It's That Time of Year Again: Testing {with a Freebie}, Balloons and Memory Books, Yee-Haw!

Wow! I have eight kiddo days left of school and a teacher workday after that. I can't believe how fast this year is FLYing!

Well, my goal is to be finished with end of the year testing by Wednesday. Then it's onto grades, report card narratives and end of the year awards.

Most of my class finished their MAP testing last week. MAP is a computer assessment that we take three times a year. MAP stands for Measure of Academic Progress. For more information on MAPS, click here! My kiddos LOVE taking "the fun test on the computer"! I have always done goal setting with my firsties but this year, I thought I would make it a little more exciting, so I created play doh goal setting cards for MAPS!

I printed them 1:2 sided and cut apart. On the front I added their names and on the back I added their EOY goal in the goal circle. The EOY goal is located on the website under the student goal setting worksheet tab. There is space to write both of their scores from both parts of the test and a spot to total the two tests.

                                                                 

My kiddos were so excited to see their score and their goal! It was great to hear comments like, "Whoa! I beat it by a lot!" and "Oh, I missed it by one. I need a little more grit."

Their favorite part was playing, creating and building with play doh after the test. Each student had a piece of wax paper and a little tub of play doh. It was the perfect end to some hard working testers!

Can you see the snowman?


You can pick up the MAPS goal setting cards for FREE in my TpT store! Remember to leave feedback if you download!

MAP Goal Setting Cards


This upcoming week, we are starting our first grade EOY memory books. This year we are creating cowboy and cowgirl memory books! It's called, "I'm Giving First Grade the Boot!" I made a total of 26 books and made the boy and girl versions with different colored card stock front and back pages. There is also a version for kindergarten and second grade! Check out the link to this memory book below!

I assembled the books last weekend and totally took over the binding machine in the staff workroom! Oops!

I bound the books with the binding at the top, so it will be a flip from top to bottom.

I can't wait to see their faces tomorrow when they get their memory book!

This is probably THE page that will be a huge hit! Boys can sign their names and draw a self-portrait in the boxes on the cowboy page and then the girls can sign their name and draw their self portrait on the cowgirl pages.

TIP: Students may not get autographs until they have finished the rest of their memory book. This helps to keep kiddos on track with completing work, EVEN during the last couple week of school!

Have your measuring tape handy! I'll spend a good part of tomorrow helping kiddos measure their heads to figure out their 'hat' size!

Yee-Haw!

End of the Year Memory Book for Cowboys and Cowgirls

So, one more EOY activity that has been ah-mazing is the balloon popping countdown! We started last week with 13 blown up balloons taped to the edge of our stairs. Inside I wrote up 13 different, fun low-prep activities on little notecards. Each day, I pick two kiddos: they must decide which balloon they want to pop and then how they want to pop it! It's been great so far! Activities include: 10 minutes of extra recess, 10 minutes of watercolor time, each person at the green table picks out a brain break for the day, everyone eats lunch in the classroom, etc. It's been fabulous and the kids love seeing what's inside the balloon!

Thanks for poking in! I hope your journey to the end of the year is filled with fun!

Until again, I wish you well!