End Of The Year Gifts

The end of the school year goes by so fast because of all the things we have to do. I can’t believe it is time to start the ABC Countdown already!!! I use the Z- Zoom off into summer as my day for awards. If you are interested in how I do it in my class, check out my post HERE.

I am starting early this year and getting ready so I will have one less thing to worry about. Here is the bonus it will cost you less than 25$ for everything! Isn’t that amazing???? Oh, and it is quick too!! No more names with the Cricut or time-consuming tags they just throw on the floor. I will be doing candy bar awards and friendship bracelets.

Candy Bar Awards

During the last month of school, I start thinking about what awards I would give my students. I have used THESE awards for years.

They have lots of options, an editable one and ones that fit on a candy bar! I have done it both ways but of course the kids like the candy bar. Since I use this as part of my end-of-the-year gift, I don’t mind spending the money. I usually go to Wal-Mart and get the 12 packs next to the s’mores stuff. I want to say it’s around 4$ for 12. If you hate going grocery shopping as much as I do you can get them from Amazon Here.

So, I pull out a class checklist and start clicking through the awards. Once I see one and instantly a name pops into my head, I write it down on the checklist next to their name. I might go through this a few times to find the right ones. One year I passed out the awards and the students wrote down who they thought should get it and I just added them up. That was really fun but time-consuming and hard to read for firsties. You could also have them raise their hand to vote.

After I have an award for everyone, I write down the page numbers I need to print. If you have the option to edit you can add your name and theirs before printing or you can just handwrite it after. If you are doing the candy bar ones, you don’t need the certificate because it is already there. I cut them out with a paper cutter. This one is my favorite!!

That’s it! On the last day of school, we do a big awards ceremony in our class, and I do red butcher paper on the ground and they walk up to get their chocolate bar.

Friendship Bracelets

What a great way to bond our class together with a friendship bracelet! I especially love how it says:

You are smart

I believe in you

We are family

I love you

Each sentiment is represented by the color of the bracelet. This is sooo special and more importantly something the kids will love!! A coworker found this online, but we could only find a picture. The website wasn’t working so we couldn’t buy/download the tag. I changed it up a little bit and you can grab it for FREE. They fit the Ziplock sandwich bags perfectly.

I found the bracelets on Amazon. You can grab them HERE. HURRY they are on sale right now. You get 144 for 10$! That is 36 of each color. I was able to split this with another teacher, so it was only $5!!!

Some of my students have gotten picked up early so, after the awards we read the story, Our Class Is A Family and then I tell them about the bracelet. I talk about the year, and we watch our slideshow, then I read them the bag topper and give them all their bracelets. I tell them that next year I will wear mine on the first day of school to remind me of them.

Hopefully, this will make it easier for you at the end of the year. Happy SUMMER!