Graduation Ideas

For graduation each year, I have the students create a "collage" on a silhouette which I purchased from a local party store.  Unfortunately, this year the store has gone out of business and I could not find pre-made silhouettes to use.  I took a silhouette from a previous year and created templates for both a girl and boy graduate.  Each student received a quarter sheet of black bristol board, and they cut out their own silhouette.  UPDATE:  Well this year (2013) I could not find the images again AND I don't have a template from previous years...so I am going to have the students trace each other using an overhead projector and make a silhouette of their own head.  It's too bad they won't have the mortar board and certificate, but I will have to make due.  If you find the silhouette cutouts~grab em!  I had them add their name across the scroll part on the bottom, and decorate the rest using photos, images from the internet and items cut out from magazines.  They added glitter, felt stickers and ribbon to make them more eye catching.

Each silhouette was then mounted on a red or blue star which I had also purchased at a party store.  (I was smart and kept these to reuse them!)  These are then displayed on the wall behind the stage for graduation.    The students always do a wonderful job, and they get to keep the silhouette as a memento of their time at our school.

End of Year Gifts for Students

I always like to give something to the students at the end of the year.  For the past few years I have ordered from www.forteachersonly.com.  I love these personalized pens.  I buy enough to give each student two of them.  Each year I change what I write on them.  I love them so much, I keep several for myself at home.  They write very smoothly and they fit my hand perfectly.  Check out this site if you want something special that is still affordable.  I ordered mine for this year and had them in less than a week!

Check out what other teachers do at Joy in the Journey!  Click on the icon below to visit Jessica's terrific blog!

Father's Day Gift Thanks to Pinterest!

http://papercrave.com/diy-fathers-day-shirt-tie-gift-boxes/


For Mother's Day I found the cutest idea on the web.  All the students in my classroom made a keychain for Mom made with colourful beads and findings.  Each of them were able to personalize the keychain using letter beads.  We also made really cute flower cards.  Another idea I found online. 


I didn't know what I could do for Father's Day to "TOP" these really great gifts.  I think I may have found it!  See the above link for specifics and to download the templates.  These super cute little "foldable" boxes are all made from ONE piece of cardstock.  I printed out the instructions on coloured cardstock on the school photocopier and then created one for myself.  So easy and so fun! 


I used the design with the bow tie but I could not figure out how to keep the box closed, without having to glue it shut.  I thought of "brads" or paper fasteners and went digging through my shelves at school.  I punched a hole through the middle of the bow tie and then put the brad through the hole.  It worked really well and it looks adorable!  This way the fathers will be able to open and reclose the boxes without ruining them.


Inside the students will put a "coupon book" which I found in a previous year but had yet to use.  I also found little decorative rocks at Dollarama and I thought "hmmm maybe" and bought them.  I took them to school, dug out some metallic markers and wrote "DAD-You rock!" in colourful metallic marker.  Too cute!  The Dads can use them as paperweights or mementos.