Literacy

Professional Development

May 28, 2012

Summer Bucket List

Summer break is wonderful for so many reasons, but it also can be so hard for so many of our little learners.  Many times the lack of structure, routine, and the many unknowns make it tough for them.  Often times, students’ first response isn’t to pick up a book or play a math game.  Parents sometimes want so desperately to help, but aren’t sure how to over the summer. We, as teachers, can easily put fun, useful, teaching tools in their hands over the summer with a summer bucket list.

Partnering with parents is important as teachers! This end of year bucket list FREEBIE is great to help parents support what happened in the classroom throughout the summer!

Years ago, one of my wonderful teammates, Mrs. Hennessey, had an idea to create a bucket of fun for our students for their end of year gift.  We put our heads together and brainstormed ideas. We ran to our nearest Dollar Tree and gathered what we could for super cheap. Our summer bucket list was born.

The bucket was filled with:

  • chalk
  • a small notepad
  • a mechanical pencil (We all know how awesome those are when you are 7!)
  • crayons
  • bubbles
  • dice
  • play-doh
  • 1st grade sight word list
  • 2nd grade sight word list
  • school summer reading program informationCreate a simple, end of year bucket list to help students stay actively engaged in learning throughout the summer!
We worked together to create a summer bucket list to include inside the bucket.  We listed fun, engaging, educational activities for each item that is included in the bucket.  We wanted kids to play while learning, be active during the summer, and keep their little brains engaged!Create a simple, end of year bucket list to help students stay actively engaged in learning throughout the summer!

Both the students AND parents not only loved them, but used them as a resource all summer! How do you partner with parents over the summer? Partnering with parents is important as teachers! This end of year bucket list FREEBIE is great to help parents support what happened in the classroom throughout the summer!

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Happy Teaching,

Amanda

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Hi, I'm Amanda

I’m a K-1 teacher who is passionate about making lessons your students love and that are easy to implement for teachers.  Helping teachers like you navigate their way through their literacy block brings me great joy. I am a lifelong learner who loves staying on top of current literacy learning and practices. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to move your K-2 students forward!

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58 Responses

  1. I can not wait to do this project for my students’ end of the year gifts. Could you please place the information that is on “My Summer Bucket List?” I was unable to see the complete sheet.

          1. Hi April! The lists are now available in the post. 🙂 You can grab the link there.

          2. Hi Brittany! The lists are now available in the post. 🙂 You can grab the link there.

    1. Hi Allison! The bucket list is already included in the blog post. It is linked in bold, pink print. 🙂

  2. This is a great idea. Would there be any way to edit or change the sight word list to K and 1st instead of 1st and 2nd. I would love to use with my graduating Kinder kids.

    1. Hi Gina! I would love to create an editable version, but right now I just don’t have time as I am wrapping up a BIG project! 🙂

      1. Did you ever make an editable version? I would love to make a couple of changes so I can use it in kindergarten.

        1. Hi Kim! I will not be making an editable version of the list. I think the editable version comment was about the sight word list. 🙂 I ended up just making several options available. 🙂

  3. Love this idea!!! Where can I get your first grade and second grade sight word list? I would love to include it in my students’ buckets.

    1. Hi Iram! Shoot me an email and I can send them to you! They are the Dolch list, just so you know. 🙂

  4. Is it possible to get a non PDF format of the My Summer Bucket List? I would like to use this for my intervention students, but I have K-5. The 2nd/1st grade sight words won’t go over well with some of my older students 😉

    1. Hi Amber! I’m sorry, but due to my TOU that is not possible at this time. You are welcome to create your own sight word lists to add for the other students. 🙂

  5. Is there an editable version of the Bucket List? I am so excited to do this or my friends!!

  6. Hi Amanda.

    I love this idea! Could you please send me the First and Second grade word lists? Please and thank you!

  7. Love this! Could you send me the 1st and 2nd grade sight word list? Also, is this file editable? I teach ESL and would love to be able to translate it to my students native language. Thanks!

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