24 days?!

Morning y'all!
We have 24 more days left in this school year- I can hardly believe it! January and February always go by so slooooow. It's cold and then there's testing and the kids are getting in that "I'm-beginning-to-get-tired-of-spending-all-day-with-these-kids" mode and they start picking on each other when they've been absolute DARLINGS all year ;)

So, we've begun working on our end of the year keepsake book. I LOVE making these, but you have to start them plenty ahead of time to ensure that your kids do quality work on them and don't rush through the pages. Every day during stations, writing is one of the rotations. Rather than do journal writing like normal, we are working on a page at a time.
Click HERE to check out this pack on TpT! :)
There are pages for Pre-K through 2nd grade and generic "school" pages, too.
If you made it all the way down here, leave me your email address and let me know something special you do with/ for your kids at the end of the year and I'll random-number select 3 people this evening to get the pack for free! :)

The lucky winners are:
Congrats Jennifer, Suzy, and Cecilia- check your inboxes! 
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67 comments

  1. I develop pictures for the kids of everything that we have done all year long!!

    Borrorm@fox.k12.mo.us

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  2. We get to walk to the local Dairy Queen and everyone gets a dilly bar and then we go to the town park to play for a while. 20 days left for us with the kids and 21 days for me! You make great stuff, thank you so much for sharing! kgraham@triton.k12.mn.us

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  3. Hi Nicole!
    We are going to be doing something a little different in our class this year. We are going to be making video diaries of what the kiddos thought about their year and send it to their parents. This pack would be a perfect addition to our project. :)
    ❀Beth Ann❀
    Taming My Flock of Firsties
    tamingmyflockoffirsties@gmail.com

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  4. I have a week of fun! I do a beach day one day (water balloon academic olympics, beach towels, bubbles, etc.), a movie day (summery movie), craft day with various crafts like cups, bookmarks, sun visors, etc. I also borrow a bean bag toss from our PTO and they get a bean bag for each sight word they read (up to 5) and then get to aim at the bean bag toss. I usually stand behind it and jump around as they "aim" for me. :) I try to make that whole last week fun and memorable! We are usually doing a memory book of some sort and memory activities each day, too. I cover the bulletin boards with enlarged photos of them from throughout the year (since we have to take everything down each year) and then they pull them off and take them home on the last day.
    Melanie
    melaniemorgan.edd@gmail.com

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  5. I create a "Year in Pictures" video that is shown after our awards assembly. It's fun to see how much they've changed from the beginning of the year!

    Sarah
    smbhankinson@gmail.com
    Learning is for Superstars
    Learning is for Superstars is on Facebook

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  6. We do our beginning of the year photos and end of the year photos along with drawings. Doesn't sound like much, but the kids are always amazed when comparing the two, especially the drawings.
    We also do a special shirt for field day which they always enjoy.
    Jennlnel@yadtel.net

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  7. We get plain white tshirts and let every kid sign every one. They love it, and so cute when they were it next year in first grade.
    higgystyx@yahoo.com

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  8. We celebrate the author and showcase work from throughout the year.

    angie@toddrush.com

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  9. All year I keep each kids work, and turn it into a portfolio. Let the kids remember how hard they worked!
    Mrsdianaprince@gmail.com

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  10. All year I keep each kids work, and turn it into a portfolio. Let the kids remember how hard they worked!
    Mrsdianaprince@gmail.com

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  11. Not only do I make an amazing clas community scrapbook (I love to scrap!), but I also put together a cd chock full of piutures and song for all fifty of our Smarties@ I would love to add your Keepsake book to the bunch! groovygrl0618@comcast.net

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  12. At the end of the school year we have a parent appreciation breakfast where we usually show a slideshow of our work throughout the year. This year I am surprising the parents with a video of each child thanking them for helping them be better scholars at the end of the slideshow.

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  13. We do a 'monthly wrap up' sheet that I save and we turn into a little book at the end of the year. We also have a little presentation with our writing portfolios.

    Your book looks great...fingers crossed!

    tokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  14. At the end of the year we have a movie and special lunch day. We take our whole school to the cinema in the morning (we book a screening) and when we get back to school we usually organise a special lunch - fish and chips or pizza or something else that's fun and exciting and different to every other day. Then we have a picnic on our school oval and celebrate the friendships we've made during the year and the accomplishments we've made.

    Stef
    Miss Galvin Learns
    stefanie.galvin@gmail.com

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  15. We walk to the nearby ice cream shop and enjoy a cool treat!
    krmart1@hotmail.com

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  16. I love this idea of a keepsake journal and doing it a day at a time! I do the 20 day balloon countdown. The kids LOVE it. I also make a CD with all of their pictures that I have taken all year. The parents love that! jayjewelm@gmail.com

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  17. This would be so much fun for my kiddos to complete! This is my first year in a classroom of my own so I haven't been able to do all that I want to do for them to have for memories at the end of the year.

    ilove2teach06@yahoo.com
    Rebecca

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  18. I do probably too much! But have been wanting to do a keepsake book too! I make a video of all the pictures and videos I've taken through the year. In the last week we have fun-filled days like a bubble day, a chalk day, teddy bear picnic day, etc. I will be near 8 months pregnant in 29 days so I'm praying I make it to the end!

    Arbs1020@yahoo.com

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  19. I love your keepsake book. I make a scrapbook for my students from pictures I take through out the year. I also Include some writing and self portraits. Your book would be a great addition to my end of the year festivities. Melaniemschwartz@gmail.com

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  20. I make a video/ powerpoint of all of the pictures i take during the year and invite the parents for a little graduation! It is a lot of fun :) I would love to do a memory book with them too!
    asklar@mail.usf.edu

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  21. I hatch butterflies...then we put up a screen tent and turn it into a butterfly house. The kiddos go in, and they get the butterflies to land on their fingers and faces. we take pictures and the last week of school we make scrapbooks using those pictures and others we have taken all year.

    Terri
    tizatt@ecsdnv.net
    KinderKapers

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  22. This looks super cute! I take pictures all year and then we make scrapbooks! They love it! Thanks for chance to win :) lkgirl24@aol.com
    Lisa

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  23. This is my first year teaching and this looks like a great tradition to start! Thanks for the giveaway!! :) Kristin

    kristinbrehm@gmail.com

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  24. I create photo albums for each of my students with pictures that we've taken throughout the school year. It includes their name, grade, and year; something fun to look back on over the years.

    Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)

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  25. I try to plan more outdoor activities at the end of the year -- reading buddies, writing our words with sidewalk chalk, etc. We usually take a walk to a park. Then, we have a school-wide slide show, picnic, and field day. Fun times! I love your pack! As a mom, I would be absolutely THRILLED if my daughter brought something home like that as a keepsake! I would love to make the parents of my students equally happy. ;)

    Taryn
    Taryn.Ryan@fairfieldsfuture.org

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  26. I always save samples of their journal writings throughout the school year. We put them together in a special banded booklet to save as a keepsake. I also create a movie with all the pictures I took all year and invite parents in to watch that on one of the last days. This booklet would be awesome to include in our end of the year activities.

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  27. I make a slide show CD for the children to take home. I also laminate their self portraits from the beginning and end of the year for them! We have 38 days to go, jealous of you all with less! LOL :-)

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  28. I have the students create a memory book of Kindergarten as well and take their picture in a cap and gown and put as the cover for the parents. Our school doesn't do kinder graduation, so this is a way parents can still have that picture. I also buy sand buckets from the dollar store and fill it with prizes and books for the students to take home with them when school gets out. I write them a letter to let them know how wonderful they and how much I am going to miss them!

    I would love to exchange my older memory book to this amazing one you are offering. Thank you for the chance to win! Have a blessed Saturday!

    Marie

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    Replies
    1. Forgot to add my email address to the above post! oops!

      Here is my email.

      mcskippe@gmail.com

      Delete
  29. We make a memory book at the end of the year! Would love to be a winner!

    rachelmd93@gmail.com

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  30. We do the A-Z countdown the last 26 days in kindergarten! It is so fun!!!

    Carlykh@comcast.net

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  31. At the end of the year, we have a week of summer themed days of fun!! We do Watermelon Day, Beach Day, Ice Cream Day, and Campout Day. My students have a blast! :)
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure
    fsuteach81@yahoo.com

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  32. Our grade level does a before and after picture one from the first day of school and one from the last. We also have the kids so a self portrait day one and last day. I love seeing the growth they have made!

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  33. I make a class yearbook with some of the many pictures I take from our big event through out the year. I use Word and it is then printed in color. I used to do it in black and white on a printer and copier, and then a parent who owns a copier company started printing them in color for me 9 years ago. They still do it even though I have not had one of thie children in 3 years since it meant so much to them. It is my labor of love for my children and their families. I also make a CD with pictures for this year's parents and also for the children who were in my kindergarten class who are in 5th grade and are heading to middle school. They love it! :)

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  34. We have a play day. Our PTC rents bounce houses and we set up other activities for the kids go just have fun. We Aldo watch the staff play the 8th graders in volleyball and we also have an ice cream event. Lots of fun at the end of the year.
    cbartram@kitcarsonschool.com

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  35. We have a Field Day with fun games, our Music teacher puts together a fun slide show for the last week of pictures of each grade level throughout the year, and we have a way of saying good-bye to the 5th graders who are going into middle school.
    tjulch@mpsomaha.org

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  36. I do a memory book/portfolio of the students' work throughout the year. I also add pictures to their memory books, too.

    amccallum@suddenlink.net

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  37. I end the year on a patriotic theme...we sing a lot of songs and end with "Let There Be Peace On Earth" the children all join arms and sway back and forth. I love to see them united in song. We are doing a memory book to take home and I love the graphics in the one you made.
    bharmor@hotmail.com

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. I only have 15 days left this year. Our class does a week long Sweet Treats Unit and enjoys some type of "Sweet Treat" each day for end-of-day snack. Then, the last week of school we have several special events - School Wide Talent Show (teachers and students), Field Day (outside all day AND bounce houses), and more. I love this Memory Book! Sure hope I am one of the winners. :) Enjoy your last few weeks.

    amymcelveen@yahoo.com
    whoooloveskindergarten.blogspot.com

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  40. One of the things that I like to do is show them a writing sample from the beginning of the year and now. It makes the children feel so good about the progress they have made. bamjacquel@bellsouth.net

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  41. These are so cute This year I am making their memory books from Reagan's Geometric Quilts that they have made all year- They'll be awesome!
    Squirrels
    Going Nutty!
    misssquirrels@yahoo.com

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  42. Our school does a "Peace Parade" and the students all get a free Jamba Juice. The 5th graders play a game of kickball against staff & the local fire department comes onto our field & hoses the kids down. It's a great time for all!!

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  43. I have the kids write adjectives about their classmates. Then I turn the words into a Wordle. The kids love reading what their classmates wrote about them.

    Krystyn
    Ms Richards's Musings

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  44. We make portfolios for each child throughout the year.......I put in several extra pages at the end and add on the various photos of that child at the end. They love it!
    Pat

    patwhiteland@yahoo.com

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  45. This looks like such a great keepsake!! I can only imagine how proud the parents are to have this!

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  46. I have my students complete a survey of favorites and write a letter to themselves. I then keep these in a file and give them to them when they are seniors in High School. I live in a small town so this is possible.

    Rebbecca
    rkzoglmann@gmail.com

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  47. I celebrate everyone's birthday with the "Happy Un-Birthday" celebration. We really do it up and end the celebration with a big piñata! The kiddos love it! Hope I win this wonderful packet! Thanks, Sylvia

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  48. Well, this will be my first end of school year. I am looking for something cute to do for my preschoolers. I was thinking of scrap books for each of them I have 31 students so I guess I better decide quick. This idea is great too.
    Sara Ann
    sadevine@rochester.rr.com

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  49. I put together a slide show of the many pictures taken during the year. Parents are invited in for the viewing and snacks are served.
    cryazzienj@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Oops, I forgot to mention one of my most favorite things ... The majority of our students are bused home. We have 10 buses that park around a loop. Normally we walk our students around the loop to put them on their buses, and then go back inside. But on the last day of school, after the students have all loaded, the school staff waits curbside and then waves goodbye to the students as the buses pull away. It's bittersweet. We're happy to complete the year, but oh so sad to say goodbye to the students we've come to love as our own.

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  50. I'm a first year teacher and we only have 20 more days left so I'm trying to look for ways that I can do something special but not kill myself while doing it! Lol! Thanks for the giveaway! Love your blog! Jennastanleyballo@gmail.com

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  51. I make a DVD and give one to each student.

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  52. Each student has a memory book of work that has been done all year long. We do a dvd slide show for each child of pictures that have been taken during the year. We also have a park day, frozen treats from PTA, field day and ice cream sundaes. We usually do a book somewhat like this for Open House which is about 3 weeks before the end of school. We were just contemplating that book, since Open House is May 15. epolston at rowland dot k12 dot ca dot us

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  53. We have a grade level field day after a trip to the zoo! The kids love it!
    neillkk@hotmail.com

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  54. My students are k-2 kiddos are 12 month students. I have them for 10 months and they get another teacher for 2 months. So we have a end of year celebration with me and then the new teacher they will have for summer months. We do memories AND getting to know you activities. This looks fun. We also do kinder moving up and my 1 and 2 students are the ushers and give out programs/snacks to the parents. They wear black and white like waiters! They love it. :)

    Iteachkidsabc@gmail.com
    :o) V.
    Special Teacher for Special Kids

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  55. I'm not sure what I'm going to do! This is my first year back in k after many years so I'm reading lots of blogs and deciding what would be the best fit for my class. I'd love to win this!!

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  56. We make a CD scrapbook as we remember the year of learning!
    schewkinder@gmail.com

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  57. This year I'm doing the 20 day balloon countdown and I can't wait to get started this Tuesday!
    anhudacek@gmail.com

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  58. Watermelon, icecream, and memory books! We also try to do something nice for the ones that go unnoticed throughout the year like the custodians and office staff! Haven't decided what yet!!

    ~Traci
    The Bender Bunch

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  59. We walk to a local park and have a picnic. The kids get to play and the teachers get to visit with the parents one last time before the school year is over. It's always a very fun and special day for everyone!!
    Emily
    warnerem@hotmail.com

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  60. My school didn't do an annual so i made a cd of 504 of activities we have done throughout the year... Green Egs and Ham, Miss Wishy Washy play,PTA etc...
    kairosos6@gmail.com

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  61. We take a field trip to a zoo, have a field day and a cookout! :o)

    Cindy
    ccfirstteacher@gmail.com

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  62. We doing a poetry reading - each child chooses a poem that we have read during our Shared Reading and they read it to the parents. It's great to see them be so proud of their accomplishments. We also sing a few of our favorite songs and last year we did a cute rendition of "The 3 Bears Rap". It was too cute! After that the kids get to work on their memory books, and your is much cuter than the one that I have! ;0)

    ~Kathy
    dkkmdailey@aol.com

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  63. We are doing an ABC countdown to summer and it's so fun. I'm also going to do some end of the year awards complete with red carpet. This is my first year in Kindergarten so I don't really have any end of the year traditions but I'm making some!

    Lisa
    Always an Adventure in Kindergarten

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  64. We make beach t-shirts (dye white t-shirts and sponge paint ocean animals and add slick paint details) and also make water bottles with names and polka dots.
    DWMom4@aol.com

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  65. With this being my first year in kindergarten, I'm still figuring out my end of the year traditions, but I do know that each of my kiddos will get a framed picture of them and myself. I think this book would be a perfect addition!
    Summersab@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me!

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