As much as you want to build strong relationships with each of your students, there’s just not enough time in the day to give everyone that one-on-one attention consistently. Between lesson planning, parent communication, and everything else on your to-do list, those connection moments can feel hard to fit in.
That’s where a Student of the Week routine can make a big difference. It gives you a simple, structured way to recognize one student at a time, without adding more to your plate. It becomes part of your classroom rhythm, and it gives students a chance to feel important.
In this post, we’ll walk through some great Student Of The Week ideas, how to set it up, what to include, and a resource that makes it easy to manage all year.
Why Use Student of the Week Activities
Spotlighting one student at a time with these student of the week ideas gives you a structured, consistent way to build relationships without adding more to your schedule. These student recognition ideas help your students get to know each other better, and offer each child a turn to feel important.
Student of the Week gives you a built-in way to help your class slow down and focus on one another. It’s a small routine that helps each student feel noticed, and gives the rest of the class a chance to practice listening, asking questions, and learning more about each other. Over time, those quick moments help build stronger connections across your classroom.
Student Of The Week Ideas
When teachers set up their student of the week bulletin board or corner, here are a few things they usually include:
- An “About Me” page for the student to share basic facts and favorites
- A flipbook or short writing project with more details, drawings, or photos
- A compliment page where classmates can share kind words or observations
- A display area—whether it’s a bulletin board, a cabinet door, or a small shelf
- A crown or certificate at the end of the week to wrap things up
These elementary student spotlight routines don’t need to take up your whole day. They fit into what you’re already doing—and they give students a consistent way to connect with each other. Plus, the materials become keepsakes families love.
How to Use the Student of the Week Activities
There are two easy ways to fit this into your week:
Full Week Celebration: Send home the editable parent letter ahead of time. Then, set up your display with the student’s poster, About Me page, and flipbook. Introduce the student with a poem, and let them share about themselves throughout the week. Classmates can give compliments or ask questions, and you can close out the week with a crown, a certificate, and a packet of their materials to take home.
Quick Weekly Highlight: If you’re short on time, you can still make this work. Choose just the About Me page or flipbook, and have your student share during morning meeting. You’ll still be creating connection—you’re just keeping it simple.
These student of the week ideas are flexible, so you can use what works for your schedule. Either way, your students will look forward to their turn.
Why Teachers Choose To Use These Activities
Teachers love these Student Of The Week ideas because:
- The templates are already made, so they don’t spend time creating materials.
- It helps students feel more connected to their classmates.
- Students who feel important are more likely to feel secure and engaged.
- It gives quieter kids a voice—and builds speaking and listening skills for everyone.
- It keeps you organized with editable checklists, letters, and materials that are easy to reuse.
Teachers like that the materials are already done for them. You don’t have to create something new each week, and you won’t forget who’s had a turn. It becomes a simple part of your routine that students look forward to.
And because it’s structured, it works for all kinds of learners. Students who love to share can take the lead, while quieter students can participate at their own comfort level.
What Makes This Student of the Week Kit Different
This Student Of The Week kit is a simple, consistent routine that helps you build relationships all year long, without needing to plan something new each week. Everything’s ready to go, so you can focus on connecting with your students, not creating materials from scratch.
Here’s what makes this kit stand out:
- Editable templates so you can type in names, dates, and custom details
- Options to match your classroom theme—use a “Student of the Week” title or choose a blank version
- Everything is sized and written for first graders—clear, easy, age-appropriate
- You choose what to use—some teachers use all the pieces, others just a few
- Student-led activities that don’t put pressure on shy students
- Family involvement options with editable parent letters and keepsakes
You get editable templates for everything—posters, parent letters, certificates, and more, so you can personalize the routine without extra prep. Every piece is sized for young learners and easy to print, store, and reuse.
Tips For A Successful Student Of The Week Routine
- Keep a checklist so no one gets missed or repeated
- Send home the parent letter early, with a return date clearly marked
- If you know a student may need extra help, ask an older buddy to assist
- Let students choose how much they want to share—don’t force it
- Store everything in a folder or bin to make each week grab-and-go
- Laminate your poster and reuse it all year—just tape new pages on top
Staying organized makes the Student of the Week routine easy to keep up with. A simple checklist helps you track who’s had a turn, and sending the letter home early gives families time to prepare. Letting students choose what they share keeps the focus on comfort, not pressure, and older student helpers can step in when needed. With everything stored in one place and posters you can reuse, it’s an easy routine you can use week after week.
Building Classroom Relationships
These student of the week ideas help each student feel important and give you a reliable routine for building classroom relationships. It gives you a consistent way to support speaking and listening skills, and encourage a positive classroom community. With the Student of the Week Kit, everything is prepped and ready to go, so you can keep the focus on your students, not on creating materials from scratch.
