There’s this one memory that always sneaks up on me: the crumpled construction paper card a student gave me on the last day of school glitter everywhere, the “Y” in “thank you” backwards. I tucked it into my desk drawer and, somehow, it’s followed me through every classroom since.
The end of a school year always leaves behind little echoes sticky laughter, torn bulletin boards, lunchroom inside jokes. Whether you’re a parent watching your child shed another shoe size for summer, or a teacher packing up your hundredth read-aloud book, you know: these aren’t just days. They’re stories.
These nine short rhyming poems gather them up gently.
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Here’re the 9 short poems that rhyme…
- The Hallway Race
- My Favorite Desk
- A Smile from my Teacher
- Story Time
- Lost and Found
- Lunchtime Giggles
- Sports Day Cheers
- One Last Bell
The Hallway Race
We raced the bell from hall to hall,
We laughed so loud, we heard it all.
Backpacks bouncing, friends in tow —
How fast we ran, we’ll always know!
Reflection question for SEL
Can you remember a time at school when you felt that kind of joy with your friends? What made that moment special, and how did it make you feel inside?
My Favorite Desk
This desk held secrets, books, and dreams,
Some doodles, notes, and scribbled schemes.
It’s just a chair when I’m away
But it was home each learning day.
Reflection question for SEL
Was there a spot at school that felt like “yours”—a place where you felt safe, focused, or creative? What made that space feel like home to you?
A Smile from my Teacher
A smile from my teacher, bright as the sun,
Showed me my hard work was never undone.
I’ll keep it safe when days feel tough
One little smile can be enough.
Reflection question for SEL
Can you think of a time when someone’s small gesture like a smile or kind word, helped you feel seen or proud of yourself? How did it change your day?
Story Time
We curled up close for tales and rhyme,
Dragons, castles, once-upon-time.
Story time was magic’s door
A whole big world on classroom floor!
Reflection question for SEL
What’s a story you remember hearing at school that made you feel something—excited, curious, safe, or even brave? Why do you think it stayed with you?
Art Day Hands
We made such masterpieces today,
With gooey glue and grand green paint!
My hands wore messy art like jewels,
And smiles, sparkly, free of any complaint.
Reflection question for SEL
How does it feel when you create something just for fun without worrying if it’s “perfect”? What do you enjoy most about those moments?
Lost and Found
I lost my hat, I found my pen,
Lost my lunch, found it again!
The lost and found box knew my name
Next year, I’ll try to win that game!
Reflection question for SEL
Can you think of a time when you lost something at school? How did you handle it and what did it teach you about responsibility or asking for help?
Lunchtime Giggles
Peanut butter sandwiches, apple slices neat,
Trading tiny cookies, saving someone’s seat.
Lunchtime filled our bellies, but more than that, you see
It filled our hearts with kindness, as sweet as sweet can be.
Reflection question for SEL
What’s one small way you’ve helped someone or someone’s helped you, during lunch or break time? How did it make you feel to be included or to include someone else?
Sports Day Cheers
We ran so fast our sneakers squeaked,
We leapt, we laughed, our faces streaked.
Sports day claps and victory cries
A field of dreams beneath blue skies.
Reflection question for SEL
How did you feel the last time you tried your best in a game or race, whether you won or not? What did you learn about yourself through that experience?
One Last Bell
One last bell, a wave, a grin,
Goodbye for now — new days begin.
School year memories softly stay,
They grow with me, they light my way.
Reflection question for SEL
As this school year ends, what’s one memory you’ll carry with you? How do you think it might help guide you in the days to come?
Where the year lingers
There’s something about a school year that never leaves quietly. It lingers in glitter stuck to the floor, in inside jokes scrawled in the margins, in the echo of a hallway goodbye. These 9 short rhyming poems for kids may be simple, but they hold the weight of real moments: messy, funny, tender, unforgettable.
If you’ve ever watched a student grow taller over ten months or tucked a crayon drawing into your desk drawer, you already know these aren’t just poems. They’re snapshots of growing up, stitched into the seams of every June.
