Teacher Idea Factory

Teacher Idea Factory

END OF THE YEAR VIDEO IDEAS + FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES

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I have spent most of my evenings and post physical therapy days planted in front of my electronic box.  An endless stream of iced tea, coffee, sick beats, and tissues got me through the creation of my end of the year video.  It is my best one yet . . . the music is perfect, the transitions are flawless, and the images would warm even the coldest of hearts.  #mymasterpiece

How many of y’all make one of these?  Yes, it can take hours (if you are a psycho like me) . . . but I think it is SO worth the time.  I always have it running in the background at Open House.  I also give a copy to parents as a “thanks for sharing your kiddo with me” gift.  

With this said, do you still have a few weeks left of school?  Well . . . I swear that you still have time to slap one of these together.  Or, maybe you are in the middle of one and need a little extra motivation (I hit a slump earlier this week and had to walk away for a bit)!!??!!  Here are a couple of production ideas, a copy of my permission slip, and some follow up ditties to jump start or keep ya rollin’ with an Oscar worthy production! 

If you are a teacher like me, you always have your camera in your pocket ready to catch all of your classic classroom moments.  The kids even know to remind me to get it out when something cool is going on . . . yes, I have trained them well 😉  Well, if you have been doing this all year, there’s half your battle.  Once you have the inventory, you are ready to piece something together.  

Before I start making my movie, I send out a permission slip to make sure I am in the clear.  I have posted my version down below for you to take a look-see it. Feel free to swipe any verbiage that works for you!!!

Didn’t The Moffatt Girls, Cara Carroll, and Kevin + Amanda make me look good??!
I couldn’t pull of such a sweet look without your creative support 🙂

I have a MAC and have fallen in love with iMovie.  It’s so easy to use.  I figured it out in no time and it’s pretty idiot proof (okay . . . so I managed to booger a few things up this year, but they were easy fixes).  Simply create a new project, select a set theme (I like photo album) and drag your photos into the build screen.  You can adjust the time devoted to each clip and add movement to your photos.  I am all about timing this perfectly to the music.  

Speaking of music.  I have used lots of different songs throughout the years.  I have my go to ditties, but I also like to switch things up a bit as I always tend to have siblings.  My motto is to hit ’em with upbeat feel-good “tunage” right up front . . . slow it down . . . pick it back up . . . and then, kill it at the end with a song that tugs on those heartstrings.  Ironically, it ain’t just the parents who tear up.  I ALWAYS cry.  I watch the thing a zillion times to try and placate myself, but it never seems to work in the moment.  

Here’s my stellar line up this year . . . click the links to preview the tunes!

  1. You’ve Got A Friend in Me – Randy Newman (my go to)
  2. You Are My Sunshine – Ray Charles (best version ever)
  3. In My Life – The Beatles (classic)
  4. Rainbow Connection – Weezer + Hayley Williams (mind-blowing)
  5. Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison (always a smile getter)
  6. Never Grow Up – Alyssa Golden (killer . . . better than Taylor’s IMO)
In previous movies, I have used Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head (Burt Bacharach), Monsters Inc. Intro (Randy Newman), Over the Rainbow (IZ), Three Little Birds (Bob Marley), We Belong Together (Randy Newman), You Are My Sunshine (Victor Johnson), Fun. Fun. Fun. (Pharrell), and Perfect Gift (Natalie Hemby).  
Our Open House is a week from today so I am sittin’ pretty.  Now all I have to do is make myself one DVD copy.  I don’t gift the parent copies until that last week . . . it’s too crazy to get this done right now!!!  And you can milk an activity out of it too (more on that soon).
I always host a student screening the afternoon of Open House.  It’s perfect for that time when you’ve finished every thing you’re gonna finish, but it’s still too early to clean the room and set up the desks.  We pop corn and have a private “screening” right after lunch.  Two years ago my kinders started screaming everyone’s name when they flashed on the screen.  I laughed my bum off.  Last year I had to leave the room twice during that initial showing to get it together. I wonder what this year will bring . . . .   
After the kids leave and I’m all dolled up for the night, I attach a silly little sign to the bottom of my TV as a final touch.  It’s up for grabs down below.  Don’t mind me.  I think I am funny and it’s all about “sellin’ that sizzle” . . . yes, I was in PR/marketing before becoming a teacher.  However, the video truly speaks for itself.  For those of you who create one, are you with me??  A movie about those babes that you poured your heart and soul into for the past 180 days will move mountains.  **Confession time . . . I am getting all misty-eyed as I’m writing this post.  #imintroublethisyear
CLICK HERE to grab this sign
Thank you Goodness + Fun and Ashley Hughes!
Before I go and be a wife tonight and whip something up for dinner, I have one more thing for you.  Remember how I said that you could leverage this video into another classroom activity??  Well, who better to create the DVD cover than your babes??!!  And what better time to do it than the last week of school??  They always seem to love this and the buy-in is immediate.  Simply cut cruddy copy paper to the size of the DVD holder that you are using.  We brainstorm and vote on a title (First Grade is Fabulous, First Grade Memories, First Grade Friends, etc.).  Then I let them go . . . they really take their time on this.  Slate a good 30 minutes for this.  Don’t know why, but my babes always take such pride in this one.  
Alright, my friends.  I am out.  Merry {almost} Friday . . . we can do this!  I’ll see you this weekend soon with a little somethin’ – somethin’.  Until then, BIG HUGS! Oh, and if you have any tips to share about movies you’ve made, I’d love to hear them!!! 

Comments

  4. Rachelle says

    You've got a friend is me is my go-to as well! I always put it at the end and then I see the tears coming from all of the parents! Me=1 point Parents= 0

  6. Susanna - Whimsy Workshop says

    Hello! I do this every year as well. It takes a lot of time but so very worth it! I know the parents treasure it, and it's also kind of nice for me to have a collection dvds to remember the classes. The song I use is Let Them Be Little – a real tear-jerker for sure! I also attach a little video of each student saying what they want to be when they grow up.
    Susanna Westby
    Whimsy Workshop 

  7. Camille says

    Kelley,
    Great post (as usual 🙂

    For my videos I love That's What Friends Are For and Joe Cocker's version of You Are So Beautiful. I also use Somewhere Over the Rainbow (LOVE the IZ version). Now I have to check out the versions you have recommended!!!!!!! I so agree about iMovie – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I used to do my slideshows on a PC in PowerPoint – no comparison.
    Camille

    • teacherideafactory says

      Oh, Camille, thanks so much my dear!!! I forgot all about That's What Friends Are For . . . love that one (my mom used to always listen to it in the T-Bird on the way to school). Hugs friend!!!

  9. S. Simpson says

    This is why I stalk you my friend. That's it. . . if you aren't moving to Florida then I'm moving it on out to Cali so we can teach beside each other. Everything in your post is SPOT ON. I've been doing a video for the past 9 years and it is a TON of hassle up front but SOOOOOOOO worth it in the end. Thanks for the freebie to post on my T.V. PINNING (as always).
    ✰ Stacy

    Simpson Superstars

    • teacherideafactory says

      Hey Stace!!! What I wouldn't give to teach with you. Susan from TGIF decided that we should all get together and start a school 😉 I think she's on to something! Hugs my friend.

  10. Mrs. McHaffie says

    If you don't have iMovie, a simple power point spiced up with all those graphics we all purchase, works perfectly too. Now that I have a brand new MacBook Pro I'm in the process of my iMovie as well and it does take a looooonnnngggg time 🙂
    Gonna snag that play list! *love*

    Happy Friday Friend!
    Kelly
    Beg, Borrow, Steal

  11. Laura Boriack says

    Sounds fabulous!!! I make a movie every year but I've been using Windows Live Movie Maker. It gets the job done for someone who doesn't really know how to use it ;), but I don't know how to do anything fancy with it. I recently got an iPad so I'll have to check out iMovie! I love your playlist – thanks for sharing!
    :)Laura
    Over the 1st Grade Rainbow

    • teacherideafactory says

      Ms. Laura . . . how ya been feeling??? If you decided to run with iMovie this year, look me up. I can walk you through anything you may need help with. Hugs!!!

  12. Miss Foote says

    We have very similar end of year celebrations. I am a procrastinator and haven't started my slideshow yet. I really like to use the songs, Let Them Be Little and Dream Big. I can't remember who performs either of them.

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

    • teacherideafactory says

      I waited to do mine this year too. Started it only last week. Dream Big is such a sweet song . . . I went an took a little listen. Thanks for sharing my dear. AND . . . good luck with your production.

  13. Vanna says

    I use iPhoto to create the video and it is A LOT faster! It makes the video for you and fits the length to the number of songs you add. Then you can just upload it to iDVD to burn. Only takes about 20 minutes and looks great every time! It is always a great end-of-the-year gift!

    • teacherideafactory says

      Sweet . . . I had no idea you could do this with iPhoto! I just played around with it a bit. That's pretty cool. Definitely the way to go if you are pressed for time!!! Thanks for the 4-1-1 🙂

  15. Holly says

    Will you do one for my kids {as in my own children}? I love it – my youngest's {is that a word?} teacher made a slideshow for us last year and I STILL watch. What a beautiful gift you're giving your kiddos and their parents {and their kids, and their kids' kids….HA!}

    xoxo

    Holly
    Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

  16. michaelshoney says

    I have been doing videos for my class for 8 or 9 years. It is always worth the time and effort. I have used many of your songs and love the additional ones to check out. For all of my videos though I have always used the Cheers theme as the intro. I like that my students and parents have probably never even heard it but the words just get to me! I use iDVD on the mac and burn the DVD's. It is very easy to use. Also, thanks for the suggestion of making their own covers for the DVD. I am definitely doing that this year!

  17. teacherideafactory says

    The Cheers intro is BRILLIANT. That song always gets me and it is one of my all time favorite shows. Thanks so much for sharing!! It wasn't even on radar . . . adding that one next year for SURE 🙂

  18. Miss Trayers says

    You have definitely given me the motivation to finish mine! 🙂 I like the Time of Our Lives-Tyrone Wells. We watch it so many times before our awards show that the kids know the words well enough to sing along! They love looking at the pics too.

    NotJustChild'sPlay

    • teacherideafactory says

      Oh . . . another great song. SOOOOO glad you took the time to post. There are so many great tunes that weren't even on my radar. You got this girl . . . you'll be saying "that's a wrap" in no time now!!!

  20. Tammy says

    I also make videos for my students. This was my 12th year of making slideshow presentation for my parents and students. I remember putting them on VHS tapes before going to DVD's. Times have changed. I love the songs that you have used. Some of them I had not thought of but I do have three others that I don't think anyone has mentioned. "Find Your Wings by Mark Harris" is absolutely one song that always goes into my shows. I love the meaning behind the song. Another one is "Little Wonders by Rob Thomas" and my last one that I love putting into my slideshows is "Ever, Ever After by Carrie Underwood". My students love the song and so does the teacher. Again thanks for the new songs. I added them to my playlist.
    Tammy
    Mrs. Flickinger's Butterfly Oasis

  21. Sylvia says

    I tried to make an end of year dvd with several programs last year and just couldn't do it. My wonderful friend stepped in and did it for me which was fabulous. I really want to succeed at this this year but last year was so frustrating. Do you recommend purchasing a program to do this or perhaps do it online?

  22. Julie Venegas says

    I am in the middle of an imovie and I am stuck. My pictures I move from iphoto to imovie are not working or coming up right. Have you ever had that problem?

  23. Julie Venegas says

    I am in the middle of an imovie and I am stuck. My pictures I move from iphoto to imovie are not working or coming up right. Have you ever had that problem?

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