So, can I share some happy news?
I JUST woke up and it's 10:30 A.M. And if that isn't wowie wow wow, I don't know what is. AMAZING. Why is it amazing, you ask? Because working for the man has completely destroyed my ability to sleep in on the weekends. SO SAD. Seriously, my crazy brain gets me up at the ripe old time of 5:30 AM every single Saturday. It is devastating. It is as though my brain just cannot understand the concept of weekends. But, not today!!!!!! Good job, brain!!!!!! I'll be sending some positive, reinforcing thoughts your way :)
In other news, our district just announced our last day of school for this year: May 24th. Um.... excuse me? May 24th??? Seriously?!?!?!?!?! I practically cried. That is waaaaaaaay to early, and I am definitely not ready to bid my babies goodbye. <<<complete sadness>>>
Moral of the story? I need to start working on our First Grade farewell tado. So, I'm wondering: how do y'all celebrate the end of the school year with your kiddos? I want this party to be SPECTACULAR because not only does it celebrate the kiddos' last year of First Grade (or so I hope... ha!), it's also celebrating their last year at our school (since our building is closing). So, any ideas? I'm drawing a blank and I would LOVE your help.
Alright, well with over two weeks out of the classroom my teacher wheels are finally turning again. Took forever but ya'know what finally inspired me? The free digs at Lettering Delights. I'm sure I was the last person in the world to hear about the free cuteness, but can I gush anyway? ADORABLE!!!!!!!! You MUST go!!!!!! And if my gushing isn't enough to convince you to go, check out this phonemic awareness/sound discrimination Long Vowel Sort that I made especially for YOU. The precious clip art is all FREE from Lettering Delights. So, moral of the story? Go get you some free clip art cuteness.
Enjoy the downloads!!!!!
By Gum!
A Long Vowel Sort
(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)
By Gum!
A Show What You Know Cut & Paste Activity
(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)
25 comments:
TY so much for sharing these great ideas!!
Awesome stuff, thanks!
As far as farewell ideas....we do an end of the year "Author's Tea". Parents come in and the kids read some poems that they have written. Then I present a slideshow of pics from throughout the year. Finally we have juice and cookies. :)
tekyteach.blogspot.com
Great word work activity! In the past I have done a kite day where kids get to bring in their kites and fly them but it only works if the weather cooperates. I did this because I used to teach a huge weather unit and this was a fun way to end the year. I've heard of board game days as well which I might try this year. I teach 3rd, but some of the 1st grade teachers I work with break kids into groups and give them a readers theater play and butcher paper to create scenery. Phew...thats all I got! Good luck.
Kelley-3rd
http://randalllearninglibrary.blogspot.com/
So so cute! I will definitely be printing this up first thing on Monday morning! MAy 24th! What?? We have a WHOLE extra month until we get out...WOW! That is crazy. OF course you must start school in August. We start in September.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I have some cute free first grade activities on my blog...check them out!
http://teacherbitsandbobs.blogspot.com
Kerri B :)
I love the Word Work activity! Thank you!
When did y'all begin your school year if you are ending prior to Memorial Day? August 1?
End of the Year parties can be fun, but they can also be a lot of work, so make sure you get some great parent volunteers. In the past I've done a "field day" style end of year party with about 6 stations (including a bounce house!), a picnic lunch, and then free play on the playground with their friends. I did this with my first grade team. The kids had a blast.
Andi
PencilsGlueandTyingShoes
Did you have to create a new account to get those graphics from lettering delights? I have an account, but I couldn't figure out how to get them for free (only new memebers).
Thanks,
Crystal
crystal.houpe@southwestschools.org
Thanks for sharing! Very cute! We get out on May 24, also... started mid-August. :) enjoy the last 2 months and pack them full of memory-making opportunities!
@Crystal - if you log in and go to the left... click on my account, then click on freebies, they should be there! Along with other great stuff! :)
Love the downloads...thanks for sharing!
As for end of the year I just posted an end of the year festivities unit on www.theschroederpage.com
It includes...twister review, friendship pins, pillowcase autographing, float day, and more. Check it out:)
Monica
www.schroederpage@blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing the great download. I'm so sorry to hear that your school is closing. :( Are "they" moving you to another school or are you out of a job?
Thanks so much for the share! This is great idea!
Sorry to hear about your school closing! I hope the best for your kiddos and you. As far as end of the year, we spend the month of April writing letters/stories to one person in the class every other day or so. Then draw pictures to go with the story. I take all the stories and bind them into a book for each child. Another teacher I know used Pringle cans to make first grade time capsules...but I'm not sure of all the things she added to the can.
Best of luck!
Swamp Frog First Graders
We do a beach party (in Missouri) at the end of the year - we lay towels out on the playground, do bubbles/chalk, limbo, popsicles. Very fun!
I also make each child a dvd with a picture slideshow from the whole school year. I put it to music they like -- a huge hit!
This is awesome! I am obsessed with Lettering Delights too!
As part of my end-of-the-year celebration I give EVERY child a specialized award. I have crazy things that are specific to the child. Last year I had some of the following: Bright Ideas Award, Sweet Heart of the Year Award, Best Smile, Most Beautiful Eyes, etc. The kids LOVED to guess who the award was for when I read the title...they were often right. It also made the end of the year Awards Assembly easier because they all knew they'd get an award in my class afterwards. (Its so hard for kids this age to NOT win an award. I don't like awards assemblies!) Its gonna be hard thinking of new awards this year since I looped with my class from K to 1st. Anyone have any strange/unique/fun award titles? :-)
Our end of the year big bang is our Kindergarten Luau. The other kindergarten teacher and myself set up centers we each set up four different centers in our rooms and then we rotate all the kinders through both rooms. We also have some games we play limbo, musical seashells, we take pictures of the kids holding a beach ball and wearing a hawaiian straw hat. We have fruit kabobs and a drink for a snack. It is just a great day to enjoy one another one last time before the summer starts. I almost forgot we also have a mini awards ceremony and I give out awards to each child and each award is unique to that child that says something about their strengths in the classroom over the last year.
Jenea
www.seedsofnoledge.blogspot.com
This is so stinkin cute! Thank you for sharing! I stumbled upon you today and I'm your newest follower!
http://rowdyinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/
Love all of your printables! What program do you use to create your printables. I am new to blogging and creating printables but would love to learn so that I can share my creations! :)
this is so great! i love this:)
thanks!!
-linds
www.theteacherwife.blogspot.com
For tyhe end of the year I like to do a pot luck. I have the kids bring an item of their choice adn we decide as a class what we would like to do for the day. After they give ideas, I narrow them down (to what they can do) and then we vote. They love this becuase they are the ones coming up with it adn not made to do something. Its always simple adn you will never realize that the smallest things mean the most to them!! I also have then complete different art activities for each month. by the end of the year, they have an awesome book to share at home. Its a cute gift and I usually make them a CD of classroom songs to go along with it.
LaShunda
buzzinginfirst.blogspot.com
I love these. How adorable. I got the same freebies from Lettering Delights but never thought to use them this way. Great idea.
Heather
http://differentiationstation.blogspot.com
Love it!!! My whole team loved it! Thanks so much!
Really Roper
Thanks for the cute Word Work!
I always make the kids a DVD using iMovie. It's so easy and the kids love it. I try to add songs that they love. Justin Bieber this year?? We'll see! We also have an ice cream party and play a couple of games.
You ideas and activities my my life so sweet! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing!!! These are great!
LOVE THIS! I have a question for you. The dashed text box with the rounded corners for this printable...Where is that from??? I need to find a few similar ones to make some items! Thanks so much. If you have a minute to shoot me an e-mail. Eden_Capps@scps.k12.fl.us My first time at your blog! I love it!
I love these long vowel sorts!! I am definitely making that into a file folder game for Centers next year! THANKS!
Katie
http://teachthentell.blogspot.com/
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