21 pages.

Use this "craftivity" for the beginning of the school year and have students complete the summer writing prompt, or use it at the end of the year and have students make the "Taco" 'bout a great year ___________ (fill in grade) was excelente." template. 

1-2-3 Come Read An End Of The Year Poem With Me

While doing research for the memory books I created this past week, I came across a farewell poem.  I found it on numerous sites and pin boards using various stationery, but all had an unknown author. 

I thought it was cute, but didn't quite fit what I had in mind, so I revamped it a bit, and completely changed letters H through Z.  I call it ABCDEF Good-bye. 

Since quite a few of my visitors teach kindergarten, I designed it with them in mind, and used the adorable clip art from dj inker's Kidoodlez Early Years CD.

Once I had it done though, I thought with a little tweaking, I could make a poem for preschool as well as one for 1st graders, and included color as well as black and white options. 

You can simply read the poem on the last day of school, tuck it in a summer packet that you're making to send home, or fill up a little extra time and have students color the black and white copy.  This would also make a nice page in a memory book that you may be making.

Click on the link to view/download the end of the year Good-bye Poem.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  

"To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.” -Unknown

9 pages.

I found a similar poem online being quoted in a variety of places, all with an unknown author. I revamped it and changed letters H through Z, then tweaked it for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. 

This end-of-the-year poem is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to grab your copy today!

1-2-3 Come Make Something For The Teacher With Me

I know that Teacher Appreciation Day/Week  is over.  I personally think Hallmark, or whomever thought of this wonderful concept, needs to rethink the time frame.  

Let's face it, today's families are operating at the speed of light, with so many activities and things to do, that they can't even write them all in a square on the calendar.  Consequently, Teacher Appreciation Day,  often slips by without people even being aware of it.

However, parents' minds often turn to thinking of something kind to do for their child's teacher the last week or day of school. 

With that in mind, I designed several keepsake gifts that are very heartfelt.  If you happen to volunteer in the classroom, you could spearhead making a surprise memory book for the teacher.  Since it involves writing, it's certainly educational.

I've included a note home to parents to help expedite things.  "Paper love" is something that I always appreciated and have cherished over the years.  Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Memory book. 

For my sample, I glued the pages in a notebook, but you could mount them on construction paper, laminate, trim and collate into a sweet booklet.

Another option, is a keepsake card.  Print the poster and mount it on a large sheet of construction paper. 

Send the note home (I've included one for this packet too.) Include a piece of construction paper, so that parents can trace and cut out their child's hand print and help them write a note on it.  

They send it back in the envelope provided and you arrange them around the card.  Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Appreciation Card. 

If you're a teacher reading this, and would enjoy a Memory Book from your kiddos, share the idea with a fellow teacher. 

If they like it too, you could swap classes for 15-20 minutes.  You make a memory book for them, with her/his students and (s)he makes one for you with your children. 

The 1st three pages are in color, as well as black and white. Have students each choose a different color marker to write their name on the "This book was created by" paper, which acts like an autograph page too.

So there's plenty of variety, I've also included 15 different clip art options, for students to choose from to complete their writing prompt page. 

There are some for boys and some for girls.  All are in black and white so that they can color them. 

For that finishing touch, have them glue their school photo and sign their name at the bottom. 

The book ends with a special thank you, surrounded by appropriate quotes. 

Click on the link to view/download the Teacher Memory Book. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  My "Pin it" button is at the top of the page on the menu bar.

"A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils." -Ever Garrison

3 pages.

This is a quick and easy keepsake card for the teacher.  Packet includes a note home to parents.  Include a sheet of construction paper, so they can trace and cut out their child's hand.  Students write a special note to their teacher and sign it, returning their handprint in the envelope. 

33 pages.

If you're a teacher and would cherish one of these, simply show the idea to a fellow teacher.  If they like it too, you can swap students for 15-20 minutes.  You make one for her, with her students, and she makes one for you, with your kiddos.

1-2-3 Come Make A T-Shirt With Me

Because it's very versatile, I'm especially excited to post this latest FREEBIE for some end-of-the-year fun.

As I was designing the "T"-'rrific Memory Book packet, I thought, with a few tweaks this can also be used as a self-esteem builder, for your "fill a bucket" activites too. 

Students choose a T-shirt and matching cover, sign their name at the top and glue their photo to the pocket. 

Children pass their booklet to another child, who writes a compliment (why that person is terrific) and continue passing, 'til everyone has signed everybody's booklet. 

If you're looking for a Father's Day activity, or you have grandparent's come visit at the end or beginning of the year, you can fill the blank in with My Dad is "T"-'rrific or use the other blank template for My Grandparents are "T"-'rrific.  Students write why they think so on the blank pages.

If you like to have lots of interesting writing practice for back-to-school week, as icebreakers to get to know your new students, use the My Summer was "T"-'rrific template.   These would be cute displayed on a clothesline, along a wall and hung up with clothespins!

Any option you choose is pretty easy-breezy. Run the T-shirt pattern and covers off on a variety of colors of construction paper. (Make sure the cover matches the T-shirt so they blend.)

For even more pizzazz, use scrapbook paper! You can also buy a 50-sheet pack of printed paper (they have lots of options like tie dye, rainbow and animal prints, which would also be cool).

Students choose one, trim their pages, collate and staple their booklet to the front of their T-shirt so that it flips open.  Adding a school photo gives it that finishing touch.  

I'd take a few days to make the memory book.  To ensure quality, students can work on 1 or 2 pages each day.  (Great for Daily 5)

I've included color templates as well as black and white to save ink, but also because I think it's even more of a keepsake if kiddos do the coloring.

There's a blank template for you to write a note to your students.  You can print the templates and write a personal note to each one, or if you're pressed for time, write a generic note to everyone, sign and run off.  To make it more personal, write the student's name at the top. 

To help you out, I searched for some sweet teacher comments and found a variety of poems by unknown authors.  I revamped them a bit and included two options for you to include if you want. 

Click on the link to view/download the versatile "T"-'rrific Writing Prompt Craftivity Packet.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

If you're a frequent visitor to the TeachWithMe blog, you know I like to end with some sort of quote that pertains to the topic. 

While surfing I found this sweet one from Winnie The Pooh.  Hope you enjoy it too!

20 pages.

This "craftivity" is very versatile, as it includes templates for an end-of-the year memory book, with covers for preschool through 6th grade, plus a blank template.  If you already have a memory book, have students write why they think this grade was terrific.  You can also use this as a self-esteem builder (fill a bucket) activity (use the ______ is "T"-'rrific!" template) and have each classmate write a compliment in everyone's booklet; or fill in the blank with My Dad, or Grandparents and use for Father's or Grandparent's Day.  It also works for back-to-school. Have students write about why their summer was terrific.

1-2-3 Come Build Self-Esteem With Me

"Filling buckets" seems to have really caught on in a lot of schools.  I know we have this program in our school as well.  The idea is to encourage positive behavior.  Children catch on fast and see how easy and rewarding it is to express sincere kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis. 

With that in mind, I wanted to think up a quick and easy end-of-the-year "bucket filler" so to speak, that would help promote a child's self-esteem.   Thus the Classmate Compliment Cat Craftivity was born. (Try to say that tongue twister three times!)

Here's How:

Run off the lined paper pattern.  Students accordion fold it following the lines.  This provides wonderful fine motor practice.  Students color and glue their cat to the top of the folded paper. 

Pass out a different color marker/pencil to each student.  Children pass their "compliment cat" to another child to write something nice about about them on one of the accordion-folded sections.

They continue passing 'til everyone has signed something on every child's cat, finally ending up with their own. 

So students get a special compliment from their teacher, make sure you are part of the signing,   Add the finishing touch by having students glue a piece of colorful bulletin board boarder to the top.

Give students time to read the nice things their classmates had to say about them, then have children accordion fold their papers back up and fasten with a paperclip to take home.

Skip refolding and let the compliments dangle; display them on a bulletin board, (cover with paw print wrapping paper) or hang in a long row on a hallway wall.  Your caption could be "A purr-fect way to end our day." or "'Paws"ing To Write."

The packet also includes a bookmark that you can pass out to everyone after they have completed their projects. 

Click on the link to view/download the Classmate Compliments Cat Craftivity packet.

Finally, if you're new to the "Fill A Bucket" idea and would like to add this to your teaching bag of tricks, click on the link for a sweet "Fill A Bucket" song by the Learning Station.

 This link has all of the Fill A Bucket books for children, with some free resources, coloring pages, puzzles, and activities. 

My personal favorite is their alphabetical bucket filling checklist.  

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you're looking for more end-of-the-year activities, click on the link to zip on over to that section of my site. 

I always end with some sort of matching quotation.  While looking for one, I found this cute quote-card that fits the idea of giving compliments and filling buckets perfectly. 

Blessing to you and yours, today and always!

"

6 pages.

Have students write what they'd like to see and do during summer vacation on the lens-shaped pages. For more pizzazz, run the sunglasses off on scrapbook paper.  Take a photo of each student wearing goofy sunglasses; cut into oval shapes and have them glue theirs to the right lens.