.

Digital End of Year Reflection Prompts

These free end of year writing prompts are now available in digital format with Google Slides. When you download the PDF (from the next section), you will find the links to access the digital end of year writing prompts on the first page.

Free End of Year Digital Writing Prompts! These are perfect for a simple but meaningful end of the year digital activity!

Here are some ideas for using these free digital end of year writing prompts:

Assign one prompt at a time.
Assign several prompts at a time for completion within a specified time frame.
Assign several prompts at a time but allow students to choose a specific number to complete from the total assigned.

Need help assigning Google Slides through Google Classroom? Click here!

Download the FREE End of Year Writing Prompts

Want More End of the Year Activities for Literacy?

Interested in more end of the year activities for literacy? Click here or on the image below to see my End of the Year Literacy Activities for 4th and 5th grade.

The resource contains over 20 no-/low-prep activities for reading and writing, with TWELVE of those in digital format!

End of year activities and ideas for literacy! Use these engaging and rigorous end of the year literacy activities to keep your students engaged and working right up until the end.

Share the Knowledge!

Reader interactions.

April 27, 2020 at 1:37 pm

Jennifer, I am retiring at the end of this school year. I have taught for 32 years and I’m 66 years old–but a very young 66. I couldn’t have made it without your amazing contribution to education. The past two years I have stepped back into a 5th grade classroom, after four years as a district instructional coach. It was a huge change for me. I have used your products enough that I consider you a good friend. So, when I google something, and you pop up first, I totally say, “Hey, I know her. Her stuff is the best!!” I have also appreciated your distance learning ideas and activities, both free and paid. They have saved me the last six weeks or so. Thank you so much and good luck with your business.

May 7, 2020 at 12:30 am

Thank you so much. These look amazing.

June 3, 2020 at 4:49 pm

Thank you very much. These are very helpful. You are totally right, it has been a strange end to the 2019-20 school year.

July 19, 2020 at 1:05 pm

Do you employ the use of daily prompts to kickstart your journal writing?

https://dailyjournal.club/journal-prompts-2-step-process-for-success/

May 18, 2021 at 2:47 pm

Thank you so much for the EOY writing prompts–they are fantastic!! I focus on writing all year long, and toward the end of May, I always feel like I’m out of ideas!! Your prompts are engaging and fresh. Thank you so much for sharing freely!!

May 24, 2022 at 3:05 pm

Jennifer, Thank you so much for sharing these awesome end of the year writing ideas! It is greatly appreciated! Diana

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Welcome Friends!

I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

The End of the School Year: A Time to Pause and Celebrate Successes

The walls of the classroom look emptier than they looked a month ago and a few remnants of the presence of students remain: a pencil here or a sticky note there containing a past thought. As the last student leaves the room in which you’ve built a community, many emotions can fill the empty space. The end of the school year invites an opportunity to pause and celebrate successes.

I remember feeling an assortment of emotions in the quiet, empty space of my classroom at the end of every school year. There were feelings of uncertainty, excitement, exhaustion, joy, anxiety, peace, and relief. I was glad to finally wrap up another year and begin a well-deserved summer break, and yet a lingering sadness filled my thoughts as I remembered each student, the community we had built, the successes, and the challenges.

As this school year comes to a close, it is important to acknowledge all the feelings that come with such a transition. They provide natural opportunities to pause and to acknowledge and celebrate successes.

The Importance of Pausing

As teachers, we are constantly handling multiple tasks simultaneously. As the end of the year nears, we’re supporting students as they reflect on their accomplishments. We’re helping to guide the completion of culminating projects. We’re providing students with the learning and skills they need to prepare for final assessments, and planning and engaging in end-of-the-year celebrations. The rigorous pace and many tasks of the final weeks of school can feel daunting and can create feelings of urgency. With everything that’s going on, it’s difficult to remember to pause so that we can refocus and regain balance. Taking the time to pause creates an opportunity to hit the reset button in our minds, to be more present, to more fully acknowledge the moments, thoughts, and emotions that are an important part of the end of the school year.

The Importance of Celebrating

During the final weeks of school , we devote time to considering and planning activities, reflections, and celebrations with students to maintain the sense of classroom community. Creating, guiding, and nurturing a community of learners through a school year is an incredible accomplishment that we can sometimes forget is also worth celebrating! We need to take the time to celebrate our own successes and connect with colleagues to support the adult community. What are some of the moments of the school year that stand out? What are some of the challenges that yielded success? Celebrating the successes of the year helps end the year on a positive note. Here are just a few ways to consider:

Write a letter to yourself listing your top 10 successes of the school year. Before the start of the next school year, read the letter so you can be reminded of your accomplishments.
Set aside time to connect with colleagues to celebrate the year you’ve had together.
Gather with colleagues and fill a container with slips of paper on which each person has written their name and one success for the year. Before leaving the gathering, invite each person to take a slip of paper with someone else’s success and message that individual over the summer to acknowledge and celebrate that success with them.
Hard Workers ( Closing Circles, page 110)
What’s the News ( The Responsive Advisory Meeting Book, page 194)
Headlines ( The Morning Meeting Book , page 121)

Taking time to pause for reflection as the school year winds down and celebrate the successes of the year helps ensure that you can end the year, and start your summer, in a more refreshed mental and emotional state.

Written by Jane Cofie, Responsive Classroom Program Developer

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50 End of the Year Writing Prompts to Chronicle Your Past School Year

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Can you believe we’re already saying goodbye to another school year? It’s that time again to hit the pause button, not just to gear up for what’s next, but to really soak in all that we’ve accomplished.

To help with wrapping things but also to gather a glimpse into what this last year has been for our students, I’ve crafted a collection of end of the year writing prompts that are perfect for you homeschool crew but would work just as well for those in traditional schools.

These prompts are a fantastic tool to help our kids (and us!) dive deep into their experiences over the past year. They provide a snapshot of how much they’ve grown academically and personally, spark their creativity, and the best part? They transform into wonderful keepsakes that capture this moment in their educational journey.

50 end of the year writing prompts for all ages

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Why use end of the year writing prompts?

Why should we use end of the school year writing prompts? It’s simple: they help kids reflect on their progress, understand their feelings about their experiences, and improve their writing skills.

For us parents and teachers, their writings become insta-snapshots into their minds. We get to witness their thoughts but also to see what has work and what hasn’t over the past year.

➤ Reflective Growth: These prompts get kids to think back on the past year, helping them recognize what they’ve learned and the hurdles they’ve overcome. It’s a great way for them to see how they’ve grown and how they’ve tackled challenges along the way.

➤ Tracking Progress: It’s like looking through a before-and-after photo album. By comparing writings from the start of the year to those at the end, you can really see your child’s progress in how they express themselves and organize their thoughts. It’s super helpful for me to see how my teaching methods and curriculum choices are working out.

➤ Boosting Self-awareness: Writing lets kids dig into what they’re good at and what they might need to work on. This isn’t just useful for their academics—it’s great for building their confidence and motivation, too.

➤ Creative Outlet: After a structured year, these prompts offer a fun break. Kids can let their imaginations run wild, whether they’re writing stories, crafting poems, or reflecting in essays. It’s a chance for them to freely express themselves and maybe even rediscover their love for writing.

➤ Sharpening Communication Skills: Good communication is key, everywhere. These prompts give kids another opportunity to practice putting their thoughts into words clearly and effectively. It’s a skill they’ll use for a lifetime.

➤ Creating Memories: The writings from these prompts often turn into cherished keepsakes. They capture your child’s thoughts and growth at this point in their schooling. Later on, these pieces can be a wonderful way to look back and remember their journey through each school year.

So, end-of-year writing prompts are a practical tool. They’re a way for students to wrap up the year thoughtfully and start the next one with a clear mind. Moreover, they’re a useful too for parents and educators to gauge how the school year has looked like for kids, from their POV. These prompts are a straightforward, yet powerful way to end the school year on a high note.

Sample prompts for different ages

These end of the year writing prompts are designed to engage students of all ages while allowing them to reflect on their personal experiences and academic growth over the past school year. But we’re not just talking basic “what I did over summer vacation” essays here! I’ve cooked up some prompts that’ll really get those creative juices flowing in fun, imaginative ways.

10 Elementary School End of the Year Writing Prompts:

Describe your favorite memory from this school year. What made it so special?
If you could travel back to the first day of school, what advice would you give your younger self?
Imagine you’re burying a time capsule. What three things from this school year would you put inside?
If you could have any superpower to help you learn, what would it be and why?
Write about what you want to be when you grow up and how what you learned this year helps you achieve it.
Pick one subject area and explain how you’ve grown in that area since the beginning of the year.
Share one good habit you started this year that helps you with school.
Describe a time you helped someone this year and how it made you feel.
What was your favorite lesson this year and what made it so special?
Write about a field trip you would love to go on next year and why.

10 Middle School Prompts:

What was the biggest challenge you faced this year and how did you overcome it?
Describe a time you took on a leadership role and what you learned from the experience.
If you could invent a new school subject or class, what would it be and why?
Write about a risk you took this year that paid off or a fear you confronted.
Reflect on a quote or lesson that resonated with you and how it has impacted your perspective.
Write a newspaper article about the top three events from your school year.
Write a letter to your future self to open when you graduate from middle school.
Write about someone who inspired you this year and why.
Argue for or against a school/homeschol rule you’d like to change and explain your reasoning.
Plan out a creative project you’d like to do next year and outline the steps you’ll take.

10 High School Prompts:

Looking back, what is one thing you wish you could have done differently this school year?
Describe how your relationships with friends or family have evolved over the past year.
What accomplishment from this year are you most proud of and why?
Write a mission statement for your life describing your core values and aspirations.
If you had to summarize the most important lesson you’ve learned, what would it be?
Write a practice college application essay about a significant experience from high school.
Pay tribute to a mentor who has made a difference in your life this year.
Share an experience where you learned about a different culture and what it taught you.
Write a speech you might give at graduation, reflecting on your high school experience.
Discuss a book that changed your perspective this year and how.

20 Cross-Curricular Writing Prompts for All Ages

You can go beyond just asking kids about their school year and into specific subjects such as English language arts, social studies, or visual arts. You can also ask them to think about how the future might look for them, what new skills they want to learn about, what new goals they have for the new year, and more!

Reflect on the historical leaders you’ve learned about this year. Select the one who resonates with you the most. Imagine stepping into their shoes and addressing their followers. Write a speech as this leader. Consider the challenges and triumphs of their time. What message would you want to convey to your people? How would you inspire them?
Imagine living in an ancient civilization you’ve learned about. Write a diary entry describing your daily life.
Identify a current event you care about. Write an essay on the change you hope to see and how it can be achieved.
Research a country you’d like to visit. Write a travel guide with places to see and activities to do.
Describe the view from an airplane window over a geographic location of your choice. What do you see below? (for more writing prompts related to geography, check my Egypt Writing Prompts and Mysteries )
Narrate your typical day using the foreign language you’re learning.
Compose a letter to a pen pal in a country where the language you’re learning is spoken, describing your school year.
Reflect on the books you’ve read this year. Write a review of the one that impacted you the most.
Write a poem inspired by a setting from one of the books you’ve read this year.
Write about an artist you studied and how they’ve influenced your view of art.
Imagine you’re opening an art exhibit. Write an announcement for the event, describing the featured artworks.
Write a first-person account of a scientist making a significant discovery in the field of physical science.
Develop an idea for a new invention. Write a proposal explaining how it works and its potential impact.
Write about a real-life situation where you applied mathematical concepts you learned this year.
Imagine you’re a scientist documenting a groundbreaking discovery. Write a journal entry describing your findings, the experiments conducted, and the impact on the scientific community.
Write a review of a musical performance you attended this year, detailing your experience.
Create a playlist of songs that represent your school year. Write about why you selected each song.
Write a strategic plan for improving in a sport you played this year.
Discuss the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle in an informative essay.
Research an environmental issue (such as climate change, deforestation, or pollution). Write a persuasive essay arguing for a specific solution to address this problem. (For more environmental writing prompts , check my Earth Day Reading Comprehension Worksheets Pack )

You know what makes these end-of-year writing prompts even more awesome? I went ahead and made a printable version that you can get for FREE below:

Do you wan to continue the writing fun over the summer? Do your kids need a refresh on the most common types of writing? Why not try our One Month of Summer Writing Prompts printable?

End of the year writing activities ideas and implementation for classrooms or co-ops

I know the end of the year leaves us all a bit drained and less creative so let me share some fun ideas for wrapping up the school year with some engaging writing activities for the kids that go beyond just journaling. I think you’ll really like these.

First off, why not have them create a memory book or autograph book ? They can fill it with highlights from the year, notes from friends, and reflections on how they’ve grown. It’ll be such a cool keepsake for them to look back on and reminisce about this school year’s friendships and experiences.

Another thought is setting up a dedicated writing center with different prompts, tools, and resources . Give them a cozy little nook where they can get creative – writing stories, crafting letters to next year’s students, or just reflecting on their academic journey this past year.

You could also showcase their written work on a big bulletin board ! Display stories, essays, poems – whatever they’ve poured their hearts into writing. It’s a great way to celebrate their diverse voices and talents.

For a more comprehensive collection, you could compile each kid’s writings into an award folder or yearlong portfolio . Then they (and you!) can easily track their progress over time. It’s the perfect assessment tool and keepsake all wrapped into one.

But here’s one of my favorite ideas: host an end-of-year writing celebration or showcase ! Make it a fun, informal classroom event or even a bigger school-wide deal. Give those kids a chance to read and present their best pieces out loud for friends, teachers, parents – the works! They’ll feel like rockstar writers.

Help them out

Now, I know getting kids motivated to write at the end of the year can be tough with their minds already on summer vacation. But there are ways to keep them engaged!

Like offering them choices in the writing prompts so they can pick topics they’re actually interested in. Or using cool visuals, videos, songs – anything to spark their creativity.

You can also let them express themselves through different mediums like drawings, audio recordings, videos. Give options to make writing more fun and accessible for everyone.

And be sure to go easy on your reluctant writers . Celebrate any effort they give, even if it’s just a few sentences. Lots of praise and positive reinforcement can go a long way in building their confidence.

It’s also smart to tailor your writing activities by grade level. Adjust how complex or lengthy the prompts are, or incorporate specific themes that’ll be relevant and engaging for each age group. And definitely give your younger ones more guidance and support as needed.

With technology nowadays, you could try interactive writing platforms or have kids create digital stories combining text, images, and audio. Or set up opportunities for them to collaborate and give each other feedback online. Games and coding that involve creative storytelling could be cool, too!

And think how awesome it would be to have kids work together on writing projects in teams. Assign fun roles like editors, researchers, authors. Build that sense of community. Or compile their individual writings into a published classroom collection they can all feel proud of.

The possibilities are endless! Why not provide summer writing prompts they can keep working through? Or suggest keeping personal journals of their summer adventures? You could even look into finding some fun local writing camps to help keep their skills sharp.

The key is making end-of-year writing an enjoyable, celebratory experience. It’s their chance to flex their creativity and be proud of how much they’ve grown as writers this year. With the right activities and energy around it, writing can be the highlight rather than a chore. Just think of the memories and keepsakes you’ll help create!

I’m honestly getting excited just thinking about all the ways to make end-of-year writing special this year. What does your gut say? Any favorites from the ideas I shared?

End of the year writing activities ideas and implementation for classrooms

Of course, I can’t help not sharing some really cool ideas for end-of-year writing activities that work great for homeschoolers, too.

Kids could put together a homeschool portfolio reflecting on all their work from this past year? They can highlight their favorite projects, assignments – anything that felt really meaningful or taught them something new. It’s the perfect way for them to look back with pride on their accomplishments.

Another sweet idea is having them write gratitude letters to people who really supported their homeschool journey this year . Could be family, tutors from co-ops or online classes, anyone who uplifted them. A little heartfelt thanks can go a long way.

Or you could have them keep a year-in-review journal ! They can document all the big events, milestones, field trips – any homeschool moments and memories they want to hold onto. Such a great keepsake for them.

Those journals could also include their goals and aspirations for homeschooling next year. Have them dream up what they’d love to focus on or any new areas they’re excited to explore. It’ll get their minds buzzing for the fall!

Speaking of planning ahead, why not have them review the curricula and resources you used ? Getting their honest feedback can really help you decide what to stick with or shake up for next year. After all, their opinions matter most!

For kids with a particular passion, let them pitch their dream passion project for summer or next year . They can outline their interests and lay out proposed activities. Could be crafting, coding, you name it! What better way to nurture their individuality?

Oh, and this one’s fun – challenge them to write persuasive myth-buster essays debunking common homeschool misconceptions or even busting some science myths or anything else they would love writing about. Using their actual experiences makes it so much more powerful.

You could also have them document any special homeschool traditions your family has developed over the year and why they’re so meaningful. It’s those cozy little rituals that make lasting memories.

So those are some of my favorite ideas! I’m already picturing kids cozied up and pouring their hearts into fun writing pieces as this school year comes to a close. Let me know what resonates most or if you need any other suggestions!

Wrapping up the year with words: why writing matters

As we wave goodbye to another school year, it’s amazing to see just how much our kids have grown—not just taller, but smarter, more skilled, and incredibly insightful. The end of the year writing prompts I’ve shared with you aren’t just for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on another year but a chance for our students to reflect, express, and even celebrate the journey they’ve been on.

For us, the parents and educators, these pieces are like little windows into our children’s thoughts and evolving perspectives. They allow us to witness their growth firsthand and understand their experiences from their unique viewpoints.

I hope these have been useful and if you like them, please let me know in the comments so I can create more writing prompts. And I’d LOVE to hear how you are wrapping up your school year!

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I'm a homeschool mom and photographer that loves reading, traveling and writing about our homeschool adventures.

I live in Europe with my 13-year-old son who is a handful to raise and educate. He is gifted in STEM and my opposite in every way. So life is never boring for us.

I've been homeschooling for 7 years ⭐️ now and I feel I still have so much to explore and learn but at the same time, I've gathered a lot of information during these years.

I want to share my ideas and discoveries with you and I love talking to other homeschool parents and learning from them.

"We rise by lifting others" is my favorite motto. That's why I love sharing and helping whenever I can. So don't shy away from dropping me a line. I always love hearing from you 🤗

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My School Essay in English (100, 200, 300, 500 words)

Table of Contents

My School Essay 100 Words

My school is a place where I get educated; learn new subjects under the guidance of trained and skilled teachers. I study at a school that is near my home. It is one of the best schools in my entire town. The management of my school believes that it isn’t only academic excellence that we should be after, but also the overall personality development and evolving into a good and useful human being.

The school has two playgrounds – one is a tennis court and the other one is a cricket ground. We also have a nice swimming pool and a canteen. It also has a beautiful garden where students relax and play during recess. Even in games, sports and tournaments, it has made much progress. My school has won many trophies, shields, and medals in many extra-curricular activities. In debates also, the students of my school secure good positions. It is considered to be one of the best schools in my locality.

My School Essay 200 Words

The school is called the educational institution which is designed to provide learning spaces and create an environment for the children where the teaching of the students is under the direction and guidance of the teachers.

My School is one of the best educational institutions where I get an education and make progress towards the goals of my life and make me capable of achieving them. Besides education, there are several significant roles that my school plays in my life. My school is performing well in all fields. It develops my physical and mental stamina, instills confidence, and

gives me tremendous opportunities to prove my skills and talents in different fields. In the academic field, it has made a mark. Its students secure top positions in the board examinations.

I go to school with my other friends. We study in our school in a great friendly environment. We reach school at a fixed time. As soon as we reach we line up to attend the assembly. Attending the school assembly is a wonderful experience. I enjoy for being first in a row in a school assembly. As soon as the assembly ends we rush to our respective classrooms. We take part in all school activities. One of my school fellows is the best singer and dancer. She has recently won the best singer award at the annual arts festival. Our school organizes all-important national events like Independence Day, teachers’ day, father’s day, etc. My school also gives every student abundant opportunities to take part in extracurricular activities like sports and music.

All of us are proud of being a part of it. I am fortunate enough to be a student at this school. I love and am proud of my school.

My School Essay 300 Words

An institution where higher education is taught is commonly called a school, University College, or University. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compulsory. In these systems, Students progress through a series of schools. The names for these schools vary by country but generally include primary school for young children and secondary school for teenagers who have completed primary education.

My school is a place where I not only get educated but also get trained in other necessary competitive skills like sports, music, and dance. I am proud of my school because it provides us with all the basic facilities like a big playground, a central library, a big auditorium hall, a science lab, and a good computer lab. That is why my school is rated as one of the best schools in my entire area. My school has produced many great people in my country. It has a big and beautiful building that looks shiny from far away. I reach my target at a fixed time. I came to school with other friends of mine. We happily enter the schools with great confidence. We take part in a school assembly and then we move into our classrooms.

This all is done by a very efficient and well-trained teaching staff of my school. The best schools are those that make the students the best and the best school is made by the best teachers. We study under the guidance of the best teachers. My school has a dedicated teacher for all the subjects as well as extracurricular activities like music and sports. I consider my school as the best school because it supports and encourages every student to do their best and make progress. Fortunately, my school provides the best environment, the best teachers, and the best facilities.

Our Class teacher greets us daily and asks about us. He is quite a cool and kind man. He entertains us along with teaching his subject. We learn a lot of things like discipline, self-help, confidence, and cooperation here. As I enter my classroom I feel quite happy and relaxed.

My School Essay 500 Words

The place where children as the leaders of tomorrow study and where the future of the nation is shaped are called schools. Education is an essential weapon for tomorrow, so the good schools of today are important for the best future of a nation. Schools are the center of learning where we attend classes on various subjects, interact with the teachers, get our queries

answered, and appeared in exams. In my school, learning is more like a fun activity, because of the extra-talented teaching staff.

My school is a government primary school located on the outskirts of the city. Usually, when people think about a government school, they perceive it to be at an isolated location and have poor basic amenities and teaching facilities. But, despite being a government school, my school defies all such speculations. Teachers of my school are not only knowledgeable about the subjects they teach but also are skilled enough to teach through fun activities. For example, our physics teacher explains every concept by stating real-life examples that we could relate to. This way we not only understand the subject better. Moreover, not a moment I remember, when any teacher had ever replied rudely to any of the students. They always patiently listen and provide answers to all the queries posed to them. Learning at my school is fun and it is made possible only because of the teachers.

My school is very important in my life, in a way even more than my family. My family gives me love, care, and affection, and provides for all my other essential needs. But, all of this isn’t enough to make me a good human being and succeed in life. Favorably, I am lucky enough to be enrolled in a prestigious school, and gaining a wonderful education, looking forward to realizing my dreams one day. The most necessary for success in life is education, and only my school provides it to me. Without my school and the education that it gives, I would be like a confused and wandering soul, almost aimless in life.

My school helps with my educational and overall personality development. It imparts education through classes, tests, and exams to teach me how to conduct myself confidently. It just feels so great to be in my school and be a part of everyday activities, be it lectures, sports, or Something else. While in school, I always feel happy, confident, enthusiastic, and loved. I make friends at school, those whom I will never forget and will always love them. My family supports my materialistic needs, but school is the place where my actual physical, social, and mental development takes place. I know that every question that crosses my mind will be answered by my teachers. I also know that my school friends will always be at my side whenever I need them to be. As much as the studies, my school also stresses much on These activities as the management thinks that extracurricular activities are very essential for our overall personality development. My school provides dedicated teachers and staff for each extracurricular activity. We have a big sports ground with kits for all the major sports; a covered auditorium for dance and music and a separate basketball court.

The role my school plays in my personality development is fantastic. It not only imparts education in me but also teaches me how to conduct myself and how to behave decently and properly. I get trained in all the other necessary skills of life, like how to keep calm in challenging situations and help others as well. My school teaches me to be a good and evolved human being, to stay composed and progressive always. It also teaches me to be kind and generous to others and not differentiate them based on their caste, religion, ethnicity, or other divisions. These are some of the most essential personality traits that my school imparts to me, something that I will always be thankful for. Every time I think of my school, I think of it as a temple of education. A temple, where my soul meets education, making my life more meaningful and useful to society and the nation as well. It is a place where my aspirations get a wing and I get the strength and confidence to realize them. No other place in the entire world could replace my school and the role that it plays in my life. I will always be thankful to my friends, teachers, and the staff of my school, for making it such a comfortable and Educational place of learning.

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My New School Year

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Essays About School: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

School education plays a significant role in forming who we are; if you are writing essays about school , read our guide for inspiration and writing prompts .

School is a crucial part of one’s life, as it gives us the basic knowledge we need to be able to take on the world. It refers to the activity of being educated in class and the buildings where these activities occur. Children go to school to obtain basic knowledge, such as history, English, and mathematics and learn manners and helpful life skills . It is commonly divided into early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

Many current and former students regard school as a second home, as it gives shelter, knowledge, and a “second family” in the form of our classmates. They also nurture us, teach us lessons about life, help us discover our interests, and instill morals in us. Indeed, the schools we attend prove vital to our success.

To start your essay , read these examples to write informative essays about school .




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1. Homeschool vs. Public School by Ramona Rice

2. essay on my school (author unknown), 3. 2020-2021 school year reflection by rasha al-najjar, 4. what do i expect from elementary school not this. by laura eberhart goodman.

5. My High School Reflections by Stella Santa Ana

1. Why Is School Important?

2. should schools require uniforms, 3. should there be a “no homework” policy in elementary school , 4. should classes be separated by sex, 5. is going to college necessary, 6. is bullying part of “school culture”, 7. what is the most important thing you have learned from school .

“And although homeschooled students can benefit from a more fitted education and concentrate on their own needs, their curriculum can become too narrowed, limiting all that they could obtain. In all, by limiting the knowledge of a student to only what their parents know, how could society ever grow and develop? A student needs to learn in an environment that will adequately prepare them for the ever-growing society and competitive work field.”

Rice compares being homeschooled to public school, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages. While homeschooling allows for a more flexible schedule and a more personalized study plan, there is no socialization and no pressure, two things that school accustoms students to for the future. It is also very limited, as parents rather than professionals teach students. Homeschooling has its advantages but is not ideal overall. You might also be interested in these essays about education .

“For me, my school is more than simply an educational institution; it is also my second family, which I established during my childhood. A family of wonderful friends, outstanding teachers, and fond school memories. I adore my school because it is where I learn how to be a good citizen and how to reach my goals. School is the only place where we make friends without judging them. We feel comfortable spending time with those close friends no matter what the situation.”

This essay discusses the importance of education and school. School gives us essential knowledge, the fundamentals of life, and friendships we will treasure forever. Contributing factors to the effectiveness of a school are the physical environment, teachers, classmates, and of course, quality of education. Finally, the school has become a second family to the author, as it gave them some of the best memories ever.

“Hybrid is hard. Flipping lessons, teachers trying to build relationships with students they’ve never seen in person, and students who are at home alone through assignments is incredibly challenging. However, the struggle of keeping it all straight gave teachers an opportunity to reflect, tweak, and adjust lessons as they went.”

Al-Najjar explains the difficulties her school’s faculty encountered during the previous school year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden change from an in-person to an online or hybrid set-up left many teachers and students confused and stressed, and although easier in some aspects; it proved difficult overall. As a result, the school year was tough, but Al-Najjar and her fellow faculty members learned a lot and planned to make the coming year more productive.

“We aren’t expecting 8 and 9 year olds to vote in the next election, or pay their own car insurance, or stay out late with a boy that we hate, so why are we expecting them to sit for 6–7 hours a day and do paperwork? Why are we expecting them to be able to concentrate for hours at a time to take multiple choice tests? It’s not the right time for that. They aren’t ready, and they shouldn’t have to be ready.”

Goodman, a mother of elementary school students, laments the tiredness she sees on their faces when she picks them up. She wishes elementary schools would focus on creativity, morals and skills , and even fun; instead, she sees her kids bored and tired with school, as their school focuses too much on academics and “high standards.” Goodman provides excellent insight from the perspective of a mother, making her argument all the more effective.

5. My High School Reflections by Stella Santa Ana

“Many people think that being alone and introverted is an abnormal behavior, but it’s actually one of the greatest assets you can achieve. If you can be alone and introverted and enjoy some quality time with yourself, if you can learn to befriend who you are and learn to love yourself for your faults, then you’re already ahead of most people in life. It’s in your best interest to become your own best friend, because only then can you really improve and become a better person.”

Santa Anna writes about several lessons she has learned throughout high schools, such as being careful with who you socialize with and avoiding procrastination. Most significantly, however, she discusses self-reliance. Only one person fully knows the real you: you. As a result, you should keep in touch with your emotions and avoid getting swayed by others so easily. If you can “become your best friend,” it is easier to succeed.

Writing Prompts For Essays About School

There are many reasons for you to attend and take school seriously. Focus on one or more, explaining the importance of going to school. For example, you may mention the lessons you can learn, the skills you develop, and how schools prepare you for the future.

Some schools, particularly religious institutions, implement strict uniform policies. Read about uniform requirements and decide whether you think students should be required to wear uniforms or not. Then, make your argument and support it adequately with credible sources. Be sure to include a rebuttal of the opposing viewpoint: describe it and explain why you disagree.

Another topic you can consider for an interesting argumentative essay is a “no homework” policy in primary school. Some believe that kids this young should have as much free time as possible, while others want them to be prepared for the future rigor of class. Discuss whether you believe students should not be assigned homework and explain your position sufficiently.

Some believe that males and females have different learning styles and should be separated in class to maximize teaching. In contrast, others believe this is unnecessary and unrealistic as men and women always work together. Decide on your position on this issue and try to persuade readers of it- give ample evidence for your argument and explain it in detail.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about classroom .

More and more job providers are removing the college degree requirement for applicants. With that being said, is getting a tertiary education still needed? In your essay , detail your position on this issue and support it with examples , statistics, and other credible research.

Essays About School: Is bullying part of “school culture?”

Bullying is, without a doubt, a grave issue at all school levels. However, some believe it is already institutional and cannot be entirely eradicated. Furthermore, some believe it can prepare students for the “real world.” Do you believe that the culture of bullying will persist, or is it unacceptable to just let it be? There is no wrong answer, as long as it is explained adequately.

For your essay , reflect on a memorable experience from your school years, no matter how long ago or recent it may be. Why do you remember it as well as you do? Then, explain what you learned from it and how it has helped you become who you are today.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Essay on My School for Students and Children

500+ words essay on my school.

Education is an essential part of our lives. We are nothing without knowledge, and education is what separates us from others. The main step to acquiring education is enrolling oneself in a school. School serves as the first learning place for most of the people. Similarly, it is the first spark in receiving an education. In this essay on my school, I will tell you why I love my school and what my school has taught me.

We have all been to school and we have loved each and every moment we have spent over there as those were the building blocks of our lives. A school is a place where students are taught the fundamentals of life, as well as how to grow and survive in life. It instils in us values and principles that serve as the foundation for a child’s development.

My school is my second home where I spend most of my time. Above all, it gives me a platform to do better in life and also builds my personality. I feel blessed to study in one of the most prestigious and esteemed schools in the city. In addition, my school has a lot of assets which makes me feel fortunate to be a part of it. Let us look at the essay on my school written below.

Why I Love My School?

From kindergarten through primary and secondary school, and subsequently, to faculty, school is a place where we always study, grow, and establish ourselves, socialize, be a friend, help others, and love and be loved. School is a buddy that will accompany us from the beginning of our youth till the conclusion of our lives. At school, we share all of our pleasures and sorrows, and we constantly rely on one another. This is made possible through the friendships we share. They assist us in effortlessly overcoming difficulties, sharing moments of enjoyment together, and looking forward to new paths.

My school strikes the perfect balance between modern education and vintage architecture. The vintage buildings of my school never fail to mesmerize me with their glorious beauty. However, their vintage architecture does not mean it is outdated, as it is well-equipped with all the contemporary gadgets. I see my school as a lighthouse of education bestowing knowledge as well as ethical conduct upon us.

Teachers have the power to make or break a school. The teaching staff is regarded as the foundation of any educational society. It is their efforts to help kids learn and understand things that instil good habits and values in their students. While some concepts are simple to grasp, others necessitate the use of a skilled teacher to drive the home the idea with each pupil.

In contrast to other schools, my school does not solely focus on academic performance. In other words, it emphasizes on the overall development of their students. Along with our academics, extra-curricular activities are also organized at our school. This is one of the main reasons why I love my school as it does not measure everyone on the same scale. Our hardworking staff gives time to each child to grow at their own pace which instils confidence in them. My school has all the facilities of a library , computer room, playground, basketball court and more, to ensure we have it all at our disposal.

For me, my school is more than simply an educational institution; it is also my second family, which I established during my childhood. A family of wonderful friends, outstanding teachers, and fond school memories. I adore my school because it is where I learn how to be a good citizen and how to reach my goals. School is the only place where we make friends without judging them. We feel comfortable spending time with those close friends no matter what the situation.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

What has My School Taught Me?

If someone asked me what I have learned from my school, I won’t be able to answer it in one sentence. For the lessons are irreplaceable and I can never be thankful enough for them. I learned to share because of my school. The power of sharing and sympathy was taught to me by my school. I learned how to be considerate towards animals and it is also one of the main reasons why I adopted a pet.

School is an excellent place to learn how to be an adult before entering the real world. Those abilities pay dividends whether you choose to be the bigger person in an argument or simply complete your domestic tasks. When you open your mind to new ideas, you gain a lot of influence in society. Picking up unexpected hobbies on your own will teach you more about what you like to do than simply completing things for a grade.

A school is a place where I developed my artistic skills which were further enhanced by my teachers. Subsequently, it led me to participate in inter-school completions through which I earned various awards. Most importantly, my school taught me how to face failures with grace and never give up on my ambitions, no matter what happens.

Schools also offer a variety of extracurricular activities such as Scouts and Guides, sports, N.C.C., skating, school band, acting, dancing, singing, and so on. Our principal also used to give us a short lecture every day for about 10 minutes about etiquette, character development, moral education, respecting others, and gaining excellent values. As a result, I can claim that what I am today is solely due to my school, which is the best institution in my opinion.

Teamwork is an important ability that schools teach. Schools are frequently the first places where youngsters have the opportunity to collaborate with children who are different from them. Collaboration is essential for the team and individual success. Students are taught that the success of a team depends on each individual component functioning together.

To sum it up, studying in one of the respected schools has helped me a lot personally. I will always be indebted to my school for shaping my personality and teaching me invaluable lessons. It has given me friends for life and teachers that I will always look up to. I aspire to carry on the values imbibed by my school to do well in life and make it proud.

Here is the list of Top Schools in India! Does Your School Tops the List?

FAQs on School

Q.1 Why must every child go to school?

A.1 It is essential for every child to go to school as the school teaches us lessons that cannot be acquired anywhere else. The experience is one a kind and along with education, we learn many other things like socializing, extra-curricular activities and more.

Q.2 What does school teach us?

A.2 School teaches us some of the great things like first of all, it gives us basic education. It teaches us to develop our skills like art, dance, public speaking and more. Most importantly, it teaches us discipline.

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In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Nine Ways to End This Crazy School Year Strong

Today’s question is:

What activities or lessons are you doing with students to end this crazy year?

Endings are important for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it often frames how we look at the future.

As we approach the end of this COVID-19 interrupted school year, four teachers share their own plans for the coming weeks.

In addition to their suggestions, you might find other ideas at Best Ways to End the School Year .

I’ve also recently learned of two other sources that might be worth exploring:

How Do You Close the School Year During Distance Learning?

American Federation of Teachers “Capstone Projects”

I am asking students to work on two reflective activities: one is a form to help me write letters of recommendation for them and another is on an evaluation of our year in general and the last two months more specifically. I also wrote about another idea this weekend as a result of watching President Obama’s online commencement speech.

Today, Michelle Shory, Ed.S., Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D., Holly Spinelli, David Sherrin, Kelsey Pycior, Sarah Said, Jacquelyn Willer, and Helen Vassiliou share their plans.

Year-End Reflection for Students

Michelle Shory, Ed.S., is a district instructional coach and Google Certified Trainer in the Jefferson County public schools, Louisville, Ky. She serves five high schools in the district. In addition to coaching, Michelle designs and implements professional learning experiences for teachers across the district. She is passionate about literacy and helped establish Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Louisville.

Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D., is a district instructional coach and Google Certified Trainer in the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS). She is also a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) and the University of Louisville adjunct who teaches literacy and ESL methods courses.

Life’s most important lessons are learned through reflection. Reflection is also a great way to consolidate learning, process our feelings, and share about ourselves. As we struggle with engagement during this period of nontraditional instruction, we have found that students really love talking about themselves and learning more about classmates.

Creating a year-end reflection is often a good culminating project, but it seems to be essential this year. Allowing students to reflect, share, and document their feelings about this time in an open-ended way can serve as a reflection of learning, as well as documentation of a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Looking to the past and the future

David Sherrin is the father (and temporary educator) of three young children, a social studies teacher at Scarsdale High School in New York, the author of Authentic Assessment in Social Studies: A Guide to Keeping it Real , and recipient of the 2014 Robert H Jackson Center National Award for Teaching Justice. He maintains the teaching website JADE Learning . You can contact him at: [email protected]:

When considering how to wrap up the year in a distance learning environment, I think we need to focus on two separate areas: 1) a final course assessment; and 2) closure activities.

Assessment can seem tricky in distance learning, especially if we still feel tied to traditional notions that equate assessment with tests. Fortunately, at least in New York, we are liberated from the high-stakes statewide tests this year. This freedom should be seen as an opportunity to provide creative, joyful, and authentic assessments. In most disciplines, including in history, the concept of “authentic” ought to expand beyond formal writing and into media such as podcasts, painting, film, panel discussions, and creative writing.

We should still provide students with a final project, but let this be a year (and perhaps the start of a continuing practice) in which we prioritize creative expression when doing so. The kids need it; many of our older students are not even taking an art class. Instead of providing a rigid format for their work, slice open the box and allow them to step out and explore.

Create the environment for what Denise Pope calls voice and choice , whether in the topic they choose to pursue or in the format they use to express their understanding and argument. This final project will provide more meaning and joy for them as they finish up a difficult distance learning springtime. I’ve done this throughout the semester and received multiple letters of gratitude from parents for providing this creative opportunity to students.

In terms of emotional closure, we can provide meaning by looking to the past and also to the future. I think two simple questions for virtual discussion can do the trick: 1) What was your most positive memory from our class this year? 2) What are you most looking forward to this summer?

By doing so, we help them remember that the world was once better than it is now and that it will, once again, be better in the future.

“I turn to my students for guidance”

Holly Spinelli is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English’s Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English, who began her career as an English teacher and student-rights activist in New York City public schools and continues this work in a public high school in the Hudson Valley of New York and as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Orange County Community College:

The pressure to end this year “right” is overwhelming, especially when I think about my high school seniors. However, as I plan the content and activities to offer during these final weeks, I turn to my students for guidance. I created a small writing prompt for students to share their vision for their learning. This may sound unwieldy, but when I offered a similar assignment to help me shape their course of study shortly after distance learning began, the students had excellent suggestions, ideas, and some sharp focus on the content they’d like to cover. I trust my students. They want to learn. They, too, want to end the year in a manner that is “right” for them.

Once I collect their feedback, I hope to combine their ideas with open-ended writing prompts to help students process and reflect on their distance learning experiences. They deserve opportunities to unpack what they’ve endured. Our final assignment will be a prompt for students to share their vision for education’s future. We, the adults, should listen. If we want to plan for their future, it is critical that students’ voices lead the way, or at the very least, are centered in the conversation.

“History through our eyes”

Kelsey Pycior balances her time teaching social studies at Manville High School in Manville, N.J., and volunteering with the following children’s bereavement nonprofits: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Comfort Zone Camp, and Tuesday’s Children’s Project Common Bond:

End of year lesson: My U.S. History 2 classes will be ending the year with a virtual discussion called History Through Our Eyes. Typically US2 wraps up around 2000-2008, depending on the pacing of the school year. This allows us to bridge the gap between where we end in our content and what is going on in current events. Students reflect on the historical, social, political, technological, economic, or other events that have occurred during their lifetimes. We then talk about the impact of these events on the world and how they may or may not be studied in future textbooks.

As a way to model the discussion, I lead off with what has happened since 1992, the year I was born, from my perspective, and bring them to their year of birth. They pick up from there. It is always a successful wrap-up activity, as it puts their lives and experiences into context regarding how they fit into the bigger picture of our ever progressing society. Overall, they enjoy guessing what major moments of their lives will be studied by their children and grandchildren and many generations to come.

Celebrating and reflecting

Sarah Said currently serves as the director of language and equity programs at the Elgin Math And Science Academy Charter School In Elgin, Ill.

Jacquelyn Willer serves as the dean of students at the Elgin Math and Science Academy Charter School:

The end of the year needs closure. Our school, the Elgin Math and Science Academy charter in Illinois has created a system that still allows for our students to get the closure they need. Being an EL (Expeditionary Learning) Education school, we wanted to still uphold the structures and core values of EL Education as we created our end-of-the-year activities.

Motivation From Teachers

Using a Flipgrid platform, teachers are now creating motivational short videos. These videos will be pulled off of Flipgrid and shared with families. Teachers wanted to leave students with uplifting statements for the summer.

Virtual Celebrations of Learning

Typically, EMSA has celebrations of learning to celebrate the end of an ELA Module each quarter that is science- or social-studies-infused. Last year, we held the celebrations within our building, and parents were able to visit each classroom. Students shined as they presented their learning. This year, our students are going to be recording their reflections on celebrations of learning. These will be videos that they will present on performance tasks they would have presented at the end of fourth quarter.

Reflections of Growth

Students will be doing an end-of-year reflection on their growth and goal setting in math, ELA, and our Habits Of Scholarship. Teachers will be following a format that supports the discussion of the schools’ content. Students will also be completing a survey on their growth within our Habits of Scholarship: Respect, Responsibility, Creativity , and Courage. They will also complete an end-of-the-year self-portrait. In addition to the reflection work we asked students to do, we are asking our older students to participate in documenting history for the “I survived” series that is doing a live collection for COVID-19.

Learning More for the Future

Students and staff will be surveyed about their experiences in e-learning. From students we are learning about how they felt about their academic experiences with e-learning. From staff, we are learning about their comfort levels with e-learning tools and what they would like to learn more about.

Games & questions

Helen Vassiliou is a proud ESL specialist in West Chester, Ohio, serving the greatest kids and parents at Adena Elementary School:

Last week, I went back and cleaned out my classroom space, frozen in time, stuck on March 12th. I took a deep breath and thought, “This final week of remote learning has to be special just like the kids.” I wanted our time to be about reflection and fun and to laugh together again. I decided to use the Whiteboard.fi website to play Pictionary during a Zoom meeting. We laughed until our stomachs hurt. Afterwards, through Google Slides, we took turns answering questions like, “What was the most interesting thing you did at school this year?” and “What do you wish you learned but didn’t” These questions got us to reminisce and talk, and for a few minutes, we forgot that we were meeting virtually instead of in person.

After sharing my Bitmoji virtual room scavenger hunt with them via the Seesaw app, I played the guitar to them one last time, and we all sang to Andy Grammer’s “Don’t Give Up on Me.” I will never forget these last moments together and I hope they don’t either. COVID-19 did not get the best of us—it made us closer.

Thanks to Michelle, Irina, Holly, David, Kelsey, Sarah, Jacquelyn, and Helen for their contributions!

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

Just a reminder, you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email or RSS Reader. And if you missed any of the highlights from the first eight years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below. The list doesn’t include ones from this current year, but you can find those by clicking on the “answers” category found in the sidebar.

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Essay on My School Life in English for Students and Children

Best Things About the School Life for Students

School Life is the best time of our life as we make new friends, learn new things and build our career there. School time is the only time which we enjoy most, and when we enter college, we always miss our school life. School life teaches us lots of new things and prepares us to face all the challenges of life. I love my school life and really enjoy it. I have lots of friends, and all my teachers love me. I love my school and enjoy going there every day to meet my friends and learn new things.

Everyone keeps on saying that school life is the best time of your life. When listening to these phrases from their elders, the school students think about what is good about this life. All we do in the entire day is to attend the classes and to do the homework. But once school life gets over, the students realise that school life was the best time of their life.

Apart from learning great things in school, you make new friends, play different sports and create memories for the rest of your life. The students also learn many life skills like teamwork, good manners, etc., and understand what they want to become in their life.

About My School and School Life

I study in the reputed private school in my city, and I am glad to be a student of this school. My school is one of the most renowned schools in my town. It is very beautiful and huge. My school has all the facilities for sports, study and other activities. Built-in a three-storey building, it is a Co-Ed and Senior Secondary School having Science, Arts and Commerce stream. The atmosphere at my school is delightful. We have a huge playing ground where we all students play different games like Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, etc. We have a separate Basketball and Tennis court, as well as a small and beautiful garden for kids.

The students practice these sports every day. The school also has a big swimming pool and sports area for indoor games. In this area, the students can play Table Tennis and Chess. There is also a big skating rink. Different physical training teachers train us for all these sports. These sports not only keep us fit but also increase our stamina and coordination.

School life is not just limited to studies and sports. There are also other activity rooms such as the music room, art room, and dance room. The Art room is a big hall with lots of colourful charts and various types of paints. The students can portray their imagination and can create beautiful art here. Dance and music are also very important in school life as they help the students express themselves in a new manner. The different movements in dance help the students in unwinding themselves.

My school has a big library where we all read different kinds of books, novels and comics. Apart from the library, my school has well-equipped scientific labs where we all practise various experiments of Chemistry, Physics and Biology. I have learned a lot of things in these labs. My school also has a big computer lab with trained technical staff that help us to learn everything about computers. I love playing on the computer and learning new things in the computer lab. In the computer lab, the students learn about using MS Word and PowerPoint. The computer lab is also called the ICT lab. The ICT teacher teaches the students about the internet and how to use it safely.

All the staff at my school are very polite, educated and experienced. Our teachers not only teach us but also prepare us for various competitions, and every year, my school wins many prizes in various competitions. I have even represented my school in a hockey championship and scored the second position.

The classrooms are big and decorated beautifully with different artwork done by the students. Various projects and models are kept in the classroom for the students to keep on revising their concepts. The teachers use smartboards, and every day a new word is taught to enhance the students’ vocabulary. Every day one student presents the ‘Thought for the Day’. These positive thoughts keep us motivated.

All the teachers at my school are very dedicated and punctual. They always teach us discipline and ask us to come to school on time. Our teachers love us, and they teach us in a very simple and easy way. Whenever we fail to understand anything, they try to make us understand it again without shouting at us. They give equal attention to all the students, and that is why my school has an excellent academic record.

The teachers are well qualified. They use different techniques to teach us the concepts. The atmosphere in the school is fun-filled and fruitful at the same time. The school’s entire staff, from the security guard to the teachers, is very helpful and polite.

We learn many life skills also in school. Discipline, hard work, and punctuality are some of them. During sports classes, we learn teamwork and work together to win.

The best part of my school is its auditorium where all the school events and competitions take place. Our school auditorium is one of the best auditoriums in the town with a great sound and light facility. It is fully air-conditioned with lots of seats. Every year, my school organises an annual cultural festival which lasts for two days. Many cultural events take place within these two days like singing, dancing, debate competition, etc. I love to participate in a poem writing competition every year, and many times I have won prizes as well. Every year, the toppers of our school get awarded on this annual cultural day and we all students love to participate in various events of the annual cultural day.

We also have school assemblies in our Auditorium. Sometimes the students from other schools come and participate in the different competitions organised in our schools. These events are called inter-school competitions. These events are very good as we get to learn new things from other students and make many new friends.

Apart from the annual cultural day, my school is famous for organising one of the biggest annual sports meets. I love this annual sports meet because sports are my favourite. In this annual sports meet, various sports competitions are organised, and almost 50 schools participate in these competitions and win multiple titles. Me, my friends, and our seniors also participate in these competitions and make our school proud by winning in them. My school has great teachers, excellent faculty and all the facilities that one student needs to excel in his/her life.

The biggest reason behind the success and fame of my school is our Principal Sir. He is 50 years old, yet very active and disciplined. He has an attractive personality, and his knowledge is commendable. He loves all the students and always spare some time from his busy schedule to monitor the progress of all the students. I admire his personality and principles. He always encourages us to take part in various extracurricular activities, and it is the result of his support & dedication that the students of my school always perform better in all the competitions. We all are fortunate to have him as our Principal.

Principal sir awards the students who participate and win in different cultural and sports events. He has a good memory and remembers the name of every child. The students feel proud when Principal sir calls them by their names.

After each term, assessments are also being conducted in the school. The teachers prepare us for these assessments, and the results are also shared with the parents. The assessment is a good system as students understand the learning gaps and can work on them. The teachers are very helpful as they assist the students wherever it is required.

I love my school and my school life. Every day I learn new things here and enjoy it with my friends. All my teachers love me and always support me. I have learned discipline and punctuality from my teachers, and it will help me a lot in my future. I am proud to be a student at this school, and I will always miss my school after leaving it. My school life has taught me many things and given me some best friends who will be my friends forever. I wish all the success to my school and love everything about my school life.

The different experiences which the students get in school life help them to become better human beings. When they leave school, they are not just taking the memories with them, but they take many friends, a career and good manners for life. It is the first place where the students come out of their family circles and create a new one with their teachers and friends.

One should also remember that everyone is not privileged enough to get an education. If one gets this opportunity, then be grateful and work towards being a better human being. Cherish your school life and stay motivated.

FAQs on Essay on My School Life in English for Students and Children

1. Do you think Sports are important during school life?

2. What are life skills learnt during school life?

Some of the Life Skills learnt during school life are:

Punctuality

Trending Post : 12 Powerful Discussion Strategies to Engage Students

Meaningful Ways to End the School Year

School’s out for summer! Well, not quite. But, the thought of summer break typically stirs butterflies in both teachers’ and students’ stomachs. Those flutters of excitement are nothing to feel guilty about. We’ve worked HARD all year, and we are ready for a little…er….long-ish break! But before we close out the year, we want to feel good about how we wrap up. Ending well matters. If you’re searching for meaningful ways to end the school year, you’ve come to the right place.

At the end of the year, my goals include:

celebrating
collaboration
relationships
goal setting
continued learning

While final exams are sometimes required, whenever possible I like to spend time leading up to the end of the year with community-building, critical thinking activities. Final exams serve a purpose for collecting summative data, forcing review, and holding students accountable, but they do little to nothing for building relationships or community. If you are not required to give final exams, you have a lot of flexibility! If you are required to give final exams, you can still choose to make your time reviewing both meaningful and engaging.

So, what are some meaningful ways to end the school year well ? Let’s take a look at some fun closure strategies specifically for ELA classes!

End of the school year review activity; year mapping

1. MAP YOUR YEAR

One pagers have definitely struck a chord over the past few years. When students complete them well, they are truly synthesizing what they have learned about a topic (often literature). Sketchnotes have increased in popularity for similar reasons. If you love both of these options but are looking for something that is a little more comprehensive, let me introduce you to one of my new favorites: year mapping .

When students map their year in learning , they focus on synthesizing , making connections , asking questions , visualizing , summarizing , and evaluating their learning. Naturally, this thought process leads to goal setting for the next year. Year mapping is an amazingly powerful tool for collaboration (although it can be done individually as well). Students have a lot of voice and choice in terms of what they include on their maps and how they want to organize it.

Because students are truly in the driver’s seat after you introduce the assignment, as they work, the teacher is free to confer with individuals and groups. If students need a push, we can provide it by asking thoughtful questions and making key suggestions.

If you like this idea but want students to participate in more of a whole-group setting, try applying the same connection concept to a huge class mural (more strategic) or graffiti wall (less strategic).

The conversations students have with each other as they reflect on the course provides invaluable feedback to us, the teachers. Did they really get it? Did it stick? And, how can we use that information to adjust instruction moving forward?

I’ve created a time-saving resource with examples to help you get started. Grab it here!

2. CREATE A PLAYLIST

Reflection at its finest. What is better than having students reflect on their year (both personally and academically) while spiraling in grammar and writing skills they’ve learned in your course? Students love music, and all songs have meaning, so creating a playlist is relevant and engaging!

This lesson plan generally takes a few days, and it can involve as much or as little writing as you’d like. In May, the last thing most ELA teachers want to do is hunker down behind a screen or stack of essays, grading our free time away.

That’s why I love having students create a playlist. As they make their list, we can sit with them and confer. I’ve worked with individual students as well as small groups of students to re-teach or review important concepts they are expected to use in their writing. ( Think: punctuation, sentence structure, coordinate adjectives, parts of speech ) As you work with students give them feedback on their learning. If possible, go through a simple rubric with them, and ask them to self-assess.

And…don’t forget to play the school-appropriate songs while they work!

3. GATHER FEEDBACK

I won’t lie. Asking students to complete a course evaluation at the end of the school year can be a little nerve-wracking. What if students are brutal with their feedback?

A few may be. It can be difficult to swallow harsh feedback, but asking students for feedback on our course is imperative. I’ve always wanted to know what they thought. From their perspective, what was their experience in my class like? While some students may not provide helpful insights, I’ve been pleasantly surprised that many have.

When creating course evaluations, we can craft questions that increase the likelihood we will receive helpful feedback. For instance, instead of What was the most frustrating part of this class?, we can ask, What challenged your thinking most in this class? Creating questions that are multiple choice and collecting those ideas with a Google Form can streamline the process of digesting large amounts of data.

I ask some standard questions , but I love posing creative questions as well. I want students to think, to reflect, and to be aware of the way they chose to approach learning in my class throughout the year.

4. PLAY REVIEW GAMES

When the weather is warm, and summer is approaching, we can engage students by incorporating a variety of review games in our lesson plans. Whether we use these as a spiral review, as fast-finisher activities, or with learning stations, games bring learning and laughter to life. Games are a meaningful way to end the school year. Students are doing the thinking, but because they are engaged with interactive games, it doesn’t feel like work, and time goes by quickly!

Looking for meaningful ELA games that emphasize synthesis, collaboration, and critical thinking? Let’s consider a few options, (you can find a complete list of games I have created here )…

Word Games: Few things make me happier than listening to students use words they’ve learned over the course of the year in conversation with friends! Games like sticky words , QR associations , and speed dating put students in the critical thinking driver’s seat.

Truth or Dare: Whether students are reviewing key grammar concepts , using figurative language , or applying knowledge of new vocabulary , truth or dare has been a hit with many middle and high school students. Prompts naturally allow for low floor, high ceiling opportunities, which simplifies differentiation.

Dice Games: I use dice games to have students review grammar concepts (like sentence structure, parts of speech, and punctuation). Students deepen their knowledge of grammar concepts without even realizing it, which is exactly what we’re looking for with student-led activities.

Superlatives: Awards are not necessarily games, but they are a fun way to end the year and celebrate learning. Put a creative twist on end-of-the-year superlatives by having students give vocabulary words special awards! For example, Most Studious ? erudite , of course! Would you like a free vocabulary superlative award you can use with students today? This one is editable in Google Slides .

5. CELEBRATE READING

If your classroom is built around any form of independent reading, it’s important to celebrate progress at the end of the year. Helping students reflect on their reading volume, reading diet, reading identity, and reading stamina are wonderful ways to build community. As a class, how many books were read? How many genres did students explore?

Allow students time to make book recommendations and to reflect on their growth as a reader. Not every student reads more books than the year before, but each year, every reader has the opportunity to set new goals. Did your students…

try new genres this year?
increase how long they can read in one sitting?
grow their reading skills?
begin recommending books to others?
start reading in new locations?
come to value reading as a lifelong hobby?

Activities for Celebrating Reading…

To end the school year well, there are literacy reflection points for everyone! Here are some simple, engaging activities to help students celebrate:

Reading Ladders: I like using a visual to help students reflect on book fit. How often are students reading books that fit them well? Do they try books that challenge them? And, do they take time to sit with books that are “easy” for them? All books have value. Using a reading ladder at the end of the year provides students with an overall picture of book fit for the year.

My Year in Reading: Have students reflect on their thinking as it relates to reading! Students enjoy writing a brief reflection, adding visuals, and evaluating a book overall.

Bookflix Bulletin Board: Build community by asking students to help create a digital or physical classroom Bookflix display . Students enjoy this popular reference to the hit streaming service, Netflix. Not only do students have ownership and voice in creating this class display, but also next year’s class gets to start off with some book recommendations from their predecessors!

Classroom Bookshelf (digital and print): One of the easiest ways for students to make book recommendations virtually is through a classroom bookshelf. They can take Instagram style photos and add what they just finished, what they are currently reading, and what’s up next in their “to read” stack.

You can find all of these bookish activities for community building, reflecting, and future reading in this creative alternatives to the reading log bundle .

6. CELEBRATE WRITING

Too often, writing takes a back seat during celebratory discussions in our classrooms. Even though writing is often hard work for both teacher and students, we can create positive associations with the experience by reflecting on and discussing the progress we’ve made over the course of a year.

Reflective Portfolios

Because most writing is digital now, students should be able to locate their compositions from the school year. Ask them to compile all of their work into a digital portfolio. There are so many ways to do this! For instance, students can create a portfolio cover and table of contents page in Google Slides. Then, they can link each of their writing samples to their titles on the table of contents.

Ask students to identify specific skills they worked on with each piece.

With this essay, I really began to understand what it means to say the writing process is recursive.
When I made this infographic, I learned how author’s purpose impacts text structure.
Writing this poem encouraged me to think strategically about punctuation.
My personal memoir, I learned to show instead of tell.

I’ve created a basic writing portfolio template you can use to get started.

Gallery Walks

For a less formal approach, put prompts around the room on big paper. Prompts should include a big thinking question and a writing skill. For example…

Write about some specific ways our classroom became a community of learners and friends this school year. Include and annotate one of the comma rules you learned.
Explore one of the challenges our world is currently overcoming this school year in one sentence. Annotate the sentence structure of your response.
Compose a question that represents your curiosity about something you learned in our course this year. What more do you want to learn? In your answer, highlight a verbal.

Have students work in pairs, rotating around to each prompt and adding their thinking to the paper. As they do, they can also respond to peers’ comments. It’s simple to extend thinking by using underlines, stars, and thought bubbles.

7. JIGSAW DISCUSSIONS

If you want to emphasize discussion and student-led review, the jigsaw strategy is extremely powerful. Hattie lists jigsaw discussions as one of the teaching strategies that (when implemented successfully) can have the greatest impact on student learning over time.

With jigsaw discussions, students first form “expert” groups in which they take a deep dive into one topic of learning. With the other members of this expert group, students ask hard questions, review important takeaways from direct instructions, and further their understanding with research. Teachers often take time to sit with each expert group to coach them through their thinking.

When the expert groups have exhausted their topic, they prepare a short “lesson” they can take away from their group and use to teach their peers. Students in the expert group often practice this lesson with one another, talking through any visuals and activities they create to ensure they are all on the same page.

Then, it’s time to jigsaw! Expert groups split up, and new groups form. Let’s say you started with five expert groups, which each contained five students. The second group would then consist of five NEW groups. Each of them would have an expert from a different topic. And, they would proceed to teach one another!

Topics to Discuss

How could we end the school year well without discussions? But, there are SO MANY WAYS we can ask students to discuss. Jigsaws are a strategy I don’t typically use until students have a semi-solid grasp on the topic of study, which makes the end of the year an opportune time!

In order to get started with jigsaw discussions, you just have to start using them! No doubt, the first time through, you may find they don’t go as smoothly as you had hoped. Well-run jigsaws take some finessing. Selecting the best topics for jigsawing is part of the learning process. Here are some ideas…

Grammar concepts (types of phrases, types of sentences, types of punctuation)
Figurative language
Modes of writing
Writing skills
Parts of the writing process
Reading skills
Elements of plot

Jigsawing chapters of a book is not usually effective, but focusing on specific skills or standards as they relate to literature can be powerful.

And, after students take turns teaching one another in their second groups, you can come together as a whole class to discuss how each of the jigsaw topics relates to the others!

You can read this post for twelve additional discussion formats that allow for discussion, community building, and conversation. Think gallery walks and musical debates!

Most importantly, when we plan how to end the school year, it matters what we do with students’ responses to these activities. Planning meaningful end-of-the-year lessons involves intentionally creating opportunities for students to reflect and collaborate but also for us to use what they create to continue growing in our practice.

Meaningful ways to end the school day #EndofYearActivities #EnglishLanguageArts

These are great tips! I think a lot of these activities could even be modified for a high school classroom. I love the idea of student feedback. Even if they are brutal, they can only make you a better teacher! It makes me wonder, what is the most useful thing a student has ever said to you in feedback?

Thanks so much for reading! Such a GREAT QUESTION! Honestly, this is really hard for me to answer because every time I ask students for feedback, I get at least one suggestion that changes my teaching for the better.

To be transparent, I would say the most powerful feedback I’ve received from students has been in reading some of the harder-to-digest comments about how certain assignments stressed them out or seemed like busy work. Those comments have forced me to reflect on the true purpose for the assignment. Was it helping me to get to know them better as learners or just for accountability?

More often than not, when students find an assignment stressful, it’s because I haven’t done a great job of teaching them the skills they need or because the assignment was summative in nature, and students really needed more of my formative feedback and the opportunity to practice first.

Many times, the most valuable feedback has led me to include students more in the instructional creation and assessment process…giving them a larger voice. I hope that makes sense!

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Paragraph on my School

Ai generator.

As a teacher, I strive to create a warm, encouraging tone in every paragraph I write. Crafting lessons for middle school students is like painting a masterpiece, while for simile primary school , it’s like building a colorful, sturdy foundation. My goal is to inspire and educate at every level.

Checkout → Free Paragraph Writer Tool

Short Paragraph on My School

My school is a place of learning, growth, and community. It offers a supportive environment where students are encouraged to excel academically and develop personally. With dedicated teachers and diverse extracurricular activities, my school fosters a well-rounded education. I am proud to be part of such a nurturing and inspiring institution.

Medium Paragraph on My School

My school is an exceptional institution that has played a significant role in shaping my academic and personal development. The supportive and inclusive environment fosters a love for learning and encourages students to strive for excellence. The dedicated teachers go above and beyond to ensure that each student reaches their full potential, providing personalized guidance and support. My school offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities, from sports and arts to clubs and community service, which help in developing well-rounded individuals. The strong sense of community and camaraderie among students and staff creates a positive and inspiring atmosphere. I am proud to be part of such a nurturing and dynamic educational institution.

Long Paragraph on My School

My school is an outstanding institution that has had a profound impact on my academic and personal growth. It provides a supportive and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to explore their interests and excel in their studies. The dedicated and passionate teachers are committed to helping each student achieve their full potential, offering personalized guidance and support. My school’s curriculum is comprehensive and challenging, designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. In addition to academic excellence, my school places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities, offering a wide range of options including sports, arts, clubs, and community service. These activities play a crucial role in developing well-rounded individuals and fostering a sense of teamwork and leadership. The school community is vibrant and diverse, with students and staff from various backgrounds coming together to create a positive and inspiring atmosphere. The sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among students and staff contributes to a welcoming and nurturing environment. My school also prioritizes values such as integrity, responsibility, and empathy, which are integrated into the daily school life. I am incredibly proud to be part of such a dynamic and nurturing institution that not only focuses on academic achievements but also on personal growth and character development.

Tone-wise Paragraph Examples on My School

Formal tone.

My school is an exemplary institution that has significantly contributed to my academic and personal development. The school provides a supportive and inclusive environment, fostering a love for learning and encouraging students to strive for excellence. The dedicated and experienced teachers are committed to helping each student reach their full potential, offering personalized guidance and support. The comprehensive and challenging curriculum stimulates intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Additionally, the school places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities, offering a wide range of options that help in developing well-rounded individuals. The sense of community and camaraderie among students and staff creates a positive and inspiring atmosphere. I am proud to be part of such a nurturing and dynamic educational institution.

Informal Tone

My school is great! It’s a place where I’ve learned so much and made awesome friends. The teachers are really dedicated and always help us do our best. There are so many fun activities, from sports to arts, and lots of clubs to join. The school has a really supportive and positive vibe, and it’s been a big part of who I am today. I’m really proud to be a student here!

Persuasive Tone

Consider the incredible benefits of being part of a school like mine. My school offers a supportive and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to excel academically and grow personally. The dedicated teachers provide personalized guidance to help each student reach their full potential. The diverse range of extracurricular activities fosters well-rounded development, while the strong sense of community creates a positive and inspiring atmosphere. Being part of such a nurturing and dynamic educational institution has profoundly shaped my academic journey and personal growth. Choose a school that prioritizes both academic excellence and personal development, just like mine.

Reflective Tone

Reflecting on my time at my school, I realize how much it has contributed to my academic and personal growth. The supportive environment and dedicated teachers have encouraged me to strive for excellence and explore my interests. The diverse extracurricular activities have helped me develop new skills and make lasting friendships. The sense of community and mutual respect among students and staff has created a nurturing and inspiring atmosphere. My school has played a significant role in shaping who I am today, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and experiences it has provided.

Inspirational Tone

Embrace the incredible opportunities that a school like mine offers. My school is a place of learning, growth, and inspiration. The dedicated teachers and supportive environment encourage students to reach their full potential and explore their passions. With a wide range of extracurricular activities, students can develop new skills and foster a sense of teamwork and leadership. The vibrant and inclusive community creates a positive and nurturing atmosphere. Let my school inspire you to strive for excellence and embrace the endless possibilities for personal and academic growth.

Optimistic Tone

My school is a fantastic place filled with opportunities for learning and growth. The supportive environment and dedicated teachers encourage us to do our best and explore our interests. There are so many exciting extracurricular activities to choose from, helping us develop new skills and make great friends. The sense of community and positivity makes school a wonderful place to be. I’m proud to be part of such an inspiring and nurturing school.

Urgent Tone

Now is the time to recognize the immense value of being part of a school like mine. My school offers a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth. The dedicated teachers provide personalized guidance, ensuring each student reaches their full potential. The diverse range of extracurricular activities develops well-rounded individuals. The strong sense of community creates a positive and inspiring atmosphere. Act now to ensure you or your child can experience the benefits of such a nurturing and dynamic educational institution.

Word Count-wise My School Paragraph Examples

My school is an exceptional institution that has played a significant role in shaping my academic and personal development. The supportive and inclusive environment fosters a love for learning and encourages students to strive for excellence. The dedicated teachers go above and beyond to ensure that each student reaches their full potential, providing personalized guidance and support. My school offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities, from sports and arts to clubs and community service, which help in developing well-rounded individuals. I am proud to be part of such a nurturing and dynamic educational institution.

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts.

Connecticut college.

12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
10 Harvard essays from 2023
10 Harvard essays from 2022
10 Harvard essays from 2021
10 Harvard essays from 2020
10 Harvard essays from 2019
10 Harvard essays from 2018
6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions combines world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've guided thousands of students to get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit and are driven to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in:

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.” The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings . If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Use the End of the School Year to Express Specific Gratitude

Thanking your child's teacher benefits both you and your child in multiple ways..

Posted June 17, 2024 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

Find a therapist near me
When giving positive feedback, be specific about what a teacher did that positively impacted your child.
Don’t assume your child’s teacher knows how you appreciate their efforts with your child.
Thanking teachers in writing and copying administrators can get you and your child goodwill.

A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog post about generosity . This month, I'd like to focus on the important quality that acknowledges generosity: gratitude . Gratitude demonstrates appreciation and offers thanks for others' gifts, help, or kindness. Both generosity and gratitude are qualities that draw others to us, and both can be cultivated and nurtured in even very young children. To do that, though, we may want to start with ourselves.

While most of my posts have explored ways parents can positively affect their children's well-being in school, I am going to take a more indirect approach in this post by encouraging parents to show gratitude toward their children's teachers. Shifting focus from your children to those who teach them gives you an opportunity to boost the morale of teachers you appreciate and, if your kids are older, to model showing your appreciation. It can also have long-term benefits for your children and to your reputation among their teachers, and it can even positively affect the children those teachers teach in the future.

You may be surprised to learn how rarely parents or students thank teachers for the time and effort they take to guide and instruct their students. The reality is that teachers are leaving their classroom careers at higher rates than ever. They are increasingly burdened by enormous workloads and demanding administrators and often feel underappreciated by parents and students. COVID exacerbated this situation, and it was the last straw for many exhausted and underpaid teachers.

The end of the school year is a perfect time to let the teachers for whom you have been grateful know about the differences they made in your children's lives. If your children's teachers encouraged them, inspired them to believe in themselves, gently pushed them to be their best selves, or even saved them from themselves at times, letting those teachers know that you are aware of and appreciative of the special care they gave your kids will make them feel seen and valued.

Parents of especially challenging children—perhaps those with a learning or behavioral issue—may feel grateful that a teacher kept them from being marginalized in the classroom, building bridges that helped the other kids work with theirs. Parents of high-achieving children may feel fortunate that a teacher went out of their way to suggest extra reading or enrichment opportunities to encourage their kids' enthusiasm for a subject. If you know that your children are easily triggered, but they have a teacher who thinks they are fabulous, acknowledge the teacher's skill at anticipating triggers and avoiding the kinds of tricky outcomes you have seen in past years. These kinds of teachers are exceptional and need to hear it.

Expressing your gratitude in writing is best because it can be looked at for years. I know teachers who have a folder in their desks called their "rainy day file" containing messages that remind them on challenging school days why they get up every morning to do what they do. If you send an email, consider cc-ing the teacher's supervisor. School administrators rarely get to watch their faculty in action, so giving them glimpses into talented teachers' classrooms will make them feel proud, too. Administrators may even share your words about the teacher with the rest of the faculty as an example of the kind of teaching valued in their school. It also keeps special teachers in mind for teaching awards and other opportunities to showcase what they do well.

Many parents send their kids to school with token gifts for teachers on the last day of the year. The kind of note I am talking about is more personal and specifically directed at expressing how teachers made a difference in your kids' lives. The more specific you are in describing what you have appreciated, the more likely these teachers will be inspired to continue teaching with the attentiveness and passion they brought to your children's classrooms. It is incredibly energizing for teachers to realize that what they have strived to accomplish has hit the mark. Although your primary purpose is not getting teachers to say nice things about you, it will likely be a side benefit of your expression of gratitude. We tend to like people who value us; when the words are genuine and specific, they carry more weight.

If your children are older, you can tell them you are writing a thank-you letter to their teacher, teaching them to do the same. While there's certainly an expectation that all teachers provide support to their students, the degree of that support and the willingness and effort they take to provide it are all qualities your older child should be aware of. There's no teacher who won't appreciate being appreciated.

Pamela D. Brown, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of professional experience.

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Aug 17, 2022

Student Essay: Five tips to set yourself up for success this school year

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The beginning of a new school year provides you with a fresh slate. It means a new grade, new teachers and an older and wiser you! If you take some time to prepare for the new school year right at the beginning, you'll make those first days easier on yourself while also setting yourself up for success all year long. Here are five things that you can do to get ready for the school year.

1. Make a schedule.

Whether you are going to school online or in-person this year, having a schedule will ensure that you have time each day for all of the things that you need (and want!) to do. When you make your schedule, be sure to include time for homework, your after-school activities and even time to relax before bedtime. If you feel like it, you can even search for advanced schedule templates online. No matter which format you choose, a schedule will only help if you pay attention to it and use it every day. Be sure to keep it where you can see and refer to it regularly.

2. Set up an area where you can focus and study.

The environment where you study can make a big difference on whether your studies go well. Set up the area where you will study each day. Your study area can be in your room, in the kitchen or even at the dining room table. Before you set up, make sure that the area you select allows you to focus without getting distracted. After you find your spot, remove anything that might take you off task. That includes electronics you are not using and toys. Make sure you have a desk or a table that you can make your own (at least for the time you're studying). Feel free to add school supplies, a fluffy chair or even a diffuser with your favorite scent. One more thing: make sure there is a clock nearby. You can use it to help you spend your study time wisely.

3. Map out your plan for the coming year.

Whether you are going into fourth grade or eighth grade, it's important to make a plan for the year ahead. A plan is basically a list of goals you want to meet this year. Setting goals for yourself helps you to see where you are going and track your progress toward the things you want to achieve. You can make your plan mentally, on paper or online. The important part is to spend time thinking about your year and deciding on the items you want to accomplish. Some goals to include in your plan may be studying for standardized tests, reading a certain number of books, achieving something specific in an extracurricular activity (like getting a karate belt or mastering a song on the violin) or even spending extra time learning about different careers, high schools or colleges. Whatever it is, make sure it's part of your plan.

4. Keep safety in mind.

Every new school year begins with buying school supplies. This year, because of the pandemic, there are special school supplies you may need just for safety, including hand sanitizer and masks. Test out your mask in advance to ensure it fits properly, is safe and that you can wear it for the length of a school day. You will want to have enough masks that you can switch them without having to do laundry every single day. Regular hand-washing is important, but hand sanitizer also helps for the times in between.

5. Make time to read.

Now you're completely ready for the school year ... almost! One last thing to do is make sure you leave time in your schedule to read for a little while each day. Reading has been proven to improve your memory and increase your vocabulary and comprehension. It also helps you to relax and unwind. Reading lets you escape from reality and makes you feel like you are in a different world. You can find any type or genre of books in your school or local library. Ask your teacher or librarian for a reading list for your grade level, and ask your friends for their favorite book recommendations, too. Once you find a book or series you like, you can always look for similar books or authors. But don't be afraid to try other genres and authors, too! You may find something you love even more.

With just a bit of planning you can set yourself up to have a great year. Remember, you don't have to get everything perfect. You just have to make an honest effort to put some thought into the school year before it starts. Happy planning!

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Remembering Willie Mays as Both Untouchable and Human

Mays, who died on Tuesday at 93, had been perfect for so long that the shock of seeing baseball get the best of him was the shock of seeing a god become mortal.

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A black-and-white shot of a smiling Willie Mays in pants and a polo shirt, holding a duffle bag in his right hand and two baseball bats over his left shoulder. He is standing on the warning track in the outfield of Polo Grounds, the stadium in New York that hosted in the Giants.

By Kurt Streeter

At the end, the Say Hey Kid looked nothing like the extraordinary force who had been at the center of the American imagination for much of the 20th century.

The Kid — Willie Mays — struggled at the plate and stumbled on the basepaths. A line drive arced his way, easily catchable for Mays during most of his career. But he fell. Another outfield mistake caused the game to be tied in the ninth inning.

He was a creaky-kneed 42 years old on that October afternoon, Game 2 of the 1973 World Series — Mays’s New York Mets in Oakland facing the A’s. On the grandest stage, the ravages of time had settled upon the game’s most gilded star.

That he would redeem himself at the plate three innings later is often forgotten. The unthinkable had happened. Mays had not only failed, he had appeared lost, clumsy and out of sorts.

The shock of seeing him that way would linger long past his playing days as a warning: Don’t be like Willie Mays, sticking around too long, stumbling in center field, a shadow of his former self. Such became the axiom, uttered in so many words by everyone from politicians to business leaders to commentators weighing in on great athletes who yearn to play into their twilight.

Quit before it is too late.

In retirement, Mays, who died on Tuesday at 93, did his best to ignore the game that would be his last. But there is another way to view its echoes.

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Election latest: PM should show 'leadership' and suspend betting suspects; Sunak and Starmer 'to dine together'

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are both set to attend a state banquet as part of a state visit by the emperor of Japan. Ruth Davidson has called for the prime minister to ignore the Gambling Commission and suspend the alleged betters in his party.

Tuesday 25 June 2024 07:18, UK

General Election 2024
Sunak should show 'leadership' and suspend alleged betters
Starmer and Sunak to dine together with Japanese emperor
Sunak: I got this job as the result of a mistake
PM reveals Tories are investigating betting scandal
Live reporting by Tim Baker

Election essentials

Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | DUP | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
Read more: Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

By Jennifer Scott , political reporter

Reducing knife crime will be a "moral mission" for Labour if it wins the general election on 4 July, Sir Keir Starmer will say on Tuesday.

The party leader will outline his plan to halve knife crime over the next 10 years, including creating a new cross-government "coalition" to work on solutions - including families of victims and survivors of knife crime, along with tech companies and relevant organisations.

Sir Keir will also promise to chair an annual knife crime summit to "track progress" on the target, and appeal to all parties to work together on the issue.

"Knife crime is an issue above and beyond party politics," he will say. "For the parents grieving sons and daughters who never came home, action to end this scourge cannot wait.

"Far too often we hear the same stories from grieving families who have been subject to these brutal murders carried out by children.

"It is our duty as political leaders of all stripes to work together to end knife crime and keep our young people safe."

Figures from Labour showed knife-related offences had risen by 81% since 2015 across England and Wales.

The party's pledges for after the election include increasing the penalties for carrying a knife - including custody in the most serious cases, as well as extending the list of banned knives.

Read the full story here:

By Beth Rigby , political editor

It's hard for politicians to cut through. It's even harder when you are leading the fourth largest party in parliament with only 11 MPs.

How do you insert yourself into a conversation that's happening largely between the Conservatives and Labour, with a sprinkling of Reform's Nigel Farage in the mix?

Well, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has done it two ways.

The first through endless silly stunts - be it repeatedly falling off a paddleboard on Lake Windermere or riding a giant waterslide in his swimming trunks in Somerset.

But the second, and far more profound, way to reach voters has been to open up about his own childhood, caring for his dying mother, and now, as a father himself, raising a disabled son.

The decision to make a highly personal election broadcast, which showed Sir Ed at home with his 16-year old son John, as well as footage of him at his childhood home in Nottingham talking about his mother dying of breast cancer when he was 15, has, in part, been to highlight the world of carers.

But it has also been to try to show a side of this political leader the electorate don't know.

Since the short film was released three weeks weeks ago, it has been viewed over 6.4 million times on the leader's X feed. That is what you call cut through.

Read the full story below:

The latest episode of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast is out, with Sky political editor Beth Rigby chatting to former Scottish Conservative leader Baroness Ruth Davidson, and ex-Labour adviser Baroness Ayesha Hazarika.

At one point, the discussion turns to the Conservative betting scandal.

A number of Conservative candidates and officials are being investigated over whether they bet on the timing of the election before Rishi Sunak announced it - but they have not been suspended from the party.

The Tories say they cannot take further public action due to the Gambling Commission's investigation.

But Lady Davidson says Mr Sunak should ignore the watchdog.

She said: "The Gambling Commission are very, very clear about what you're not allowed to say when somebody's being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

"But I'm sorry, you're the prime minister of a G7 nation in the middle of an election campaign when you're fighting for your life... If the Gambling Commission want to shout at you for suspending somebody and saying that, just do it.

"That's what leadership is."

She added that she thought "nothing was going to be worse than leaving D-Day early" - but the betting allegations are "reinforcing already bad opinions".

👉 Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Welcome back to the Politics Hub.

Today's campaigning will have a unique dynamic to it due to the state visit from the Japanese emperor and empress.

While the monarch is not expected to visit Downing Street or give a speech in parliament due to the election, he will be heading to a state banquet this evening at Buckingham Palace.

Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are expected to be in attendance at the dinner - an evening slightly differed to the two televised events it is nestled between.

Coming up this morning on Sky News:

Illegal migration minister and Conservative candidate Michael Tomlinson at 7.15am ;
Labour shadow minister and candidate Nick Thomas-Symonds at 8.15am.

We'll be back from 6am with all the latest from the election campaign.

We're in the last few days of the race for Number 10 - and parties from across the House of Commons are accelerating their efforts.

Join us in the morning for more live updates.

Reducing knife crime will be a "moral mission" for Labour if it wins the election on 4 July, Sir Keir Starmer will say on Tuesday.

The party leader will outline his plan to halve knife crime over the next 10 years, including creating a new cross-government "coalition" to work on solutions - bringing in families of victims and survivors of knife crime, along with tech companies and relevant organisations.

Sir Keir will also promise to chair an annual knife crime summit to "track progress" on the target, and appeal to all parties to work together on the issue.

"Knife crime is an issue above and beyond party politics," he will say. "For the parents grieving sons and daughters who never came home, action to end this scourge cannot wait.

"Far too often we hear the same stories from grieving families who have been subject to these brutal murders carried out by children.

Figures from Labour showed knife-related offences had risen by 81% since 2015 across England and Wales.

The party's pledges for after the election include increasing the penalties for carrying a knife - including custody in the most serious cases, as well as extending the list of banned knives.

Its 10pm - here's your late night general election bulletin.

We're into the last full week of the election campaign, with just 10 days left until polling day - and things are heating up.

Here's a run down of everything you may have missed:

Rishi Sunak today said he is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission over the betting scandal;
He confirmed the Conservative Party is carrying out its own investigation - and will pass its findings on to the Gambling Commission ;
The prime minister later took part in an election Q&A with The Sun, in which he insisted he only took the top job "as the result of a mistake" made by Liz Truss ;
He also failed to confirm whether he called a summer election to avoid potential legal trouble over Rwanda flights taking off in July;
Meanwhile, economists have lambasted a "conspiracy of silence" from the main parties over their tax and spending plans - read more below:
Over to Labour, which has offered to meet Harry Potter author JK Rowling to provide her with "assurances" over the protection of women-only spaces;
Sir Keir Starmer also took part in the election Q&A, and he admitted that he "understands" why people are confused by his shift in stance on Jeremy Corbyn;
And Lord Richard Dannatt, the former head of the army, has said Nigel Farage is "not worth listening to about anything" - particularly relating to the war in Ukraine;
The Reform leader said last week the West had contributed to the invasion of Ukraine;
He has launched a blistering attack aimed at his one-time ally Boris Johnson - highlighting a front page showing Mr Johnson holding a similar stance on Russia back in 2016.

A flurry of general elections since 2015 has brought an unprecedented churn in our parliamentary representatives.

This year, two in five MPs aren't seeking re-election and the picture for the Conservatives is record-breakingly grim.

An unparalleled total of 23% of Conservative MPs are calling it a day in 2024, more than the previous high of 22% of Tories who quit in 1997, another year of boundary changes.

In contrast, only 15% of Labour MPs are resigning.

There are many reasons MPs quit: from retirement, family commitments and health concerns to career change, abolished constituencies, and the prospect of defeat.

But their decision to depart can reveal much about life in Westminster and have a significant impact on parliament's mix of experience, demographics, and the direction of political parties.

Dr Sofia Collignon, associate professor in Comparative Politics, analyses the churn in our representatives here:

Wales is a Labour heartland, but it's clearly in the sights of other parties during this election campaign.

Reform UK even launched its manifesto in a town in the south of the country, Merthyr Tydfil.

Although Wales has its own parliament and makes most of its own decisions, they still elect MPs who stand in Westminster.

Sky's Wales reporter Tomos Evans explains how the cost of living, steel industry and nuclear energy will be key issues for voters.

By David Blevins , senior Ireland correspondent

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have condemned the Conservative Party for the impact of Brexit on the region.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill told Sky News the current government had "played fast and loose" with the Good Friday Agreement.

Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said Northern Ireland was the victim of the Tories having "botched Brexit".

Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, accused the "chaotic" Tory government of "destroying the cohesion of the United Kingdom".

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Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the center to create your drawing area. On the left, write the word "More" at the top. On the right, write the word "Less.". Now think of the ...
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Throughout the year, I engaged in moments of self-reflection, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of myself and my aspirations. I took the time to evaluate my values, passions, and goals, aligning them with my actions and decisions. Through introspection, I have honed my self-awareness and developed a clearer sense of purpose.
The End of The School Year: a Reflection
The end of the school year is more than just a transition; it's an opportunity to look back on achievements, setbacks, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. In this essay, we delve into the importance of reflecting on the end of the school year, considering personal development, academic achievements, and the anticipation of new ...
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1. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. Cite this essay. Download. As 7th grade comes to an end, I reflect on the 20212022 school year and the changes I have experienced. Academically, I have been pronouncing words better.
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Use these student reflection questions to spark critical thinking about learning and growth. As we near the end of the school year, we face a tough paradox. Teachers and students, in general, are done. In the extended wake of a global pandemic, our resilience has been challenged. Distance learning, hybrid learning, remote learning, in person ...
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Allow the students to choose the prompts they want to write about. Make these a whole group (and silly) writing activity by choosing one prompt for all of the students to write. Give the students 3-5 minutes to start writing the essay/story. Then have them leave their papers on their desks and rotate to another desk.
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The end of the school year invites an opportunity to pause and celebrate successes. I remember feeling an assortment of emotions in the quiet, empty space of my classroom at the end of every school year. There were feelings of uncertainty, excitement, exhaustion, joy, anxiety, peace, and relief. I was glad to finally wrap up another year and ...
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Finally, this end of year reflection essay example serves as a testament to the importance of the educational journey. This is a continuous process of academic accomplishments, practicing resilience when faced with challenges, personal growth and the power of networking. Towards the end of this school year, I make sure that I carry on the ...
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My School Essay 500 Words. The place where children as the leaders of tomorrow study and where the future of the nation is shaped are called schools. Education is an essential weapon for tomorrow, so the good schools of today are important for the best future of a nation. Schools are the center of learning where we attend classes on various ...
Essay on My School Life for Students and Children
My School time is the only time which I enjoy a lot. click on a link to read full Essay on My School Life. Our school life is always the best time of our lives. Furthermore, it is the only time where I can meet my friends. ... My School Events. Every year in October we have a Literary and Cultural Festival. In this, students from different ...
Looking Back on My High School Experience: The Best I've Ever Had
The End of the School Year: A Reflection Essay. 1 pages / 548 words. The Cost of the Extracurricular Activities in Students Essay. 1 pages / 462 words. An Analysis of Mark Slouka's Argument on the Lack of Humanities in American Education Essay. 2 pages / 989 words.
My New School Year: [Essay Example], 528 words GradesFixer
As the summer comes to an end, a new school year begins, bringing with it the promise of new opportunities and challenges. For many students, myself included, the start of a new academic year is a time for reflection, goal setting, and anticipation for the learning experiences that lie ahead.In this essay, I will explore the significance of the new school year and the impact it has on personal ...
What Life Was Like for Students in the Pandemic Year
In these short essays below, teacher Claire Marie Grogan's 11th grade students at Oceanside High School on Long Island, N.Y., describe their pandemic experiences. Their writings have been ...
Essays About School: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts
Goodman provides excellent insight from the perspective of a mother, making her argument all the more effective. 5. . My High School Reflections by Stella Santa Ana. "Many people think that being alone and introverted is an abnormal behavior, but it's actually one of the greatest assets you can achieve.
Essay on My School for Students and Children
In this essay on my school, I will tell you why I love my school and what my school has taught me. We have all been to school and we have loved each and every moment we have spent over there as those were the building blocks of our lives. A school is a place where students are taught the fundamentals of life, as well as how to grow and survive ...
Nine Ways to End This Crazy School Year Strong
Typically US2 wraps up around 2000-2008, depending on the pacing of the school year. This allows us to bridge the gap between where we end in our content and what is going on in current events ...
Essay on My School Life for Students in English
Best Things About the School Life for Students. School Life is the best time of our life as we make new friends, learn new things and build our career there. School time is the only time which we enjoy most, and when we enter college, we always miss our school life. School life teaches us lots of new things and prepares us to face all the ...
Meaningful Ways to End the School Year
5. CELEBRATE READING. If your classroom is built around any form of independent reading, it's important to celebrate progress at the end of the year. Helping students reflect on their reading volume, reading diet, reading identity, and reading stamina are wonderful ways to build community.
Paragraph on my School
The school community is vibrant and diverse, with students and staff from various backgrounds coming together to create a positive and inspiring atmosphere. 125 Words. My school is an outstanding institution that has had a profound impact on my academic and personal growth.
177 College Essay Examples for 11 Schools + Expert Analysis
Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long) I had never broken into a car before. We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site.
Use the End of the School Year to Express Specific Gratitude
A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog post about generosity. This month, I'd like to focus on the important quality that acknowledges generosity: gratitude. Gratitude demonstrates appreciation ...
Student Essay: Five tips to set yourself up for success this school year
The beginning of a new school year provides you with a fresh slate. It means a new grade, new teachers and an older and wiser you! If you take some time to prepare for the new school year right at the beginning, you'll make those first days easier on yourself while also setting yourself up for success all year long. Here are five things that you can do to get ready for the school year.1. Make ...
How to Apply
Some programs—like Nursing—have additional essay requirements. Short Answer & Essay Questions. Common Application Short Essay: Located in one of the world's top cities for technology and innovation and deeply rooted in 500 years of Jesuit tradition, a Seattle University education is innovative, global and holistic. We encourage students to ...
Remembering Willie Mays as Both Untouchable and Human
The shock of seeing him that way would linger long past his playing days as a warning: Don't be like Willie Mays, sticking around too long, stumbling in center field, a shadow of his former self.
Election latest: Senior Tory demands 'robust action' on betting scandal
I work in a school in Sheffield for autistic kids and the facilities we have at some of the sites are frankly Victorian." Read Jason's full despatch below: 08:47:25