How do you get to know your students at the beginning of the year? Me boxes? Me Reports? Me Posters?
For ME… pun intended, I like to use the last option, ME Posters!
These easy to do posters are a Back to School MUST for my beginning of the year routine. I usually send them home as a first week of school homework.
They are super “at home” friendly… as students can basically use ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to decorate them. I also like this routine because I am not worried about sending home special or important things that students have brought in (which sometimes happens with the Me boxes)
To make the posters, all you need is:
-12 x 18 tag board (or old file folder)
-ME print outs
-marker
-scissors
-12 x 18 construction paper (color of your choice)
Here’s a quick tutorial on how to make them:
First, print out the M and E cut outs.
Then, trim them out. Place the two letters side by side to create one continuous “ME”.
Trace the two print outs onto the tag board or file folder. Then cut out the file folder.
This will give you a “ME” tracer. Now you’re ready to trace the “ME” shape onto your choice of construction paper. I like blue, but I’ve used black in the past and it really makes the decorations POP!
Then, send home! Students can decorate them using magazine clippings, photos, or drawings. They can fill it with things that represent them: Favorite food, movie, hobbies…
This year, I had a student attach her favorite pair of “fishin’ glassess” cuz she loves to go bass fishin’. #nothinglikelivinginthesouth
As students bring their posters in, we share them at the end of the day. This is the perfect time to start working on our Speaking and Listening Standards (Thank you Common Core!) After a student shares, we take 3 questions to help understand the students more. Anymore and we’d never move on! Seconds are very inquisitive! LOL!
Finally, I hang them up on the blinds for the first few weeks. I love that it adds a “kids are here” feel to the room right from the first week of school.
Want to try this little project for yourself? You can download this file by clicking here or on the pictures. The FREE download includes directions, tracers, and a letter to send home explaining the project.
I’d love to hear how you get to know your students those first few weeks back to school! Share below!
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What a fun project and really gives you a different perspective on your students!
If your copier takes construction paper, you could make your tracer on the computer, print at regular size and enlarge on the copier right onto construction paper. (I use the bypass tray, enlarge 122% and choose "thick paper 1" and it is nearly perfect.) No more tracing individual sheets for each child.
Very smart idea. I do that often for my student crafts, but my printer won't print anything larger than a legal sized paper. This activity requires a 12 x18 sheet. Thank you for sharing!