Compliment Booklets

 

An oldie but a goodie!  I’ve done this activity with my class for the  past 15 years ago.  Every year, for a Valentine’s gift, I have my students create “Compliment Booklets” for one another. (I think this would also make for a great beginning or end of year activity). Students write compliments for one another and I compile them into booklets.  I tell students the more they put into the activity, the more they’ll get out of it.  I love seeing the smiles on each one of my students’ faces as they read through their booklets on Valentine’s Day! When I see former students many of them tell me they still have and cherish their Compliment Booklets! I still have all 15 of mine!

How to Create

Traditional

The traditional way would be to make a copy of the paper template and print out two pages (there’s 18 small rectangles per page).

Neatly print the names of each student in your class in the bottom corner. Include your name and any other staff members you wish to include (ie principal, secretary, French Teacher, custodian).

Photocopy enough pages for each student in your class. Have students create their title page on a blank rectangle and then fill in compliments for each of their classmates in the appropriate rectangle.  (I’ve put a small margin on the left side of each rectangle to allow space for stapling).

Collect and compile all papers. Use a paper cutter to cut on lines. Compile into individual booklets with title pages on the front of each. Staple with a large stapler.

Distribute on Valentine’s Day. Watch your students’ faces light up!

Digital

***This method requires some “tech-savviness”, I’ll try to explain the steps the best I can. Worse case scenario, use the paper and pencil traditional method!

Make a copy of the paper template  **Make a second copy if you have more than 16 students.

Type your students’ names, using a text box, in the bottom corner of each rectangle.

I also add a text box for students to type in each rectangle.

Now, you’ll have to change the permissions on the Google Drawing to: “Anyone with the link can VIEW”.

Grab the link from the Drawing. The last 4 characters will say “edit”, delete “edit” and change to “copy”.

Share the links to the two Google Drawings (with “copy” at the end, instead of “edit”) with your students. I do this through Google Classroom simply by copying and pasting the full url into an assignment.  **Choosing the “Add a link option” in Google Classroom seems to default the link back to “edit”, so copy and paste the link instead.

When your students click on the link, they’ll be prompted to “Make a Copy” of each Google Drawing. Have them make their copies and then rename with their names.

Kids go ahead and fill in compliments for their classmates, themselves and create their title page.

When they have completed their compliment sheets, they’ll need to share them with you. Students go to “SHARE” and add your name. You’ll receive a gmail when each student shares with you.

Print up the pages, cut with a paper cutter, compile and staple with a large stapler.

Remembering Mr. Kinney

Last year my class made a Compliment Booklet for a much loved SSP at St. Elizabeth School, Mr. Kinney.  As he had very few family members, the staff and students at our school were his “family”. I read each of the compliments to Mr. Kinney the day before he passed away and I believe they were the last words he heard.  He smiled comfortably and contentedly as I read each word from his booklet.  Remembering Mr. Kinney is an iMovie I created (based on the words in his Compliment Booklet) to play at his memorial service.  Rest peacefully Mr. Kinney.  We miss you.