Reading some end of the year books together is the perfect way to help make this transition better for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned kindergarten teacher or about to finish your first year in first grade, reading aloud during the last week of school can help everyone process the change, celebrate the past year, and look forward to what’s next.

Read on for the perfect end of the year books to read to your students, as well as some companion activities!

These end of the year activities are ready to print and go! Get ready to make some core memories.

Click to jump to:

• Why The End Of The Year Transition Matters
• Why Read Alouds Are A Must For The End Of The Year
• End Of The Year Books To Try This Year
  • Getting Excited For The Future
  • Celebrating The Year
  • Saying Goodbye
• Tips For Reading End Of The Year Books
• Saying Goodbye To Your Students

Why the End of the Year Transition Matters

Students spend over 180 days in your classroom. That’s a long time for a young child. The routines, the friendships, the structure—all of it becomes a big part of their world. So, when the end of each school year comes, it’s not just the beginning of summer vacation; it’s also the end of a safe space.

Even kids excited for the next grade may feel nervous about leaving their teacher and classroom behind. For some, the last days of school can be tough. That’s why helping them mark the transition with some thoughtful, funny, or emotional end of the year read-alouds can make a real difference.

Teachers can also use this time to create rituals or class traditions that honor the past year. Think autograph books, goodbye letters, memory walls, or even a class awards day where everyone is celebrated. These small, consistent practices paired with great end of the year books can give closure and reinforce positive memories.

Why Read-Alouds Are A Must For The End Of The Year

Reading aloud is a daily part of many elementary classrooms, but during the final weeks of school, it becomes something more. It’s a way to slow down, reflect, and connect. A great book can open up conversations about change, growth, and saying goodbye.

End of the year books are also a great way to support young readers who may have complicated feelings about summer break. Some kids love it. Others dread it. Picture books about big transitions lets them know those feelings are okay.

And let’s be honest—we teachers need this too. Sharing a sweet end of the year book with your class gives you a chance to pause and feel all the things that come with saying goodbye to your students. It’s also a great reminder of why we love teaching in the first place.

End of the Year Books To Try This Year

There are so many special books out there, but these end of the year books are some of my favorite read-alouds to pull out in the final days. I’ve broken them down into a few categories to help you pick the perfect book for your classroom.

Some of these end of the year books also have wonderful companion activities to make your end of school celebrations even more fun!

Here are some end of the school year read alouds about getting excited for what's coming next, celebrating the year you've had together, and saying goodbye.

Getting Excited for the Future

It's so important to remind students that they have lots to look forward to at the end of the year. Even though they're time with you might be ending, you can show them that the future is bright and full of wonderful opportunities!

Our World Needs You

This sweet book reminds students that their unique gifts and talents are made to be shared with the world. Let students know that they are so special, and that you can't wait to see what they do next!

You can pair this book with this fun and inspiring craft and display, where students think about what they want to do for the world when they grow up.

The Night Before Summer Vacation

A heartwarming book wishing your students hope and joy as they move on from your classroom.

I Wish You Happiness

This book is a wish for a future filled with joy and purpose. Send your students off with a sweet message of love and happiness as they finish the year.

Summer Days

Get your students excited for summer with this book that celebrates the season of summer and all the things there are to look forward to!

Celebrating the Year

These end of school books are perfect for celebrating all the growth and learning you've done together over the year. You can use these to help your students reflect on their learning and how far they've come. I've also included some possible companion activities to use with them as well.

A Letter From Your Teacher On The Last Day Of School

A sweet message from a teacher on the last day of school, writing to her students about the amazing year they've had together.

I'm Glad I Was Your Teacher

A teacher reminiscing about all the wonderful memories her and her class have made together during the school year.

Memory Jars

This sweet story follows a little girl who wants to save every memory. It’s a great way to talk about all the moments that made this school year special.

Doing a memories craft is a great way to remember the year and celebrate the good times you've had together. Here is a memories flower craft where students share a favorite memory on each petal of the flower.

Saying Goodbye

These end of the year books are especially helpful to students who might be having a hard time saying goodbye at the end of the year. They emphasize that it's not really “goodbye”, it's just “see you later”!

Last Day Blues

This book is funny, relatable, and captures how students (and teachers!) feel during the last days of school. It’s also a great book to ease the emotions that come with change.

Goodbye For Now

A teacher says goodbye to her students and lets them know that they will still see her and she will still be cheering them on!

Instead Of Goodbye

A lovely book to help students who are having a hard time with saying goodbye. This story reminds students that this isn't the end, but instead it's a new beginning!

This yearbook is a great way to help younger students say goodbye to one another. Students swap booklets and draw a picture and write their name in their classmate's book. The perfect keepsake!

Tips for Reading End of the Year Books

Here are some things to keep in mind when you're choosing end of the year books to read with your class.

1. Choose books that fit your class vibe. Every group is different. Some might love a funny story like “Last Day Blues,” while others connect more with a sweet story like “Our Class Needs You”.
2. Use books as a jumping-off point. After reading “Memory Jars,” have your students create their own jars or write about their favorite memories. It’s a great way to reflect on the past year.
3. Make it part of your countdown. If you do an ABC countdown or another fun way to end the year, include a special book for each day.
4. Let the kids choose. Put out a few options and let your class vote on what to read. This gives them ownership and gets them excited.
5. Connect it to next steps. If you’re sending kids off to the next grade, middle school, or even high school, pick stories that get them thinking about the journey ahead.

Saying Goodbye

Reading end of the year books is more than just a way to fill time during those hectic last weeks of school. It’s a great way to honor your students' growth, say goodbye with love, and get them excited for new adventures.

Whether you’re flipping through picture books during the last day of school or sharing a sweet book during the final days of school, these stories can help everyone process the emotions that come with change. They remind us that each ending is also a beginning.

So go ahead—grab one of your favorite books, gather your young readers on the carpet, and make those last moments count. The end of the school year only comes once a year, and these end of the year books make it unforgettable.

Note: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. But rest assured, I only recommend the books I truly love and would use in my own classroom.

Have you seen my latest book yet? Our World Needs You is the perfect end of the year read aloud!

Which of these books are you going excited try this year? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo
Laura

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The post 15 Must-Read End Of The Year Books For Students appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Read on for 10 of my favorite end of year crafts to try in your classroom.

(Want something prepped and ready to go? Check out my end of the year memories anchor chart and craft activity right here!)

End of the Year Craft Ideas

There are so many ways to celebrate the end of the year. (Check out this post for end of the year celebration ideas). Plus, it’s a special time to recognize the journey you’ve taken together as a class. Students have grown and changed during the school year, and they’ve bonded with you and their classmates. 

It’s important to honor this learning and growth, not just because it’s fun, but because it helps students prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for ending their time with you. The crafts in this round-up all focus on celebrating learning, growth, and memories. And they help students not only look back on what they’ve accomplished, but also look forward toward what’s next!

Memories Booklet

This Memories Booklet is such a sweet end of year craft. It prompts students to look back at the year they’ve had and remember their favorite times. Not only does it serve as a great way to reminisce about the year, but it also will be a sweet keepsake for students to keep and look back on in the future. You can get templates for this craft right here.

Memories Anchor Chart

This idea is extra fun because it’s an activity you can do together as a class. First, have your class remember and share some of their favorite things they’ve done this year. Then, give each student one of the polaroid cut-outs for them to draw their favorite memory and write their name. Finally, paste all the polaroid cut-outs onto the anchor chart to create a memory collage you can display in your classroom!

Click here to get this anchor chart template.

Goodbye Stars

This is such a fun way to help students get ready to say goodbye to their friends! As a class, you brainstorm phrases you could write to your friends to say goodbye and wish them a happy summer. Then every student gets a large star for all their friends to write a message on. 

I love this idea for creating a simple way for students to give a simple message to their friends. Students will love getting to take home these special stars for summer time.

Memory Lapbook

There is something just so fun about lapbooks! And I love this one because of all the different pieces students get to put together. This craft is all about remembering the great times from the year. I love that it has lots of different parts for students to reflect on and record their favorite parts of the year.

Mini Year Book

This end of the year craft idea is designed for students to make a page in each other’s booklets, so that they end up with a little mini-yearbook at the end. The pages include a simple prompt for students to draw and write a favorite memory they had with their friend. 

You get to choose how many pages the students have. You can have one for every student in the class. Or, you could limit it to 5 and have students just choose 5 friends to write in their booklets for a shorter activity.

Click here to get the template for this craft!

Memory Wheel

This fun end of the year craft could be adapted for any grade level. Students get to think about their favorite memories. Then they add them to this wheel-shaped design. You’ll end up with a great little keepsake or classroom display!

Class T-Shirts

I love creating our very own t-shirts with my class each year. This one is always a big hit with my students.

First, students bring in a plain white t-shirt from home. Then, we all sign the backs of the shirts with sharpies. Finally, students get to decorate the front of the shirts with fabric paint. These make the perfect shirts to wear on the last day of school and take some fun pictures together.

Memories Flower

This is one of my favorite end of the year craft ideas because they turn out so beautiful you’ll want to display them in your classroom! In each flower petal, students record one of their favorite memories from the school year. Then the edge of the petals can be decorated with sequins to make them extra beautiful.

You can grab the template for this craft right here!

Ice Cream Memories

This is another fun memories craft for the end of the year. Students record their favorite memories on different scoops of ice cream. Then the scoops get stacked on top of each other to create a super cute ice cream cone. This craft is such a fun way to celebrate the year that’s past while also building up excitement for the upcoming summer months.

Wave Goodbye

This is a fun end of the year activity that is a pure art craft. Students trace their hand and create a cut out. Then they decorate a paper with paint marks to create a fun background. The hand print cut out gets glued onto the background paper to look like it’s waving. For the final touch, give students a little poem about the end of the year to glue on next to the hand.

This end of the year craft idea could help you have a discussion with younger students about the end of the year, what it means, and to help them process any feelings of anxiety they have around it. The more we can prepare our little ones for change ahead of time, the better they will be able to handle it!

End of the Year Crafts

I hope this helped you find the perfect end of the year craft for your students! Crafts are the perfect activity for when you’re feeling those end of the year blues kick in (or that end of the year craziness!).

Any of these end of the year craft ideas would be a fun way to close out the school year. They make fun displays for the end of the year, and they become beautiful keepsakes to help students and families look back and remember the fun school year.

Remember if you need something prepped and ready to go, you can get this end of the year craft and activity bundle:

Which craft are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments! 
xoxo 
Laura

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The post 10 End of the Year Craft Ideas Your Students Will Absolutely Love  appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Read on for my favorite affordable ideas for end of the year student gifts!

(Looking for a fun and simple end of the year activity? Check out my memories craft and anchor chart!)

Student Gifts For the End of the Year

Deciding to do an end of the year gift to students is totally up to you! Your students will not be disappointed if you don’t do a gift – after all, you’ve been teaching them and serving them all year long. And that, of course, is that greatest gift.

But if you’re feeling like giving your students a little something to celebrate the school year ending, go for it! Just remember to emphasize the “little”… students don’t need or expect anything big or elaborate or fancy. It’s so easy for us teachers to overspend on our students because we just love them so dang much! But that’s not necessary. 

I’m often surprised at how happy students are to receive the smallest of things – a little sticker, a single Starburst, or even a colored stamp on their page. In fact, I think helping children hold on to their appreciation for those small things is helpful. So we really don’t have to go overboard on our ideas for end of the year student gifts.

Cheap End of the Year Gifts For Students 

Here are some of my favorite ideas for cheap end of the year student gifts. These ideas are affordable, but I guarantee students will still go crazy for them! They may be small, but my students loved these, and it made them feel super special. 

I also found matching free gift tag ideas for each of these – so make sure you scroll to the next section to be able to access those.

Stickers

For some reason, stickers never stop being hugely popular with students. Even small stickers send my students into so much excitement! These stickers are bigger and fancier than the ones I dole out for little wins during the school year, so the felt like an extra treat for my students.

These come in a large pack, so there’s enough for students to have more than 1 – which feels even more exciting and special! For just $7, you get 100 stickers, making these one of the most affordable choices you'll find. These are one of my favorite ideas for end of the year student gifts because they are so simple. The super cute designs are totally fun and make these perfect for any grade.

But beware – sometimes these packs have one or two stickers that have some bad words on them, so make sure you pick those out! (I found one that said “Shell yeah!” – not terrible, but enough for me to remove it from the bunch.)

Squishy Animals

These squishy animals are such a fun end of the year gift to students. They are just so darn cute, my students go wild for them. I actually use these in the classroom throughout the year for other things, such as sensory bins or fidgets. So students get extra excited when they get to choose 1 or 2 to keep and take home. 

These animals come in a huge variety pack, so there really is something every student will love. Tie them up in a cute little gift baggy, and get ready for your students to go ga-ga!

Pop-Its

Pop-its are another item that make the perfect student end of the year gifts. We use these in our classroom for math and for fidgets, but with strict rules about how and when we use them. To have their own that they can use however they like feels like a big reward!

You can get pop-its in all shapes and sizes, but I love these mini ones that can be attached to a backpack or a zipper. They are colorful and cute, but still a verry affordable option.

Dollar Books

If you haven't joined the Scholastic Book Club, you’ve been missing out. The Book Club allows families to buy books for their students at a discounted price. Any time they buy, you also earn points for your classroom towards free books!

Plus, if you have an order for more than $100 in your cart, you get access to the Dollar Book section — I always stock up when this happens! These books make great gifts at any time of the year – birthday gifts, holiday gifts, and you guessed it… end of the year gifts. 

They often have quite a few to choose from so that you can give students a book that will actually be accessible to their reading level. And for only a dollar each, it is definitely the most affordable book you’ll be able to find.

Sunglasses

These sunglasses also make a super cute gift to send your students off into summer. This gift helps build excitement for the summer time, and helps your students know a transition is coming. If you let your students wear them in class the last day of the school, they will feel even cooler! 

This pack is super affordable, and it comes in lots of fun colors, so you can give each student a color they will love. 

FREE Student End of the Year Gift Tags

These gift tags would be perfect for the stickers or the squishy animals:

Use these gift tags with the pop-its for your students:

This tag design will go great with the book gifts:

This is the perfect tag for sunglasses, of course!

End of the Year Gift To Students 

Finding the perfect student gifts for the end of the year doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Students will appreciate anything you give them – even things that seem small to you often seem beyond exciting to children. I hope this list has given you some ideas so you can check off student gifts from your list and move on to the next important task!

Which gift are you thinking about using? Let me know in the comments! 
xoxo 
Laura

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The post Student Gifts For The End Of The Year That Are Totally Cute And Totally Affordable  appeared first on Love Grows Learning.