“I’m all done.” Those were the words I dreaded most my first few years of teaching. I was trying to answer questions and help struggling students when others were completely done. At the time, I always told them to find a book and read. I felt bad when the same students had to do that 5 times a day, especially since we do reading workshop for 45 minutes a day. That’s why I created early finisher activities that they love.
Early Finisher Activities Your Students Will Love
I wanted to find something meaningful that my students could do when they finished early. I wanted something they could do independently while I worked with other students and something that allowed them to continue practicing important skills. However, I didn’t want it to be anything the rest of my class had to make up if they didn’t get to it.
I started creating reading, math, and writing activities my students could do when they finished early. Each day, I tried to come up with something for them to do. Then, I started working ahead and putting together activities for each month. I’ve organized the activities in 3 different ways, and each year I choose the one that works best for that group of students.
Early Finishers Packet
When I started these early finisher activities, I put them together in an early finishers packet. My students kept it in a folder in their desks and pulled it out whenever they had a few free minutes. I loved doing it this way because they had all the activities in one place, and I just collected it at the end of the month to check the activities they did.
Then, my school district put a limit on the number of copies we could make. I needed the copies for math and reading, so I couldn’t make a 15-page packet of early finisher activities anymore.
Early Finishers Bulletin Board
The next thing I tried was an early finishers bulletin board. I typed a few early finisher activities on one page and cut them apart into strips. I put them in envelopes and attached them to one of my bulletin boards. When my students finished early, they would go to the board and choose an activity. They glued it to the top of a piece of paper and did the activity there. When they were finished, they put the papers in a tray on the side of the classroom.
Early Finishers Bingo Board
Now, I give my students a Bingo board filled with the early finisher activities. I put the Bingo board and some lined and blank paper in a folder with fasteners. The students choose an activity to complete and put the number at the top of a paper. They do the activity and when it’s finished, they color in the block on the Bingo board. They try to get a row or blackout on the Bingo board. I collect the folders at the end of the month.
Get These Early Finisher Activities
Start using these early finisher activities today. Your students will love choosing activities that interest them, and you’ll love how engaged they are while you work with other students. Just click the links below to purchase the activities by the month or as a growing bundle. I’ll be adding the rest of the months as I complete them.
January Early Finisher Activities
February Early Finisher Activities
March Early Finisher Activities
April Early Finisher Activities
August Early Finisher Activities
September Early Finisher Activities
October Early Finisher Activities
November Early Finisher Activities
December Early Finisher Activities
Early Finisher Activities Bundle
You’re Invited!
Looking for ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?
Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.
What Do You Think?
What do your early finishers do?
Let me know in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.
Leave a Reply