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You’ve downloaded the Editable Student of the Week Kit. This guide will walk you through how to use each part of the kit, how to set up your student of the week routine, and how to keep everything organized. Use the full routine or choose the pieces that work best for your schedule. These tips will help you build strong classroom connections with less prep.
Choose a space for your display: You don’t need a full bulletin board. Some teachers use a single cabinet door, part of a whiteboard, or even a hallway panel. Just choose a spot where your class can see the display and your Student of the Week can feel proud. Tape the poster to the wall and add each student’s pages right on top. You’ll keep the poster all year and change the “About Me” page each week.
Prep your materials once: Print the pages you’ll need and keep them organized in a folder or bin. Many teachers use manila envelopes with the editable checklist stapled to the front. You can prep the whole month in one sitting and be done. When it’s time to send home materials, grab the next student packet and you’re ready.
Decide when to start
Some teachers launch Student of the Week during the first week of school to start building community right away. Others wait until the classroom routines feel more solid. There’s no right time—it’s just about when you feel ready to add it in consistently.
Create your student schedule
Use the editable checklist to plan which student will go each week. You can type it in before printing or fill it out by hand as you go. Post a class version somewhere visible, or keep a copy in your teacher binder to stay on track. This simple step helps ensure everyone gets a turn and no one gets missed.
Each piece in the editable Student of the Week Kit was designed to be flexible and easy to manage. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how to use it effectively in your first grade classroom routine:
Student of the Week Posters
These full-page posters are available with “Student of the Week” titles or as blank versions so you can match your classroom theme. Choose from boy or girl illustrations. Laminate once and reuse all year—just tape each student’s “About Me” page or Flipbook on top.
Parent Letters (Editable)
Send this home about a week before it’s a student’s turn. You can type in the student’s name and the due date in the blue fields. These fields won’t print, so everything looks clean and ready to go. Two versions are included—one labeled and one blank—so you can call your celebration anything that fits your classroom theme.
Teacher Checklist (Editable)
Use this to keep track of each student and their assigned week. You can fill in the editable version before printing or write by hand. Keeping this checklist in the same folder as your materials helps you stay consistent and organized.
About Me Page
This is a simple one-page activity that works well for all students, especially younger learners or those who need a low-pressure way to participate.
Get to Know Me Flipbook
Great for students who want to write or share more. The flipbook has sections like “This is Me,” “My Family,” and “My Favorites.” It’s pre-measured—just print, cut, and staple. It gives students more space to draw or write in their own words.
Compliment Page
Print this with space for a student photo and speech bubbles for compliments. You can guide the class through giving compliments or pointing out character traits during a morning meeting or write down their responses for them. It’s a powerful tool for building classroom community.
Crowns (Editable)
Comes in both labeled and blank versions. Add the student’s name using the editable field or write it in by hand. Print, cut, and staple to a sentence strip to fit. Students can wear the crown all day or just during their presentation—it’s up to them.
Certificates (Editable)
Print in color or black and white, and type in the name, date, and your signature using the editable fields. Staple this to the rest of the student’s packet at the end of the week and send it home—it makes a great keepsake.
Poems
Use one of the included short poems to introduce the next Student of the Week. It’s a simple way to add consistency and a bit of fun to your student of the week bulletin board or your morning meeting.
Monday: Introduce the Student of the Week using the poem. Post their “About Me” page or flipbook on the student of the week bulletin board.
Midweek: Have the student share their flipbook, or let classmates ask questions and share compliments.
Friday: Present their certificate and crown. Send home their completed packet.
Choose one morning meeting during the week to highlight your student.
Let them share their “About Me” page, take compliments, wear the crown, and receive their certificate at the end of the day.
This still builds connection and student recognition even on a smaller scale.
A few small routines can help you use your Editable Student of the Week kit run smoothly all year:
If you call it “Star Student,” “Busy Bee,” or something else entirely, the Editable Student of the Week Kit includes blank versions of:
These allow you to tailor the routine to your classroom theme while still using all the core materials.
You don’t need a big event to make your students feel important. Using this kit weekly helps students feel important, teaches empathy, and creates a classroom routine that students look forward to.
A Student of the Week tradition also:
It becomes one of those consistent classroom traditions for elementary students that students remember and talk about—sometimes long after the year ends.
If you’ve found your way to this post but haven’t downloaded the Editable Student of the Week Kit, you can get it here.
You’ve downloaded the Editable Student of the Week Kit. This guide will walk you through how to use each.
