There are lots of cute ideas on Pintrest. My partner teacher and I took group pics with the kids, put them on construction paper, had everyone autograph them, and laminated them for the kids. All that being said, half of them were trashed by the kids.
I wrote out cards for all of my 8th grade students. My 6th and 7th I'll have again so I didn't do anything special for them. My 8th grade I bought a generic pack of cards from Walmart (it was just a foil border and all blank) then worked on dimensions on my computer and printed my own general message on the front. Then the inside I handwrote a personal message to each student. It was time consuming, but worth it I'd say. Also it was nice and cheap! A 25 pack of cards was around 2 dollars and I have 80 students.
Oh man! That's sad. I feel like maybe they are too young to understand that those will mean something to them when they're older. Maybe next year you could give them directly to the parents?
I burned all the photos I'd taken of my students throughout the year at various events and when working on fun things in class to a CD, kind of like a yearbook on a CD. I also gave them a $1 scholastic book. They loved the books, but loved the CDs the most. I got a lot of parent compliments and thanks about the CDs since not all of my students could afford to purchase our yearbooks, or did not purchase one of the extra ones before the front office ran out. The CDs took a while to burn since I had 300+ photos for each class (I have 2 classes, so 50 students total), but were so worth it. I also wrote personal messages to each student inside their books!
I found a freebie on Pinterest- I gave the kids some cards with directions for dice math games on them and attached a pair of colorful dice in a zipper bag (I cut off the zipper, tied it with a ribbon, and attached it with a staple). Here's a pic where I got the idea: http://todayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/05/end-of-year-gifts.html I also sent home a letter to the parents I found somewhere online last year. I made a card and attached the letter to one side and a photo of the child to the other side. I photographed each one standing under the third grade teacher's hall decoration because it said, "Look who-o-o-o-'s in Third Grade!" I don't remember where I found this, but I know it was online last year and I may have made a few changes: Dear Parents, I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last Fall. I give her back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than she was then. Although she would have attained this growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch her personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development. Having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close; we have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give her back I must. Take care of her, for she is precious. Remember that I shall always be interested in your child and her destiny- wherever she goes, whatever she does, whoever she becomes. I give her back…reluctantly…and yet, somehow I know that part of her will remain with me forever… For she has found her way into my heart.
Scholastic book, KoolAid lemonade mix, twirly straw, ice pop (those long thing squeeze up things you pop in freezer )...put in bag with tag that says 'Have a Kool summer!'
Yep, lots of ideas for this on Pinterest! At my school, many teachers make "yearbooks" which are basically some copied pages for the kids to get signatures, fill out their favorite music and movies, favorite projects they did that year, who their friends were, etc. Usually they include a heartfelt letter to the class with memories of the school year. Staple it in a construction paper cover, and voila. Even better if you can stick a photo of the student on it.
I'm making a video/picture movie of the year on iMovie - it's actually finished except for any other pictures I take between now and next weekend - to show at Open House, and I'm going to make DVD copies for all the kids. I'm also making 8x10" collages for each kid on Costco.com, having them printed (through Costco), and then framing them in cheap colorful frames from Ikea. I'll write a short note to each kid on the back.
I've seen a lot of cute things on Pinterest that I like, but many times have problems printing them out.
I bought packs of small cards ($1.50/pack) at Michaels and wrote a personal message for each child from me...it was the first time I had ever done it. The kids LOVED those cards...I caught several of them rereading them throughout the day and holding them in their hands at recess to show their friends...definitely something I will do again--super easy, cheap, and personal
SWEEEEET! :wub: Part of our last day field day got rained out and I spent the time signing the autograph pages of their memory books. They LOVED the fact that I wrote each one a personal message and shared theirs with each other.
^^so cute!!!^^ I forget in the hustle and bustle of the school year that the young kids really crave a few simple, positive words from their teacher.....
