Thursday, May 1, 2014

May Festivities: Mothers Day and Kindergarten Graduation!

End of Year Extravaganza: Mother's Day, EOY Bulletin Boards + Keepsakes @PreK+K Sharing

END-of-YEAR! Month-of-May! 

How is it possible? How can we be in the winding down mode, when it seems to me that we were just launching the new school year a heartbeat ago? Check the calendar and you'll see that I am not making this up! Debbie Clement here with a visual EOY EXTRAVAGANZA of ideas and inspiration! 

No matter what your school year has involved, if you follow the 'traditional' school calendar, it is getting time for the big transition and saying farewell. I have done my best to round up ideas that are perfect for the month of May! I am working on a new 'slide share' program that will house all of my various favorite quotes in one place. Not quite done, but I want to reward your hard work with a taste test. {When I get it done, I will insert the link! I promise.} 

LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN! YEAH TEACHERS! 

"A Teacher is a Compass!" EOY Festivities, a celebration!
"A teacher is a compass!" 

"We don't teach flowers to bloom" #TeacherQuote EOY Celebration

My long time readers know that I have been nurtured and fed by my mentor, Mimi Chenfeld for well over the last two decades. I HAD to include one of her thoughts! {I took this picture in Germany, while on my European Author-Illustrator tour to our US Army bases.} Mimi, her thoughts and her encouragement are as solid as rock -- so this seemed to be a fitting meld. 


"The Light in Children's Eyes" quote: EOY CELEBRATION!


"When you have accomplished your daily task......" #quote EOY Celebration

If is May, then Mother's Day hovers on the horizon in the US. I just put together an article at my own blog last night, with a Letterman-like countdown of the Top 10 Reasons that WE LOVE MOM! As reported by these ten preschool artists. If you are a fan of children's drawings or are intrigued by what they have to say, you owe it to yourself to go take a look at how these Mother's Day Keepsakes were created! 

Top 10 Reasons We LOVE You, Mom! Through the Eyes of Preschool Children

The moral to that story? Every mommy is thrilled with new and unique, original and AUTHENTIC artwork from their child on Mother's Day. True dat! To have their thoughts transcribed about LOVE in the midst of their drawings? PRICELESS. Teachers, you have enough time to pull this one off. It is the time factor and the planning that will bring tears to every mommy's eyes! 

I have quite a few articles at my blog from over the years that include projects to make for mom (or GeeGee or Nana, or Grannie, or MeeMee, or DeeDee or the sweet neighbor next door whose children have moved away.) I have transported all of those images into today's article, but you still may want to click back to my blog for the linkie of additional ideas! 

Mother's Day RoundUP of Resources: Bloghop + LInkie at RainbowsWithinReach

One of the most clicked images from my blog is this next one, with the photos of a whole class of Kinder kids glued onto dollar store 'clear pebbles'. I did a tutorial and made some myself so I could walk you through it personally. Simple-as-pie! Anything with a child's photo and a magnet is going to be a certain winner in the "Kid Craft for Mother's Day Contest!" 

Mother's Day Gift Photo Magnet #MothersDay

Mother's Day Gift Photo Magnet #MothersDay
Mother's Day Magnet Close-UP

 handprint paintings for kindergarten, Mother's Day art project, preschool craft for Mother's Day

Mother's Day without a painted Hand Print and Rhyme?
Impossible! 
I have quite a few for your selection! 

handprint poem for Mother's Day, mother's day card for preschool, DIY Mother's Day craft

Here's an oh-so-clever variation on the gift certificate for mom. 
Look at these promises. 
I know she'll be appreciative of your own adaptation.

Mother's Day Gift from Kindergarten: Flowers + Promises #MothersDay

Are you planning a party? 
Here's an anchor chart variation of a piggyback song! 
UBBER FAVE! 

Anchor Chart for Mother's Day, Mother's Day poem, kindergarten

Back to painting fingers! 
Or thumbs. 
Get a whole bunch of tiles from the hardward store. 
Some permanent paint! 
VOILA! 

Mother's Day Kindergarten Gift, handprint for Mother's Day on ceramic tile,

photo of: Handprint for Mother's Day, Preschool handprint painting,

photo of: Poem for Mother's Day via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Cute Mother's Day poem, Preschool handprint poem

Here comes another one that is tearing it up on Pinterest! 
Would you be kind and pin your favorite(s) as you read along? 
Most of our readers arrive via that resource! 

Mother's Day handprint rhyme, poem for Mother's Day, craft gift for Mother's Day

Mother's Day rhyme for handprint, Mother's Day poem for children

Mother's Day Painted Hand Print Bouquet #MothersDay

Mother's Day drawings in kindergarten, Mother's Day project

These kindergarten drawings covered an entire bulletin board. 
What a warm welcome to moms as they enter your building! 

 Mother's Day Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: kindergarten Mother's Day writing, kindergarten fine motor development, invented spelling

I wrote a little bittie-dittie that you are welcome to print. 
Then you have the rhyme already on the page ready for art! 

Mother's Day poem for children, Poem for Mother's Day artwork

Mother's Day flower project, Mother's Day craft for children

Here's a 'subway' piece that I put together on Picmonkey. 
Hope that it brings a smile to your face! 
Or print it out and give it to your favorite mommy! 

Mother's Day: Printable "Things I Learned in Mom School" from Debbie Clement

WHEW! That was a lot for Mother's Day. 

Now let's shift our attention to the END-OF-THE YEAR Festivities! 
Planning ahead. Having some inspiration. 
That is my hope to offer you the ideas for your adaptation. 

Here are some bulletin boards. 
First Preschool Graduation. 

Bulletin Board for Preschool Graduation via RainbowsWithinReach

And here's a bulletin board for Kindergarten graduation! 

Bulletin Board for first grade, Bulletin board for kindergarten graduation

Here's a decorated classroom door that celebrates the end-of-year: 
A PICTURE REVIEW! 

End of Year "Picture Perfect" Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

You can never go wrong with a quick survey of 
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP! 

I have three different bulletin board styles to choose from. 




"When I Grow UP I Want to Be............." via RainbowsWithinReach

I was just in Tennessee and visiting Kindergartens across Nashville. 
LOVED this CAREER Bulletin Board from A to Z! 

Bulletin Board: Careers A to Z via RainbowsWithinReach

I was so psyched to see that I made two of the 26 choices: 
Quilter
and
Illustrator!
Too bad they didn't use M for Musician! 
I'd have hit the trifecta! 


"You're Wonderful" Picture Book Illustrations from Fabric by Debbie Clement

By the way, my song, "You're Wonderful" is the perfect performance piece for both Mother's Day and Graduation! I'm not just making that up, and saying so myself. Read the feedback at Teachers Pay Teachers for yourself! 


"You're Wonderful" Zipped File with 2 Mp3s: sung and instrumental
Zipped file with 2 Mp3's included! 


photo of: Kindergarten Graduation Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Kindergarten Graduation Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Kindergarten Graduation Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

End of Year "Graduation" Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Kindergarten Handprint poem, Poem for handprint art,

Kindergarten Bulletin Board via RainbowsWithinReach RoundUP of Bulletin Boards

photo of: Handprint poem for preschool, handprint rhyme for kindergarten graduation

photo of: Preschool graduation keepsake, handprint rhyme for preschool

photo of: End of Year Preschool Keepsake and Rhyme

photo of: Poem for end of School, Preschool rhyme for goodbye


photo of: School's over Poem, Rhyme for end of the School year

photo of: Keepsake for leaving Preschool and heading to kindergarten

photo of: End of Year Bulletin Board Poem

Anchor chart poem for end of school year, saying good-by rhyme

photo of: End of Year Rhyme Anchor Chart Part 3

photo of: End of the Year Rhyme, Teacher Appreciation poem

photo of: End of School Rhyme, Teacher Appreciation Rhyme

photo of: Handprint poem for Preschool Keepsake

photo of: Welcome to Kindergarten Letter for Parents, Poem for Kindergarten

photo of: Poem for entering Kindergarten, Poem from teacher to start the new year

photo of: End of the Year Kindergarten Keepsake (via RoundUP of End of Year Poems at RainbowsWithinReach)

photo of: Teacher's Farewell Letter for end of year

photo of: Preschool End of Year Poem at RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Kindergarten Graduation Song (Piggy Back Tune) via RainbowsWithinReach

photo of: Kindergarten Graduation Song (Piggy Back Tune) via RainbowsWithinReach

Last year right about now, I was writing this little poem. 
I thought you could get it copied and include it on the back of a photo of you/teacher with student. 

It is in a pdf and can easily be printed for FREEEEE.
Go over to our Early Education Emporium to get your copy.  

End of Year Poem by Debbie Clement (FREEBIE pdf at the Early Education Emporium)

photo of: Kindergarten loft and reading corner, sunken reading corner in classroom

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