Celebrating Students at the End of the Year 🥳

Say hello to the end of the school year!  

This time of year is always full of so many emotions.  It is stressful and chaotic with wrapping up instruction, benchmark assessments and finalizing grades.  

Whew....so much!  

It is also fun and filled with excitement as you celebrate the learning and growth with your students.  

PLUS who can forget all of the end of the year celebrations---ice cream parties, field day, yearbook signing, graduation assemblies, etc. 

In my intervention group we always end with an ice cream party with LOTS of toppings and then the students have a chance to play games, or play outside.  It isn't anything fancy or a lot of work, but a great capstone for the end of the year.   

I also hand out student awards to celebrate the growth students have had in my classroom.  I like to include a special treat with my awards--so candy themed awards are a go to!  

Each student receives a certificate and then a candy bar that corresponds to the certificate.  For example a Milky Way because the student is "out of this world" or a Snickers because he or she always tells funny jokes. 

I have also done drink awards, which is basically the same as the candy awards.  

Instead of receiving candy, the student receives a drink that corresponds to the certificate.  For example a Fanta for being fantastic, or Dr. Pepper because they pepped up the class all year. 

Hop on over to Mind Sparks on TPT where you can nab these fun certificates, and alleviate some of the stress in planning an end of the year celebration! Just click here, or the images above!

If you don't have a ton of time to purchase treats, or your wallet is looking a little thin....generic certificates are fun as well.  

Lets face it--it is just nice to be given a certificate...it makes you feel important and special!  Click the image below or click here to download the black and white generic set for free! 

How do you celebrate students at the end of the year?  I am always looking for more ideas!

Holiday gifts for students (that won't break the bank!)

Almost every teacher wants to buy a holiday gift for each of their students--but with classes of 30+ kids......it just gets too darn expensive!

​As a reading interventionist I service around 60 students, so I am always on the hunt for something festive and inexpensive. Thus....I use treat tags! Treat tags are a wonderful option--simple, relatively low cost and fun! Click the image below if you would like download the Elf Kisses treat tags FOR FREE! I simply staple the treat tag to a ziplock back with a few Hershey kisses inside! You don't have to use Hershey kisses....you could really do any treat!

Need a holiday treat tag for your students?

Using treat tags are a perfect way to put a smile on the faces of your students without breaking the bank!

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In the past, I have also gifted my students with "rudolphs."  To make these adorable reindeers, you use tootsie pops and a printable pattern.  Click  here or the image below to take you to the blog post--it will give you directions and the free printable pattern to use!

If you just want to celebrate with your class, but not purchase gifts there are lots of festive party ideas to do!

• Hot Chocolate Bar-- Set up a hot cocoa drink station with fun mix-ins (candy canes, chocolate chips, whip cream, marshmallows, etc.)  Let the students sip the hot cocoa as the color, watch a movie or play games.
• Build Gingerbread Houses-- Have students build their own gingerbread houses using graham crackers, icing and various candy materials.  Students could also work in teams to complete the structures.
• Cookie Decorating--bring cookies and decorating supplies and let the student's creativity fly!  Students could enjoy their baked creations as the watch a movie or play games.  For an extra layer of fun--make it a cookie decorating competition! 
• Holiday Sing-A-Long--create a playlist of your favorite carols and have a class sing-a-long party.  

Looking for even more ideas? Check out this list from Teacher Lists or Coffee and Carpool!

Want more holiday treat tag options? Check out these treat tags on TPT . For under three dollars, you get nine options for festive fun!

Happy Holidays!

Individually Wrapped Halloween Treats

Are you looking for fun and easy individually wrapped treats you can pass out to your students at school for Halloween?  Maybe you are looking for something that is healthy and cheap?!? I mean.......everyone knows that a spooky good time ALWAYS involves treats!!

I have a handful of ideas you can check out below, and I promise any of  these ideas will guarantee a smile on a students face! The best part about these ideas is that they will require little time and very little in the way of supplies.

1. String Cheese Ghost

To make this cheese ghost all you need is a pack of string cheese and a black sharpie.  Simply draw a spooky face on the top of each string cheese.  Cheap, easy and healthy!

 2. Orange Pumpkins

Just like the cheese ghosts, all you need is a sharpie and an orange fruit of choice.  Grab a bag of cuties, clementines or oranges and use a sharpie to draw a pumpkin face on each fruit.  

Make sure to have wipes on hand or a sink, as eating an orange or a clementine in class can get a bit sticky.  The good news--your classroom will smell really good!   

I have also used peach and orange jello cups instead of fresh oranges.  Same effect...but maybe a little less messy when kids eat them.    

3. Pudding Bats

Although not as healthy as a string cheese ghost or orange pumpkin, the pudding bat is just as cute!  For this fun snack you need black or brown construction paper, tape, a sharpie and pudding cups.  

Use the sharpie to draw eyes and fangs on the pudding cup.  Cut bat wings from the brown or black construction paper, and tape them on to the outside of the pudding cup.  Googly eyes could also be used instead of sharpie eyes.....sharpie eyes just takes less time!  

 4. Mummy pouches

Get any sort of baby food pouch (literally my four year old still eats baby food pouches---it is the only way he will touch veggies) or squeezable applesauce.  Wrap the pouches with white party streamers and fasten with tape.  You can sharpie eyes on the face of the mummy, or glue on googly eyes.

If you are looking for more festive ideas, check out list of 30 ideas from Room Parent by PTO Today!

End of Year Student Awards

Say hello to the end of the school year!  This time of year is always full of so many emotions.  It is stressful and chaotic with wrapping up instruction, benchmark assessments and finalizing grades.  Whew....so much!  

It is also fun and filled with excitement as you celebrate the learning and growth with your students.  PLUS who can forget all of the end of the year celebrations---ice cream parties, field day, yearbook signing, graduation assemblies, etc. 

In my intervention group we always end with an ice cream party with LOTS of toppings and then the students have a chance to play games, or play outside.  It isn't anything fancy or a lot of work, but a great capstone for the end of the year.   

I also hand out student awards to celebrate the growth students have had in my classroom.  I like to include a special treat with my awards--so candy themed awards are a go to!  Each student receives a certificate and then a candy bar that corresponds to the certificate.  For example a Milky Way because the student is "out of this world" or a Snickers because he or she always tells funny jokes. 

I have also done drink awards, which is basically the same as the candy awards.  Instead of receiving candy, the student receives a drink that corresponds to the certificate.  For example a Fanta for being fantastic, or Dr. Pepper because they pepped up the class all year. 

Hop on over to Mind Sparks on TPT where you can nab these fun certificates, and alleviate some of the stress in planning an end of the year celebration! Just click here, or the images above!

If you don't have a ton of time to purchase treats, or your wallet is looking a little thin....generic certificates are fun as well.  Lets face it--it is just nice to be given a certificate...it makes you feel important and special!  Click the image below or click here to download the black and white generic set for free! 

How do you celebrate students at the end of the year?  I am always looking for more ideas!

8 Virtual Holiday Classroom Party Ideas

Tomorrow is the last day with kids (remotely) before we depart for our winter break.  Typically, when our learning mode is in-person, it is a day filled with Christmas caroling (other school's visit us), holiday sing-a-longs, festive art projects, seasonal games, yummy treats....ohhhh and a splash of learning (Ha!).  I sure am going to miss the sights, sounds and smells this year....

Since school began, we have been hitting the ground running.  When our district switched to fully remote, we didn't take our foot off the gas of academics.  We have been teaching, teaching, teaching......so I think it is high time I gave my students a little break.  Tomorrow I plan to spend some of our zoom times doing something a little merry!  

Check out the ideas below (that require little to no prep), if you want to plan something merry too! 

1. Directed Drawings: Share your screen and play a video that walks students (step by step) on how to draw seasonal sights.  Some of my favorite directed drawings are by Whimsy Workshop Teaching  and One Fab Teacher. 

2. Zoom in/Zoom Out Game: Create a Powerpoint or Google Slides presentation of various festive images.  Share your screen zoomed really far in on the image.  Gradually zoom out and have students guess what the image is. 

3. Charades: Send students a private message in Zoom, and have them act out a holiday item, movie or song!

4. Pictionary: Send students a private message in Zoom, and have them draw a holiday item, movie or song.  Students could use the whiteboard feature on zoom, or just grab a piece of paper and pencil!.

5. Read-A-Louds: Who doesn't love a good story read aloud to them?  Pick one of your favorite holiday books and share it with your class.  If you don't have any good holiday books on hand, check out Storyline Online which has celebrities read popular book titles.  There are some great holiday books on their website!  You can also find A LOT of read alouds on YouTube!

6. Christmas Movies:  Share your screen and play a quick Chirstmas cartoon or short movie!  There are lots of great options on multiple streaming sites.  Make sure to not violate any copyright laws! :) 

7. Holiday snack time:  Have students bring their favorite snack or drink to the zoom.  Or maybe you want it to be more specific, like a popcorn party.  Maybe a hot cocoa party?  Munching while working is always fun!

8. Scavenger Hunt: This idea is a bit more engaging and interactive, but also super easy!  Create a list of household items most students would have in their homes.  During your zoom class call or show an item on the screen to see who can find it the fastest.  You can show/say the items one at a time, or give them the whole list all at once. 

While I know these ideas aren't the holiday party we all want or are used to, they are still fun and memorable for the kids.  So enjoy your time and Merry Christmas! 

Halloween Snack Ideas: cheap, easy and healthy!

Halloween is right around the corner, and I am ready for a spooooky good time!

Normally my school has a costume parade where kids proudly walk the halls, while parents line the perimeter and snap blurry photos. Ha!  Kids then return to their classrooms to get sugared up and play games.

Due to Covid safety precautions, Halloween celebrations will look differently at our school this year.  Our students will still be able to dress up, although no parade.  We will still have classroom parties, although no parents.  I know it won't be "the same"....and that is okay! I am so thankful my school district takes Covid seriouslyand does what it can to keep all staff and students safe.  Plus we have some amazingly creative and talented teachers and I know they will put on a fa-boo-lous time for their students!

For the past few years, I have passed out some healthier treats to the intervention students I see.  I figure they get enough sugary snacks during their parties, so why not give them something cute and healthy?!?

The two items I hand out are cheap and easy to make! :) One is a string cheese ghost and the other is a jack o' lantern made form mandarin oranges.   

To make the cheese ghosts and jack o' lantern you need a pack of string cheese, cups of mandarin oranges (peaches work too!) and a black sharpie.  Break apart the snacks and use the sharpie to color on eyes, mouth and a nose.  Super easy, right?  

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!   

Show and Tell Tuesday

Today I am linking up with Forever in Fifth Grade for her linky party: Show and Tell Tuesday!

The goal of the linky party is to showcase up to four fun things you have going on in your classroom or personal life, and then tell all of your readers about them!

On Monday we had "Hot Cocoa Bar" in my classroom as our holiday party.  The kids drank some delicious crockpot cocoa and were able to to top it with goodies of their choice! :) While they were sipping their tasty treat, we played Christmas music and colored some Christmas pictures!  We sure had a fun time! :)

 

If you want the recipe for the Crockpot Cocoa, click the pin below!

 

 

  

 I can't take credit for the art showcased in the pictures above, but I can say I work at a school with some amazing educators!  I mean....how cute, creative and festive is all of the artwork that is currently on display at my school?!?!

Last but not least.....allow me to showcase my adorable pooch and her equally cute cousin!  OR....better yet "Santa Paws and her reindeer!"  Pictured above is Rudy (my chocolate lab and school's therapy dog) and Zoey (a dachshund with more personality than you can even imagine.)

Have a great week everyone! :)

Notebook Paper--the best Halloween costume for teachers!

So in case you don't know Halloween is on Monday.....

I am sure your kids haven't been talking non-stop about it......

I am sure you aren't dreading the calm and quiet classroom party......

Well, if you are like me you plan your Halloween costume last minute (like 8pm the night before.)

So...since I usually have procrastinated, I have to come up with something easy and quick (and preferably cheap).  This year one of my teacher friends gave me the great idea of being a piece of notebook paper.   Ummmmm...yes....genius!
 

 I must say it was a big hit with the kids.....although some of them thought I was a flag (**cough, cough** Kindergartners **cough, cough**).  Some also thought I was homework....which is closer than a flag, ha!

Besides being a big hit.... the Notebook Paper costume was cheap ($3.99 people, and sharpies from my school!!!), quick to make (under thirty minutes) and easy!

Here is what you need:

• Large white t-shirt
• ruler
• red sharpie
• blue sharpie
• black sharpie
• flat surface 
• paper towels (to put inside the shirt, so the sharpies won't bleed through)

Pictured are all the supplies you will need for making the Notebook Paper costume!

Here's how you do it: 

• Lay shirt flat on a hard surface
• Place paper towels inside the shirt (prevents sharpies from bleeding onto the other side)
• Use the red sharpie, and draw a line down the left side of the shirt (shoulder tip to bottom)
• Using the blue Sharpie make dots (spaced 2 inches apart) down the shirt on both sides. 

First draw your red line, and then add blue dots spaced 2 inches apart.

• Next. connect the blue dots using a ruler.  Make sure you don't draw over the red line!!

Connect the blue dots with the blue sharpie creating straight lines.

• Finally, add your name to the upper right hand corner.
• and VOILA--you are done! 

I mean how cute is that?  How easy is that....and how cheap is that??

I paired my Notebook Paper costume with black leggings (hi...there comfort!) and tennis shoes.  You could easily wear it with jeans, or even sweats! :)

Here is to hoping you have a VERY HAPPY HALLOWEEN, and that you survive your classroom parties! :)

Christmas Gifts--Easy and Cheap!

Almost every teacher wants to buy a Christmas gift for each one of their students--but with classes of 30+ kids......it just gets too darn expensive!  If you are middle school, high school, or "specials" teacher then you have 100+ kids.....and buying a gift for that many kids is just INSANE!

If you are looking for something cheap (and cute) check out what I made for my kiddos.

Are they not cute?  I mean look at their cheery faces and cute little red noses!!

With a little assembly time and about 10 bucks, you can make these Rudolph suckers for your whole class.

You will need:

• green construction paper (1 sheet of paper per reindeer)
• tootsie pops (red and 1 per reindeer) 
• $2.25 a bag at WalMart with 10 suckers in each bag
• black sharpie
• scissors 
• scotch tape
• Reindeer pattern

First trace the reindeer pattern on all of the pieces of green construction paper.  You can find the pattern by clicking here. 

Next, cut the pattern out. This is what takes the most time---those dang antlers and ears are are tricky little things!

Make sure you cut out the hole in the center--this is where the sucker will go for the red nose. I know my picture doesn't show the hole missing---so just don't forget!

Then, fold the reindeer in half and put a strong crease at the bottom (the chin of the reindeer).

After that, open up the reindeer and place the sucker inside.

The sucker straw will poke through the tiny little hole at the bottom of the reindeer (if you look at the picture above--its the tiny hole between the two big holes).

Fold the reindeer with the sucker inside.

Next, use little pieces of scotch tape to to secure the sucker.  I placed the scotch tape on the "cheeks"of the reindeer and on some of the antlers.

Finally, write a message on the back and draw on Rudolph's face!

And.....voila!  A cute, cheep and festive Christmas gift for you kiddos!