V alentine's Day

Kindergarten kids get excited about all holidays, not celebrating them is not an option. Before Valentine's Day in kindergarten, I sent home a list of all the first names of students in the class. Students were not required to bring Valentines but if they did, they had to bring one for everybody. If they did not bring valentines and were allowed to celebrate we had some valentines dittoed off for them so they could participate. My aide would help them address all the valentines. In all my years teaching I only had to provide valentines once or twice.
Previous to the holiday, one of our activities would be to make giant envelopes shaped like a heart. Each child would lace two big pink paper hearts together and write their name clearly on the front. On Valentine's day the envelopes would be taped up in the room to be filled. Students were expected to match the name on the valentine with the name on the envelope.
This activity pushed some kids to their limits but they were anxious and proud to be in charge of their own valentines. Although their name and the names of others were the first words they learned to read, it also motivated them to write clearly and readably or they wouldn't get any valentines. It also gave them practice writing and reading. Parents who wrote all the names denied their child the writing practice. (Some wrote dots and let their child go over them with lines to practice. What a good idea!) It was a difficult task for some children but all were happy to do it. At the end of the day we celebrated with Valentine treats. Happy Valentine's Day to all!