After 20 years in the classroom, I’ve learned there’s nothing quite like the sparkle in a first grader’s eyes when they realize they’re a real author. One of the best ways to celebrate that moment? A publishing party—also known as a writing celebration!
Now before you start imagining balloons, glitter explosions, and weeks of extra prep—don’t worry. A publishing party doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect to be meaningful. In fact, some of the best ones are simple, joyful, and totally doable—even during a busy week.
Let me walk you through how I’ve hosted publishing parties in my first grade classroom (and how you can too).
So What Is a Publishing Party?
A publishing party is a special type of writing celebration where we honor our students' hard work as writers. After completing a piece of writing, students get to share it with others—classmates, families, or special guests.
Think of it like a book launch—young author publishing at its finest, kinder, first, and second grade style! It’s all about making writing feel real, important, and worth celebrating. And let me tell you—when kids know there’s a party at the end of all their hard work, their excitement and effort go through the roof.
Who Gets Invited?
This part is totally up to you. I’ve done everything from a quiet classroom circle to inviting the principal, reading specialist, and families.
Here are a few guest ideas:
- Other classes (younger or older buddies love hearing young authors share)
- School staff (librarians, admin, support staff—invite them!)
- Families (in person, over Zoom, or through photos and videos)
- Just the class! Sometimes we even invite stuffed animals as guests for a cozy writing celebration.
If you want to make it even more special, let your students create simple invitations. They feel so grown-up delivering them!
How to Start Prepping?
Trust me, this part doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s how I like to prepare:
- Pick the Date: Choose a day near the end of your writing unit and add it to your calendar. Having a clear goal helps everyone stay motivated.
- Final Drafts: Make sure students have time to revise and edit (even if that just means checking for finger spaces and punctuation).
- Make It Fancy: Add a colorful cover and a little “About the Author” section. First graders LOVE calling themselves young authors!
- Decorate the Space: A few tablecloths, a banner, and some snacks can make your classroom feel like a literary event.
- Practice Sharing: Give students time to read their story to a partner or small group beforehand. It builds confidence and helps calm those happy jitters.
What to Do on the Big Day
Here comes the best part—the actual writing celebration!
Here’s how our young author publishing party usually looks:
- Set the Scene: Hang a “Welcome to Our Publishing Party” banner and place student writing folders on each desk like a gallery. Add clipboards and pens for guests to leave compliments or “fan mail” for each young author.
- Welcome Guests: Let students greet guests and explain the plan. It gives them ownership and pride.
- Author Spotlights: One at a time, students share their writing from the “Author’s Chair.” Or set up a gallery walk where guests rotate and read the work at each desk.
- Celebrate: Clap, cheer, and even toast with juice boxes! I love handing out little “Young Author” certificates or bookmarks.
- Snacks: Optional, but always a hit—especially if you call them “author snacks.”
This can last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes. Keep it simple and centered on student joy.
What Happens After?
Once the celebration winds down, I always take a few minutes to let the moment sink in. Here’s how we wrap things up:
- Reflect: Students write or draw about how they felt sharing their writing.
- Thank You Notes: A few quick cards to guests or readers can go a long way—and they count as more writing practice!
- Display the Work: Post writing on the board or bind it into a class book for your library. This lets the young author feeling last all year.
- Keep the Momentum: Use the party energy to launch your next unit or dive into free writing. You’ll be amazed how excited your students are to write again.
- Writing Evaluation: Writers can evaluate their own writing and reflect on what they did well and would like to improve upon.
Ready to Host Your Own Young Author Publishing Party?
If you're feeling inspired and want to make your publishing party even easier to organize, I’ve got just the thing! My Publishing Party Kit is packed with all the resources you need to host a memorable writing celebration—templates for invitations, certificates, and even classroom decorations to make your party feel extra special. It’s designed to save you time and keep the focus on what matters most: celebrating your young authors and their hard work!
Click here to grab your Publishing Party Kit and get started today!
Final Thoughts
A publishing party is one of the most magical parts of the writing process. It’s not about perfection—it’s about pride. It shows kids that their words matter and that they are authors.
If you’ve been nervous to try one, let this be your gentle nudge. You don’t need fancy supplies or weeks of prep. All you need is a group of excited young authors and a classroom that believes in them.
And trust me, these are the moments I remember most.
Want a free checklist to help you plan your own young author publishing celebration? Download the checklist here—I’d love to share what’s worked for me!
If you'd like to read more about the journey from writing to celebrating, check out this post.
