Fabulous in First Memory Books

It's that time of year....
The end of the school year!

9 months ago, we all hoped it would fly by... ...and here we are again... another school year under our belt! I hope yours was FABULOUS!

We have so much to celebrate! Not that the school year over...well, of course that too ...but all that we have accomplished.

There is something about teaching primary students; you see such tremendous growth from the start of the school year to the final end. You may have students who struggle with letter sounds and by the end of the school year they writing paragraphs!

There is so much to celebrate!

Each year, I put together a Memory Book for my first grade students. Usually I create the book cover for each of them. But this year, I decided that I would create a template for my firsties to use and give them step by step directions on how to assemble the pieces.  

It looks a bit like this. Only you will have to imagine a 7 year old's smile on that cover. I included my own school photo to protect the identity of my firsties. You get the idea...besides it was a great year...I'm feeling fabulous too! Teehee.

If you would like to download this free template, please visit my TpT store at:

First Grade End of the Year Memory Book Cover Freebie

What's Inside?

I have found some really great resources at Teachers Pay Teachers and I have compiled them all in a three prong folder. Each day during the last month of school we add a page to our books.  

To help my first graders celebrate their learning this school year, I found this great resource from Love, Teach and Learn. They are called Growth Mindset Posters and there are endless possibilities for their use in the classroom.  

First, I had my students work in small cooperative groups and brainstorm all that they have learned as readers and writers. 

I was so pleased with how they collaborated; they took turns recording their ideas, they also helped each other sound out and write the words.

Mostly, I was astonished at how much they could vocalize all that they learned this school year. Take a look at this!

When they were finished meeting with their group, I gave them their own copy of the Growth Mindset T-chart for them to record their own learning as readers and writers. I was pleased as punch as I saw them roaming the room copying words and ideas from the anchor charts that hung in our classroom all year to remind us what good readers and writers do.  

Several of my students had asked for a second t-chart to record their ideas! Again...my fabulous firsties made me proud!  

I am pleased with how this page in their Memory Books turned out! When they look back at their first grade year as a young reader and writer they will remember how they learned how to:

Check it! Do a double Check!

Scoop up words!
Take a sneak peak!

Use time order words! 

...their lists went on and on!

The Growth Mindset Posters by Love Teach and Learn were an awesome addition to our Memory Books. My firsties can refer to them all summer and remember all that we learned. Be sure to add them as part of your End of the Year celebrations with your kiddos...it's perfect for all ages.  

Which reminds me, I must share another great End of the Year activity with you! The Summer Reading Goals chain! You're going to love this! Click HERE to read more about how my students set summer reading goals!

But for now, this FABULOUS first grade teacher needs some shut eye so I am ready for our last week of the school year!