When y’all mention your graduation ceremonies, I catch myself smiling. I typically picture preschoolers and kinders in these ceremonies; however, I’m guessing other elementary grades have end-of-the-year graduations too.
What’s involved in an end-of-the-year graduation? What tips can you share for teachers who are new to planning celebrations of this sort?
Thanks for sharing!
Diane
Graduation is a huge deal at our preschool. Last year we had over 150 family members come.
I keep the actual ceremony short because of the children. Because of the amount of people sometimes its scary for the kids I also hand out the book the school gives them with their certificate. When the kids know they are going to get a little something they are usually willing to come up on stage. I also plan activiities for after our lunch. I have the children sing the Mailbox Song Kindergarten Here We Come. But to put our own spin on it we march as we sing and we have added little flags we make from posterboard and mount on dowels. Then my co teacher and I give the kids a small gift from us.
To let everyone know the graduation is over at this point we walk to the playground and each child releases a balloon as we shout Kindergarten Here We Come.
After everyone goes my co teacher and I sit down and cry. Because you always miss them.