May currently and Summer Bucket

I am getting to the point in the year where I am weepy. It’s May. If the kids do something kind for each other or give me a sweet look, I tear up. If I even think about the last day of school…tears. 
It’s always right after Spring Break that everyone writes and talks about how insane their kids are and then starting end of April/beginning of May everyone is writing about how much they are going to miss their kiddos! 
Guilty. 
I cannot believe it’s the end of my 4th year teaching! I thought people sounded so seasoned and wise when they said they had been teaching for anything over 2 years! 
I still have a lot to learn and am no where close to being as savvy as I thought I would be! 
Well (sigh), I guess it’s time to tell you about the end of the year buckets that I do for my kiddos. I got all of my goods from Oriental Trading except for the books. I got those little gems from Scholastic for $1. 
I took a picture of all the product. Each kiddo gets a bucket with sunglasses, bubbles, beach ball, book, jump rope, pinwheel and little flying disk. This isn’t in the picture but I also give them a freshly sharpened pencil and I put their writing journals in the bucket with new writing paper. 
You can add whatever you want but here are some pictures of what will be added to the buckets. 

Finished bucket for the most part. I still need to put their writing journal and pencil in there. I may even throw in some sidewalk chalk for good measure. 
If you decide you want to do something like this, I would make sure to send home a letter with the bucket. I don’t want these kiddos losing what they learned in K and I know those 1st grade teachers have high expectations! 

Feel free to grab it for free by clicking on any of the images. 
What do you do for your students at the end of the year? 

Comments

  1. Oh, a massage would be lovely! My teammates and I were just discussing what to get the kiddos for end of the year gifts, and we had talked about doing something similar. Although it looks like that can get quite pricey! I hadn’t thought about Oriental Trading yet, though…definitely will have to check it out!

    Natalie
    Teachery Tidbits

    • We had some student fee $ left so I was able to use a little bit of that. But you could always just get the bucket and do their writing folders and pencils 🙂 Glad you like the idea!

  2. Your kiddos will be so excited to get their gifts! I would be excited too! haha!

    Kimberly Ann
    Live, Laugh, I love Kindergarten

  3. LOVE the bucket you’re putting together for your kiddos! So sweet! Yay for being an experienced teacher!

    🙂 Tamra and Sarah
    First Grade Buddies

  4. Those gifts rock! I give them their poetry journals that they worked on all year. Ha!

    xoxo
    Irene
    Learning With Mrs. Leeby

  5. I love your gifts! So cute!
    Kate
    Fun in ECSE

  6. Can I be in your class? I wish I went all out on my students like that, but unfortunately I don’t. I have been thinking of something small to give to each of them. I will also be ordering $1 books from scholastic. 🙂

    Girl, I need a massage too. I need to get rid of some of this tension in my body!!

    Hugs,
    Amanda
    Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten

    • They will love their books…scholastic is the bomb-diggity (do you hyphen that word? haha). I try so hard to light a fire under them before summer so they will bug their parents about doing it 🙂 It’s not pretty when they come back to 1st after 3 months of nothing!

  7. I love the summer bucket idea! I might have to use this idea. I had a massage listed on my Currently too! I think we all are in desperate need of some relaxation. Thank goodness the weekend is close.

    Krystyn
    Ms Richards’s Musings

  8. I SERIOUSLY love your buckets! What a super cute idea! I may need to get on that like ASAP! You are such a fantastic teacher and your littles are incredibly lucky to have you 🙂

    Love ya!
    Khrys
    Keepin’ It Kool In Kinderland

  9. The buckets are so cute!! I have been wanting to do something similar. I may have to borrow some of your ideas =)

    Ashley
    K-3 Connection

  10. Like the rest…I love your buckets! I’m sure your kiddos will love getting them! My lil’ love muffins will probably get a crazy straw and Kool-Aid drink (the Capri Sun kind) w/a not attached wishing them a “Krazy and Kool” Summer! Glad I discovered your blog!

    How about them apples?

  11. I love this idea! I am on oriental trading right now purchasing stuff for gifts for my kiddos too. I am also going to make a photo collage for each kiddo of their year.
    Thanks for the idea Elizabeth!!

    Jessica

  12. I am in need of a massage too! I used to get them like every six months when I lived in NY and had a place I was familiar with. I need to find a place where we will now.

    Found your blog through Currently and I am your newest follower. Would love for you to head over and check out my blog!

    Lindsay
    If You Give a Teacher a Treat

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  14. Love the idea of keeping them reading over the summer. I send them a list of online books to read so I can tailor the material they’re reading (I teach multi-age, so huge differentiation needs). It saves me lots of time though! Love technology!
    Susanna
    Whimsy Workshop

  15. Elevator Bucket
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