1-2-3 Come Make A DIT Award Folder With Me
You’ve probably heard of DIY (Do It Yourself) stuff, but how about DIT (Do It Themselves)?
Maybe not, because it’s something I just made up for this particular packet.
I’m a firm believer in delegating when possible. I try to give my students as much responsibility as they can handle, which helps build their confidence and self-esteem. This responsibility also makes them more accountable, so they put forth their best effort.
As teachers and parents we know how hectic the end of the school year is. While it's certainly exciting, it seems that my “To Do” list usually gets longer instead of shorter. I must confess I’m guilty of adding a few things that weren’t on the list that I somehow accomplished, just so I could have the satisfaction of crossing them off! Anyone else relate?
Any hoo, having a “red-carpet” or special awards ceremony the last week of school, is super-fun for students of all ages.
It’s a celebration of the vast amount of things they’ve accomplished and stuff they’ve learned along the way. They’ve succeeded and grown in the process. You are spotlighting the importance of school too, and the value of a job well done.
Simply roll out some red bulletin board paper, scatter with gold stars you can buy at a party store. If there's enough room, write your students' names on them.
At the end of your "run way" have a poster that says: "Congratulations! You're Shooting Into First Grade!" or whatever the next grade level is for your kiddos.
Giving certificates, ribbons, candy bar awards etc. is truly exciting and fun for them.
I’ve done it in the past and my students absolutely LOVED feeling extra special, but let’s face it; it’s another thing that takes more work on your part.
There’s dreaming up and designing the awards, figuring out who gets what and stretching yourself to make sure something fits every child, then running them off and writing them all out.
Now trot yourself out to buy some candy bars or whatever other little treat you want to add, then assemble, plan the ceremony and deliver them to each kiddo. This is all you-you-you.
With this in mind, I designed the Do It Themselves (DIT) Awards. All you do is decide what you want your students to work on, then run off the “ingredients”. The focus is now off you, and on your students.
They pick a partner, interview them and design an Achievement Folder especially for their classmate. There is a huge variety of award options in the packet, so each student's will be different and tailor-made for their friend.
Many of the activities in the packet also work perfectly for "bucket fillers" and as separate end-of-the-year writing prompts that make awesome bulletin boards; such as the "high-flying balloon".
This can be done as computer-generated word art using words to describe a fellow classmate, themselves, or things associated with their wonderful year in kindergarten, or done by hand using the balloon template. (The photo shows it being used on the Award Folder).
For that finishing touch, add a school photo to the "bowtie" and tie with some curling ribbon.
Suspend back-to-back from the ceiling or on a wall with one of 3 "Celebrating Our Success" posters. (I've included "word cloud" tips, tricks and 8 websites in the packet.)
The "You're a Sharp Student" writing prompt pencil, is another one that also stands alone, and perfect for an end-of-the-year "bucket filling" activity.
On awards day children also run the show, as they call their friend up and give this awesome gift to them, proudly sharing with the rest of the class what they’ve created.
Believe me, your kiddos will really be excited for Awards Day, not so much because they are receiving an award, but because they made one and get to be a presenter!
Because students are making these, they are practicing the skills you’ve helped them master throughout the year.
They also know how much work went into creating it, so they are much more appreciative than if you had done all of the work.
This activity fits in well with your Daily 5, writing block, or as an independent center.
You decide how many award items you want your kiddos to include. I've made samples using 2 folders glued together, as well as a single Award Folder using a variety of options.
What would have been a pile of extra “homework” for you, now turns into a super-fun classroom crafivity for your students that they can happily work on independently, freeing you up to check other things off on your "to do" list!
You can still buy those candy bars, but keep in mind this might not be your students' favorite candy. Just because a particular kind of candy fits a cute slogan, does not mean they'll be thrilled with it.
Once again, I like to make the "treat" thing totally DIT, so I’ve included a note home to parents letting them know what their child is working on.
Via their interview, each child now knows their classmate’s 3 favorite types of candy. Parents are asked to give their child a job to earn that dollar, then take them to the store to buy ONE of those items.
Shopping for the candy goes on our "chore" list. However, children get truly excited about this, which helps make them beyond thrilled on Awards Day, and that favorite candy treat especially sweet.
I've also provided headers for them to add to their treat Baggie
As children present their awards, self-esteem is built on both the receiving end, as well as making the presenter feel especially important too.
You’re teaching valuable life skills, and each child is getting a treat that they will truly enjoy, plus you save yourself time, gas, and at least $15, at the same time shortening that “To Do” list in the process!
Win-win; woo hoo! Take a bow! You deserve an award. The packet is a whopping 150 pages long (!) so you have plenty of options to choose from.
After students pick a partner, give them several days to work on their folder. Remind them that this is all "top secret" and they shouldn't share what they are doing with anyone.
The packet includes:
- 14 certificates
- 3 ribbon badges
14 "I'd like to praise my friend" writing prompt worksheets
A "Tweet It!" writing prompt bookmark.- A "Text It!" iPhone writing prompt, with samples of each.
- (Besides using these for the Award Folder, students could also "Text" and "Tweet" a note to one of your next year's students.)
- A "Star Qualities" writing prompt bookmark.
- A Wanted poster writing prompt.
An alphabetical list of 236 positive adjectives to help describe their classmate.
An interview-investigation worksheet to collect data.
53 page options to make a "Flipping Over Your Awesome Achivements" booklet. With a full-color sample booklet for you to share with your students, to help explain things.
A medal of honor.- A trophy, balloon, high-five, pencil, pennant and star writing prompt worksheets.
- An explanation and list of 8 word cloud websites with word art ideas and matching samples.
An explanation and list of word search options, to make a complimentary word find that describes their classmate, plus 4 samples.
- What a super-fun way to increase vocabulary and practice spelling too!
- 5 templates filled with "You Rock", "You're a sharp student", "High Fives", "Applauding you" and "You're a star student", stickers to embellish their folder with.
- And finally, lots of samples and photographs to make things easy and give you some ideas.
All of this for only $5.95 (Just 4 cents a page!) It's regulary $6.95, but I knocked a dollar off to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Month. I hope you and your kiddos have as much fun creating award folders, as I did designing them.
Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT store to grab the Student-Made Awards packet. I still can't believe I have a store, after 5 years and 1,000's of FREEBIES, my family and I are pretty excited.
However, lots of FREEBIES will continue to be featured here on TeachWithMe.
Since you waded through this long blog, you deserve not one, but 3 little FREEBIES from the packet.
There's the iPhone "Text It" freebie with 2 samples, the "Tweet It!" bookmark writing prompt, with a sample, a "Wow!" mini award certificate, where you can write in whatever you want in the "speech bubble", and finally, the list of 236 positive adjectives. Click on the link to enjoy them.
Thanks for visiting. The month of May always flies by and I still have so much I want to get finished. For now, I'm dragging this aching old bod to bed.
The packet took much longer than I anticipated, then toss in finally getting to plant flowers, along with my oldest son's graduation from grad school, and my middle son's wedding last Friday, and this senior citizen is running on empty. Wishing you a sunshiny, fun-filled and relaxing day.
"Summer is when laziness finds respectability." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make A Keepsake Autograph Booklet With Me
It's the middle of May and the school year is definitely winding down. You can literally feel the excitement in the air in anticipation of summer. I was always looking for a few fun activities for my kiddos to do independently, while I did assessing and other year-end paper work. I needed something that was easy-peasy in the prep-work department too.
With that in mind, I designed 3 quick, simple and fun autograph books. No matter what grade I taught, all of my students really enjoyed collecting autographs, and I was freed up to work on my long "to do" list. Woo hoo!
Practicing writing their name is especially meaningful for younger kiddos; the autograph book is a super-fun way to practice, and sure to become a keepsake.
The first auto-graph booklet uses some adorable automobile clip art for a "play-on-words" that I'm so fond of incorporating in my work. After running it off and giving a few directions, allow students time to color their booklet and collect signatures. ( Fun for them and quiet time for you! )
Simply run the cover off on white construction paper and have students color their car, or run the pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper and have students cut and glue the car of their choice to the front of another sheet of construction paper. (See sample in photograph).
I've included inside pages for your students to color and collect signatures on. There's a page for classmates to sign, one for other friends, another for school staff, plus two teacher pages.
Since PK children tend to write their names really big, I've included a full-page version, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page option. The large car-themed auto-graph booklet is a FREEBIE. Click on the link to view or download it.
The sweet schoolhouse is another choice in the packet. I've designed a generic cover, as well as a specific one for preschool, young fives, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade.
This booklet also has inside pages for special people to sign. They are black and white, so that when children are done collecting signatures they can color the cute clip art. (More time for you to finish assessing or whatever! Can I hear another woo hoo!?)
Finally, the pencil autograph booklet, is for older students and just a cover. (There's a full-color cover option, plus a black and white version. )
Simply cut some blank pages for the inside and staple together. Bright-colored or neon copy paper would be perfect for these, adding some extra pizzazz.
Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT Store for the end of the year keepsake autograph booklet packet. It's just $2 (I figure it's a small price to pay for some "sanity saver" time. What say you?)
That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. My feet have once again hit the floor running.
Our son is getting married on the beach this weekend, so I have a myriad of super-fun, last-minute things to do, all while watching a baby and toddler, as Nana's little day camp is also open today. Wishing you a love-filled week.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." -Albert Einstein
1-2-3 Come Make A Mother's Day Card With Me
Mother's Day will soon be here. I designed this sweet tweet writing prompt which makes an adorable card.
Here's how to make one: 
Run off templates on construction paper.
Cut yellow strips for the legs, the length of the construction paper. I made mine half the width of a ruler.
Make a template for the beaks from an old file folder. Trace and cut out 6 at a time. Set up the various pieces on a table.
Students come to the center and choose their bird color and other pieces. They return to their desk to cut out and assemble the pieces.
Students accordion fold the legs and glue them to the back of their bird. They cut on the tail lines and fold a few “feathers” up, and glue the beak to the head, drawing a smile and nose dot.
Children fold the left edge of their wing and glue it to the center of their bird. The wing says: "My mom is special and that's something to tweet about!"
So they don’t write outside the wing, children can trace around the wing before they write I love you and sign their name under the wing.
To expedite things, pre-cut the Happy Mother’s Day hang-tags and punch a hole in them. I ran then off on white construction paper and then for more pop, glued them to pink construction paper. You could save the extra steps, and just run the tag off on different colors of construction paper.
Cut lengths of yarn, ribbon or jute to tie the tags to the birds. Before hand, brainstorm with students why their moms are special. List these on the board to help with spelling.
Students write why their mom is special on the back of the bird. I ran off an extra template for this so that it looks more finished, as it stands out and also covers the leg tops.
Print off your class composite. Cut students’ photographs in an oval, so that they can glue them to the head on the back of the bird.
When students have completed their prompt, tie their tab to the bird and finish with a bow. If you have time, have students share their work with their classmates, by reading what they wrote.
Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Writing Prompt craftivity. Thanks for visiting today. I hope your day is something to tweet about!
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make A Sweet Keepsake Card With Me
I really enjoy designing things that incorporate standards at the same time creating a keepsake that families will enjoy. With that in mind, I came up with a "berry" special packet.
Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits, and were also popular with my Y5's. They are fun and easy to draw and provide a great play on words.
In the "Berry" Special Packet, I've included templates for both a mom and dad, so you can use this "craftivity" for Mother's Day or Father's Day. There's also a generic one that says: "You are 'berry' special" so students can make this for another significant person as well. This would be fun for Grandparents' Day too.
I've included a pattern to make the leafy portion. Add a bit more pizzazz by making the leaves 3D. Have students cut out two and then fold one in half. Match up the leaves and glue only one section on top of the other.
If you look closely at the photo you'll be able to see how the leaves pop up. Adding a stem and strawberry blossom, gives the card that finishing touch.
Older students can add a second strawberry and "hinge" their card with a small piece of Scotch tape. Children complete the writing prompt, add a bit of color, trim and glue to the inside. Younger students can simply complete just the sentence on the front.
To make things extra special, have students glue on their school picture and make a heart using their thumbprints (see photo).
Leaves can also be made by tracing a child's handprints. I made an example of both, so you can see how they turned out. Click on the link to view/download the "Berry" Special Craftivity.
While I was making my sample, I thought that a mini version of this would make a quick, easy and inexpensive end or beginning of the year gift for students. 
"I hope your summer is 'berry' special. Just like you!" or "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special school year!"
Turn this into a sweet treat by attaching your card to a berry-flavored juice box, or package of Wild Berry Skittles and you're set!
Click on the link to view/download the "Berry Special Summer/School Year Gift.
Thanks for visiting today. If you'd like to see more Mother's Day FREEBIES, click on the link to pop over to that section of TeachWithMe. I also have a "pinteresting" pin board with more free Mother's Day ideas, crafts, and activities.
"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." -Sophia Loren
1-2-3 Come Do Some "Souper" Fun Craftivities With Me
This "craftivity" packet is very versatile. I have templates that you can use at the end of the school year, where students write about the"souper" summer they are looking forward to, or the "souper" year they had; or they can make one for your next year's kiddos explaining why they are going to have a "souper" year in __________ grade.
Simply run off which ever pattern you need. Students color the template and then trace it on a sheet of construction paper.
I used red to blend in with the soup can, but you could offer a variety of colors.
This will become the "inside" section of the can where they'll complete the writing prompt and then "hinge" it at the top with a small piece of tape or a staple, in such a way that it flips up to reveal what they wrote.
If you've incorporated the popular "Bucket Fillers" program in your classroom, the "souper" compliment flip up or windsock, fits in nicely, and goes a long way in building a child's self-esteem. For this prompt, I prefer the windsock as it's a nice way to review the 3D cylinder shape as well as ABAB patterning.
Here's How To Make One:
I didn’t have a big sheet of red construction paper, so I had to tape two smaller ones together. The “compliment strips” are the width of a ruler and the length of the paper. I chose two colors for more pop, as well as a way to review a color pattern.
Students each get a stack of 10 strips (5 of each color). Have them glue the strips to the bottom of their large sheet of paper that has their soup can glued to the front. I left 1/2 an inch of space in between the strips.
Put students in groups of 9. Review what an adjective is and then brainstorm nice things (compliments) that they could write about each other.
Children write something about themselves on one of the strips, and then pass their paper to the next person.
Passing continues within the group ’til everyone has written something on each person’s windsock. The teacher visits each group and writes something for each child on the 10th strip.
Students gently curve their flat “souper can” into a cylinder shape and staple the ends together. Punch a hole on either side, attach a 12 inch piece of yarn and dangle from the ceiling.
Having students make a windsock for your next year's kiddos would also make a wonderful back-to-school welcome display. After the first day, take them down and pass them out to your new students. They read and share with the class. Hopefully these will help ease first day jitters and get your students excited about the year ahead.
Finally, to help celebrate special holidays, there are patterns for a "souper" mom or dad, as well as one they can make for Grandparent's Day, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.
Keep in mind, that any of the 2D writing prompt options, can easily be turned into the 3D cylinder shaped windsock craft,by simply having them write on the strips of paper.
Click on the link to view/download the "Souper" Writing Prompt Craftivity Packet.
Thanks for visiting today. Even though it's Sunday, and typically my day of rest after church, I have some very tempting "souper" craftivities in the works...
Does anyone else out there get excited about making things and designing lessons for their classroom? After all, it is actually our home-away-from-home.
"Good manners: The noise you don't make when you're eating soup." -Bennett Cerf
