17 pages.

This owl craftivity is an interesting and fun alternative to making a school memory booklet. Packet includes templates for preschool through 3rd grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.

1-2-3 Come Hang Up A Poster With Me!

The school year is coming to an end and many will be cleaning and sorting their classrooms.

I always made a list of new things that I wanted to look for, or things I wanted to make, during summer break. 

My husband found it amusing that even though I was finally on vacation, my teacher-mind never turned off.

Although I rested and enjoyed summer, I was always cutting, pasting, and "playing school" for a great part of "vacation."

Planning how I would decorate my classroom and acquiring those goodies, was one of my favorite things to do.

With that in mind, I decided to design some new classroom posters.

I used posters to not only decorate my room, but to inspire, challenge students to think, and remind them to make wise choices.

I turned many into anchor charts, that would help review a variety of concepts in a concise and interesting way.

I also used posters to ignite discussions, that would lead to interesting writing prompts, which my students of various ages, seemed excited to give their opinions about.

I've added 10 new posters this week.  I hope you find something that you're looking for.

To view/download the posters pictured, click on their links: Im Possible, I Choose, Wake Up, Don't, and Actions Speak.

To zip on over to the poster and anchor chart section, click on the link. There are over 100!

Simply scroll through and select whatever you like.

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"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." -Maria Robinson

1-2-3 Come Make A Puppy Pal With Me

This puppy "craftivity" is really versatile. 

You can use the slider template and review upper or lowercase letters, 2D flat shapes, counting to 30, or skip counting by 2's, 3's 5's, or 10's, by cutting slits and inserting the appropriate strip of paper (slider).

These make a nice end-of-the-year activity, to send home with students as a fun way to review and practice over the summer, so they don't forget what they've learned.

Likewise, they are a terrific way to introduce your new students to these concepts at the beginning of the year as well.

Sliders are an easy way to whole-group assess and a fun way to review standards via playing "I spy" games.

Children can also make a keepsake card for Father's Day or Mother's Day, or to give to anyone else, by simply writing the recipient's name on the bone.

What makes this puppy extra special, is that you trace a student's foot with their shoe on, to make the puppy's ears.

Add a school photo for even more pizzazz.

I made the card on the right for my daughter, from baby Kaiden.

Finally, you can also use the Puppy Pal as a topper for a variety of writing prompts.

I've made writing prompt "bones" for the beginning of the year as well as the end. i.e. "I'll have a dog-gone great school year because ..." or I had a dog-gone good school year because..."

Click on the link to view/download the Puppy Pal Writing Prompt Card

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"The best teachers teach from the heart, not the book." -Unknown

1-2-3-Come Write With Me!

Are you looking for some quick, easy, and fun writing prompts for the end of the year, or perhaps a sweet bulletin board to end with a bang?

If so, I think you'll really enjoy this "Fin-tastic" End of the Year Writing Prompt packet.

Run off the large fish on a variety of colored construction paper.  Students choose one and cut it out. 

They can glue it to the top of a sheet of writing paper, or add more pizzazz by letting them choose a strip of colorful construction paper to write on.

Before hand, brainstorm with students why they think they will have a fantastic summer vacation. 

To help with spelling, make a list of things they are going to have fun doing and list them on the board.

For more "pow" have students add a wiggle eye and include their school photo on the fin.

Sprinkle their "fin-tastic" work on a bulletin board covered with blue paper.

To make it 3D add twirled creape paper "seaweed" in a variety of lengths and shades of green, to the bottom of the board.

Your caption can be: "We're Wishing You a Fin-tastic Summer!"

I think your students will also enjoy making the other fish and writing about why they had a "fin-tastic" school year. 

This prompt can also be brainstormed.  It's quite gratifying hearing all of the reasons why students enjoyed the year.

This "craftivity" can be hung back-to-back from the ceiling.

Finally, have students choose a partner to make a special card for. 

They write that child's name in the blank and then write why they think they have been a "fin-tastic" friend, classmate, student etc.

When they are done, they give it to their partner. Add a photo and wiggle eyes to make it even more special.

Click on the link to view/download the Fin-tastic Summer Writing Prompt Packet.

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Do you have an end of the year activity you enjoy doing with your kiddo's?  I'd love hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com or simply leave a comment here.

"It is not the IQ, but the I Will, that is most important in education." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make Student Gifts With Me

Are you looking for something quick and easy to make your students, for the last week of school, that won't break the bank? You've stopped at the right blog.

I always sent my students home with a little something as a good-bye gift, but when you have 2 classes of Y5's with 20 in each class, that often got a bit expensive.

The "Wishing a "kool" kid a very kool summer" treat, is a breeze to put together. A box of 48 Kool-Aide packages sells for around $13 Dollars. 

If you don't have that many students, perhaps another teacher will split the cost with you.

I bought the Curly Straws at The Dollar Store. (6 in a package.)

Here’s how to make them:

Cut toilet paper rolls in half.

Run off the owl template on a variety of colors of construction paper, or simply light brown to look more realistic.

If you want to add a bit more pizzazz, color in the beak and feet and add wiggle eyes with a glue dot.

Staple or tape the owl to the toilet paper tube.

Run off the teacher and student notes + bookmark(s).

I’ve included black and white bookmarks for students to color, or colored bookmarks if you want. You can tuck in one of each if you choose.

On the teacher paper, write a note to each one of your students telling them why they are a “Kool” kid and then sign them.

Roll them up and insert into the toilet paper tube. They will unwind and fit snug.

Bend a package of Kool-Aid so that it fits and tuck that in along with the bookmark(s) and a Curly straw.

Give directions and model the lesson. Pass out the student “You rule” papers to each student.

I included this writing extension because it is a real self-esteem builder for kids and puts the icing on the cake.

Have them write their name on the top and then pass it to another student close by.

Students complete the thought: “I think you’re a really “Kool” kid because…”

When they are done writing their sentence they sign their name at the end and pass it to another child.

Continue passing papers ‘til everyone has written a compliment on all of the papers.

Children will be really excited to read their classmates comments, but tell your students they will get to read them later, and quickly collect the papers.

Roll them and insert them into your note.

Make sure you can see the students’ names, so that you can put the correct one on their desk the last week of school.

I don’t save things ‘til the last day, as some students might be absent.

Click on the link to view/download the Kool Kid Owl Miss You packet.

I hope your students enjoy this activity. I wish you a wonderful last week of school.

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"Life is a great big canvas. You should throw all the paint you can on it." -Danny Kaye

1-2-3 Come Make An Owl With Me!

So Long School; Hello Summer is a writing prompt craftiviity I think your students will enjoy.

Students assemble their owls and then write what they'll miss about school under the owl's wings, or if you want them to have more room, they can cut and glue the "back" template and complete the writing prompt there.

You could also use this as a "graduation" activity and have students write about what they'll miss about pre-school or kindergarten, or whatever grade level they will be leaving.

Choose natural earth tone colors for your students to choose from, or for crazy-pizzazz, give them an assortment of bright colors to add a splash of wow to their work.

Glitter as well as wiggle eyes can also make things pop.

Adding a school photo to the leaf, helps easily identify work and makes the project even more of a keepsake.

I used a flower paper punch for the eyes. There are many available, and students enjoy this fine motor skill.

The owls look wonderful swirling and twirling when they are suspended from the ceiling in the hallway.

Click on the link to view/download the Owl Miss...Writing Prompt Craftivity.

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"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone." -C. Chanel