Summer Staff Morale Shopping List

I was the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my school for many years. While much of the planning, preparing, and doing happened during the school year, I always liked to take advantage of the summer months to get ahead and stock up! This always made the staff morale events during the school year run a lot smoother. Come along to grab my summer staff morale shopping list that will make your faculty activities a breeze!

Why Summer Prep Will Be a Game-Changer for Staff Morale 

So, here's the thing. . . we know the importance of staff morale activities in a school environment, of course! Teaching is harder than ever, and every single faculty member in a school deserves to be recognized and appreciated for the important work they do. But if you're like most administrators or sunshine committee members, you're probably a little short on time, energy, and funding for these activities. I get it! This was totally me for many years! It can feel like a major struggle to pull together staff activities every month when you've got your own classroom responsibilities and a full-time job to manage at the same time. 

This, my friends, is why preparing for staff morale activities over the summer will be a total game-changer! Taking some time to sit down, map out your plans, and do a little prep is going to make everything fall into place later. With just a little bit of forethought and summer shopping, you'll finally have the time, energy, and mental capacity to truly enjoy staff morale activities all year long. By prepping for the first month back, you will always be at least one month ahead, giving you a little breathing room throughout the school year. 

Not to mention, summertime is a great time to catch a bunch of sales that will benefit you throughout the year. Between Amazon Prime Day in July and Back to School sales, you'll have plenty of opportunities to save! 

8 Ways to Prepare Staff Morale Activities Over the Summer 

Ready? Let's dive into the shopping list that will help you make staff morale easy to implement come fall. I've broken this summer staff morale shopping list into 8 different projects, or ways you can work on staff morale over the summer. That way, you can choose an idea that sounds fun to you and shop for those items specifically. I hope this makes summer shopping easier!

1. Stock the Lounge Fridge with Fun Beverages 

At my school, I loved setting up a well-stocked fridge for faculty members to enjoy as they get their classrooms and workspaces ready for the new year. In the summertime, keep an eye out for fun beverages like soda, sparkling water, flavored water, and plain water that go on sale. Many local grocery stores run great sales on these items near holiday weekends. Oh, and don't forget wholesale club stores too, like Costco or Sam's Club. 

As you stock up on drinks, why not prepare the fun materials that go along with them over the summer, too? Check out this resource to grab the printable signs and reminders to go along with your well-stocked fridge! 

2. Put Together Welcome Gift Bags for Staff

Another great way to show staff members that you care is with a small, yet meaningful gift to kick off the year. This doesn't have to be anything fancy, just thoughtful! I liked to use fun gift tags like these. They are bright and cheerful with a cute message on each one. All you need to do is print them off on white cardstock and then decide what to include in your welcome gift bags. 

The great thing about this is that they are fully customizable to any budget. Include practical things like the annual calendar and fall staff newsletter, but also some fun things like candy, snacks, and maybe even my personal favorite, Flair Pens. Then, put all your goodies in a gift bag and grab some colorful tissue paper. Attach a cute tag to the front and you're good to go! I know your staff members will feel so special when they receive these sweet little gifts! 

3. Make Sub Swag Bags

Speaking of gift bags, why not let your substitute teachers in on the fun?! We all know how hard it is to find quality substitute teachers, and I think one of the best ways to encourage them to come back to our school is by showing them they are part of the team too! That's why I created these Sub Swag Bags. If you have a little extra time to work on staff morale prep over the summer, I highly recommend getting these ready. You will feel like a total rockstar by having these prepped and ready to go! 

The resource includes printable thank you cards, gift tags, and a suggested shopping list to make putting these bags together a breeze. I recommend buying gift bags and tissue paper in bulk and printing off the gift tags and thank you cards over the summer. Then, you just need to decide what goodies to include to make these special!

A map of the school and staff handbook make great, practical additions. Don't forget to include some fun things, too, though! Snacks like chips, bite-sized candy bars, apples, or even freshly-baked cookies from the cafeteria are really fun. You might also consider ordering pens that say something like "There's no sub for a great sub!" or your school's name on them. Extra Gum is also fun since they are an extra special sub! 

4. Grab Materials for Postcards, Mirror Shoutouts & Staff Photobooths 

Summer is a great time to stock up on Astrobright paper and cardstock. I used this stuff for everything! This is a great time of year to stock up on colored paper, cardstock, and white cardstock. The white cardstock is perfect for sending out Staff Welcome Back Postcards over the summer. This little gesture means so much and really doesn't take long, so consider adding it to your summer prep list. I liked to buy it in a variety of seasonal colors to print out our Mirror Shoutouts, thank you notes, and other decorations so that each month felt fresh and fun. 

In my school, I used the mirror shoutouts as a way to leave encouraging, fun notes in the staff bathroom. They're also great for creating a photobooth, too! For this option, you will just use the printables inside the resource along with dowel rods to create cute little signs. Add some other fun props like hats, glasses, and scarves, if you wish. Then, hang a black tablecloth for a fun backdrop, and you're ready to go! 

5. Put Together Welcome Back Baskets for Team Restrooms 

Everyone loves to feel welcome, and setting up baskets of toiletries and supplies in each of the staff bathrooms is a great way to let the faculty know that you care. That's exactly the idea behind this Welcome Basket Resource. Inside, you get detailed instructions and a list of suggested items to build these baskets with items you find at the dollar store, such as:

• hand sanitizer
• lotion
• mouthwash
• bandaids
• stain remover wipes
• sewing kit
• dental floss

Really, you can include anything that you think could help a staff member out, just in case! I like to use baskets like these because they are cute and will hold up well. In the resource download, you will also find a variety of cute tags to decorate your baskets with. This resource will make to quick and easy and set up welcome baskets for the fall! 

6. Make a Sunshine Corner Hub

Does your school have a Sunshine Corner yet? If not, I highly recommend adding this to your list of things to prep and shop for over the summer months. The idea behind this is that it will be a landing place for everything staff need to know. You will want to have a bulletin board here to keep practical info in one place, like your district calendar, event info, holiday schedules, and more. 

But, it will also be a place where sunshine spreads, too! In this area, you can display your staff shout-out board, store thank you notes, and other fun forms of recognition. You can read all the specifics about setting this up in this post, but here's what I recommend including:

Make a Staff Shoutout Board

In your Sunshine Corner Hub, you'll need a Staff Shoutout Board to kick things off! This is a place where you can leave kind notes to staff and encourage them to do the same. To get started, grab a poster frame like this one over the summer and spend a little time getting it set up. All you need to do is have the included printable enlarged at a print shop and add it to the frame. 

When you head back to school in the fall, place it in a central location where staff will see it regularly. Then, round up a supply of markers and Post-Its and place them next to the frame. Write a couple of shout-outs to staff to get the party started. Before you know it, staff members will be writing kind notes to each other too!

Speaking of Post-Its, those also pair perfectly with this resource. Inside, you will find an assortment of templates to print fun little notes right on the Post-Its! Over the summer months, I stocked up on a lot of these to make it super simple to give out thoughtful notes of recognition all year long. Grab an assortment of colors so that you can match your notes to the current season for even more fun.

Add Tasty Treats for Staff 

The Sunshine Hub is also a great place to keep some special treats for your staff. Here are some of the things you can purchase or prepare over the summer to get ready. 

Kindness Plate

A kindness plate is a cute plate that you can use to fill with treats for your staff. Grab these Kindness Plate Templates, then upload them to Shutterfly or your print on demand store of choice. You can also go the route where you paint a plate yourself at a pottery art studio. Then, every once in a while, fill the plate with a special treat for your staff!

 

Candy/Treat Container 

The contents of this can be filled with different items throughout the year. I always liked to choose items that were aligned with the season to add a little extra fun to the mix! 

Treat Cart 

If you really want to take this up a notch, create a treat cart that can "live" in the Sunshine Corner, but also be moved from place to place as needed. This is SO great if you want to plan a day once per month when you will deliver snacks or treats to your faculty. You can read all about this idea in this blog post. I recommend getting a cart like this and using this staff appreciation treat cart resource alongside it to make it easy to implement. 

7. Plan a Fun Staff Game for Back to School 

I am all about making staff morale activities fun and a little out of the box. That's exactly why I loved preparing a game like this, Hop to It Frog Hunt, over the summer months to use in the fall. The idea of this game is that you will hide small plastic frogs all over your school. Each one is numbered, and as staff spot them, they collect them throughout the day. 

At the end of the day, you will use numbered cards to draw randomly and raffle off prizes to staff. Inside the resource, you will find everything you need, minus the frogs, to make this happen! You get prize ideas that are no cost and budget-friendly, a prize recording sheet, a staff announcement flyer, and number cards to raffle off prizes. This would be a great activity to prep over the summer. Just add frogs and you're ready to go! 

8. Prep Scratch-Off Tickets for the Whole Year 

Have you ever tried using Scratch-Off Tickets at your staff meetings? They are such a fun way to reward staff, show appreciation, and get everyone excited to attend. Scratch-offs are a bit like lottery tickets you can buy at the gas station. You'll pass them out to staff, and they will "scratch off" a sticker to reveal a prize. So fun, right?! 

In my Year-Long Bundle of Scratch Offs, you will find themed tickets for the whole year! Each month includes tickets with seasonal pictures and sayings to add a bit more fun to the mix. Consider prepping these over the summer months by printing the tickets on white cardstock and then adding the stickers. You will be SO happy you did this! 

Oh, and if you need ideas for prizes, be sure to read this post next for tons of great options! 

Have Fun with This Summer Staff Morale Shopping List! 

I hope you enjoyed reading through what was always on my summer staff morale shopping list. The great thing about this is that you can pick and choose the projects and staff morale activities that look the most appealing to you. Don't forget, you can find all of the resources mentioned here in my store on TpT. I hope you found something fun and new to prepare over the summer. One thing is for sure: a little bit of summer prep will pay off big time when it comes to keeping staff morale high all year long! Have fun, friend! 

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End of the Year Staff Morale Ideas

Are you looking for fun ways to thank your staff for a great year at your school? These end of the year staff morale ideas are sure to be a hit! Come along to see my favorite activities, gifts, and tokens of appreciation to boost staff morale at the end of your school year!

Staff Morale Ideas to Celebrate a Great Year

The end of the year in any school is a very busy time! Teachers, administrators, and school staff are working hard to close up shop for summer. After years of running a Sunshine Committee in my own school, I've learned a thing or two about how to celebrate staff in a meaningful way. And don't worry, these ideas aren't time-consuming or expensive either! This means they'll fit every budget and come together quickly! Let's celebrate staff as the year comes to a close with these 5 ideas!

1. Summer Mirror Shoutouts

Is there anything better than looking up to see a kind, cheerful note waiting for you? In my opinion, this is one of those "little things" that mean so much! To help staff feel recognized and "seen" during the busy end of the school year, I created these Summer Mirror Shoutouts. The idea here is that you'll print the summer messages included on bright paper. Then, cut them out and attach them to the mirror in staff bathrooms. When staff enter, they'll be greeted with a fun summer message that's sure to make them smile. 

The messages include fun summer puns like "Long time no sea" and "Tropic like it's hot". In addition to the traditional use of these shoutouts, you can also make a photo booth for staff to pose in! Simply attach the messages to wooden dowels and set up a summery backdrop. This would be great for your end of the year party or last staff meeting! 

2. Build a Bouquet 

One of my favorite gifts to give and receive is flowers. They brighten up even the darkest days and always make me smile. While giving out flowers in the traditional way is wonderful, I wanted to add an out of the box spin on this for my staff members. That's how the idea for Build a Bouquet was born! Here's how it works:

1. Collect donations for flowers, filler, vases/buckets, etc. 
2. Set up long banquet tables with decor & bouquet supplies 
3. Determine how many flowers and pieces of filler you have 
4. Divide the number equally among the staff

Once you've got everything ready to go, invite staff to build a bouquet with the pre-determined number of pieces. Staff will walk through the line of tables and build their bouquet with the flowers and fillers of their choice. Then, they can wrap the bouquet up in colored paper and take it home! This is so much fun and always a huge hit with the staff. It's even more fun if you can manage to keep it a total surprise. Staff will be amazed by this thoughtful and fun activity! 

Inside the resource, you'll find everything you need to make this event happen! You get a timeline, printable directions, decor posters, and printable donor lists. It will make planning this end of the year staff morale idea a breeze!

3. Jar of Sunshine 

This next idea is perfect for staff who are retiring, or simply a special way to show appreciation to members of your team! This Jar of Sunshine is one of my favorite end of the year staff morale ideas for many reasons. It comes together easily, is very inexpensive, and allows team members to share kind words with each other. The idea is that you'll create a jar for staff who are retiring, or anyone you'd like to give special recognition to. In addition to the resource, you'll need one mason jar for each staff member you'd like to recognize. 

This resource includes paper slips that can be filled out by staff and colleagues and decorative jar toppers. Colleagues will use the paper slips that contain sentence stems to write kind words to a specific staff member. I like to print these on brightly colored paper so they really pop. I have included 12 sentence stems that would work for any staff member and 4 that are great for retirement specifically. 

Once staff have filled out the paper slips, add them to the jar and use one of the decorative jar toppers included to complete the look. I also like to add a pretty ribbon. Finally, present the jars to the special staff members and watch as they light up with delight. This is a gift that everyone will cherish and truly enjoy reading through! 

4. Retirement Book of Gift Cards 

Do you have a staff member retiring that you'd like to gift something special to? If so, you'll love this Retirement Book of Gift Cards! This is a useful gift that everyone always really appreciates. In my school, we passed around an envelope ahead of time to collect donations toward this retirement gift. This is a great, low-pressure way to collect donations that allows staff to contribute what they feel comfortable with. Once you've got your donations, you can purchase gift cards for the following categories:

• R is for Relax 
• E is for Eat 
• T is for Travel 
• I is for Indulge 
• R is for Read 
• E is for Enjoy 

You may have noticed the letters spell "RETIRE", which is a lot of fun! There are tons of options that fit these categories depending on the personality and likes of your retiree. Then, select pages from this resource to create a booklet where you place each of the cards. They will LOVE flipping through to see all the goodies inside!

5. Inflatable Beverage Gift Tags

Ready for one more end of the year staff morale idea? I think you're gonna love this one! These Inflatable Beverage Gift Tags are so cute! This idea starts with these adorable drink holders that float in the pool. You'll purchase these ahead of time along with an assortment of soft drinks. Then, print the gift tags in this resource and attach one to each little floaty. Add a drink, and you're good to go! 

There are 11 different summer-themed tags with cute messages. They print 4 to a page and are bright and colorful, so they look great on the floating beverage holders. I've also included a black and white version that looks adorable printed on Astrobright paper. Drop these off to the staff on the last day of school to make everyone smile! 

Make Planning End of the Year Staff Morale Easy 

Which of these end of the year staff morale ideas was your favorite?! I know, I know, I can't decide either! That's exactly why I created a BUNDLE of End of the Year Staff Morale Activities for you! Inside, you get all 5 of these ideas so that you can easily plan fun activities to celebrate a year of hard work. 

The bundle not only saves you money, but it will also make it super simple to plan! You won't have to spend hours combing Pinterest for ideas when you grab this bundle of fun staff morale resources. It will simplify your end of the year celebrations and ensure that everyone on your team feels recognized and appreciated! I hope these end of the year staff morale ideas help make those final weeks extra special! 

Want to Get a Jump Start on Planning Next Year's Staff Morale Activities?

I always liked to use the summer months to get ahead on planning. If you'd like to do the same, you might enjoy reading these posts next! 

• Planning a Year of Staff Morale Activities
• How to Budget for Staff Morale Activities
• August Staff Morale Resources

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Make sure to pin this post on Pinterest so that you can come back to it when you're ready to plan your own staff morale activities for the end of the year! 

10 Engaging Summer Literacy Activities for Primary Learners

Are you looking for some fun literacy activities to carry you through the final weeks of the school year? Or, maybe you're teaching a summer program and in need of some fun options to keep those kiddos engaged. Either way, I've got you covered! Come along for a round-up of summer literacy activities that your primary students will love! 

Let's Make Literacy Fun! 

As a long-time primary intervention teacher, I have learned a thing or two about literacy lessons over the years. When it comes to teaching literacy skills, the most important piece is to make sure you turn up the fun. This is especially crucial for our littles who are struggling. We want to help them see that learning to read can be fun, not frustrating. While there will always be moments of struggle along the way, my aim is to make them WANT to sit down at the small group table with me and get to work. After all, the more engagement we have, the better they learn, right?

My go-to for making literacy activities more fun is to switch things up. We can't do the same thing every day and expect great success. That's just plain boring, right?! So instead, I recommend that you weave in a variety of activities that use hands-on learning and challenge kiddos to think in different ways. Oh, and if you're anything like me, you probably appreciate a good theme too! Embracing the seasons, holidays, or another fun topic is a great way to keep lessons feeling fresh. So, let's talk summer literacy activities that check all the boxes and will make lesson planning a breeze! 

1. Summer Visual Discrimination Cards 

Visual discrimination is an important skill that helps our students train their eyes to see the subtle differences between letters. To help hone this skill in a fun way that feels more like a game than learning, give these Summer Visual Discrimination Cards a try in your room. In this resource, you get 84 different cards with two pictures on each one. There are pictures that are an exact match as well as ones with subtle differences in color, size, or orientation. Some differences are easier to spot than others. 

Before you begin, teach students two distinct hand movements to indicate if pictures are a match or not. (Think, a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down") You'll hold up one card at a time, and students will silently give their answers. This activity works well for small groups as well as an activity for your whole class. Either way, I know it will be a hit! 

2. Summer Syllable Count 

Next up, a fun activity for learning to count syllables in words! This Summer Syllable Count includes 40
different numbered cards that feature different pictures. Students will choose a task card and write what number it is on their recording sheet. Next, they clap out the syllables and determine how many syllables it has. Then, they circle the number on their recording sheet. 

This is a wonderful activity for independent learning once students understand how to use it. You can set this up as a literacy station in your class and have students work through each of the cards. This resource also works well as a Scoot game, and I've even included heading cards if you prefer to have students sort cards by syllable. The variety allows you to use this resource in many different ways. 

3. Missing Letter Game

This Summer Missing Letter Game is a perfect addition to your literacy centers. Included there are 24 lowercase letter cards, 24 uppercase letter cards, as well as a recording sheet and an answer key. 

To play, students choose a card and study it to determine which letter is missing from the sequence. You can have students use magnet letters to fill in the missing letter on the card, or laminate the cards and have them use dry-erase markers to write it. The recording sheet is great if you want a way to keep students accountable for their work or prefer to play it as a Scoot game. 

4. Summer Letter Hole Punch 

Looking for a way to practice letters while targeting hand-strength and fine motor skills? I know you'll love these Summer Letter Hole Punch Cards! There are 104 cards included in this download that print 4 to a page. The idea is that students identify the key picture in the center of their card  and the letter it starts with and then find that letter around the perimeter. They will hole punch each corresponding letter as they go around the card. 

These cards are in black and white, and since they print four to a page, you can easily cut them apart with a paper cutter. Just place the cards in a literacy center with reduced-effort hole punches and you've got a great hands-on learning activity to add to your lessons! 

5. Summer Letter and Sound Search

Looking for a way to target letter recognition and sounds in your classroom this summer? This Summer Letter and Sound Search is one of my personal favorites to fill that need. It's super simple to prep and can be used over and over since there are a few different options. Included, you get:

• 2 black and white worksheets with uppercase letters
• 2 black and white worksheets with lowercase sounds
• 4 black and white worksheets with beginning sound pictures 
• 1 color deck of task cards - uppercase 
• 1 color deck of task cards - lowercase 
• 1 color deck of picture cards 

The idea is that students will receive a worksheet with the skill that you are trying to target, along with a stack of task cards to work with. They choose a card, find the match on their paper, and repeat. You can match lowercase to lowercase, uppercase to uppercase, cross-case match, or match pictures to beginning sounds. With so many options, I know you'll use this activity again and again in your classroom over the summer! 

6. Letter Fluency Spinner Game 

Letter name fluency and letter sound fluency are likely skills you're targeting in your literacy lessons. If so, I know you'll love this Summer Letter Fluency Spinner Game. This is a great activity to use as a small group warm-up, center station, or independent work activity. To play, students spin the spinner, identify the picture, and then find the match on their card. Then, they read across as fluently as possible with a focus on either letter names or sounds, depending on what you'd like to target. I always recommend that you laminate these cards as they're a great activity to use more than once in your classroom. 

7. Hidden Treasure Sight Word Game 

Looking for a summer literacy activity to target sight words in your classroom? This Hidden Treasure Sight Word Game is sure to be a hit! Included, you get 100 different summer-themed sight word cards. I've used Fry's First 100 Word List for this resource. 

You will choose the number of cards you want to use at once and place them in a pocket chart. Then, hide the 5 included hidden treasure cards behind random words. Students will take turns pointing out a card and reading the word. If they read it correctly, they get to pull that card from the pocket chart and see if a hidden treasure is behind it! This is a great activity when engagement is low and you need something to snag attention and boost excitement! 

8. Summer CVC Spin a Word 

I was always looking for engaging ways to have my students work on blending CVC words. Instead of another boring worksheet, give this Summer CVC Spin a Word Activity a try! This resource includes work mats with spinner wheels. 

Students will lay a plastic spinner over the wheel and spin one by one. Each time they spin, they place a letter tile down for what they got. Once they have recorded all 3 letters, they read the word and then decide if it's real or not. There is also a recording sheet included if you'd like to have students also write the words they built and their choice on whether or not it's real. 

9. Summer Nonsense Word Sort 

Next up, I've got another fun summer literacy activity that's super simple to prep and can be used in a variety of ways. This Summer Nonsense Word Sort is a great way to practice reading fluency and decoding. There are 60 different summer-themed word cards with a mix of both real and nonsense CVC words. I've also included headings for real and nonsense. Students will choose a card, read it, and decide which category it falls into. Then, it gets sorted into the correct group. 

This is a great warm-up activity for your small groups! Students can take turns choosing a card, reading the word, and sorting it into the correct category. Once they know how to play, it also makes a great partner activity to use in a pocket chart and work together. I've even included a recording sheet so that you can have your students write down their answers as they go. 

10. Nonsense Word Fluency 

Last on this round-up of summer literacy activities is a Nonsense Word Fluency Game that I know your kids will love! This activity works just like the letter fluency activity I mentioned above. Students will receive a card and a spinner wheel. They lay a plastic spinner on top of the wheel, spin, and identify which picture they landed on. Then, they find the same picture on their card and read the nonsense words in that section as fluently as possible. There are 5 different boards and 5 different spinners included, so you'll be able to assign this activity more than once to your students. 

The best part about this activity is that it's a fun way to practice blending CVC words. The nonsense words are sure to make your kids giggle and make working towards reading fluency an engaging activity that everyone will enjoy! 

Make Summer Literacy Fun! 

So, which of these summer literacy activities was your favorite?! I know it can be hard to choose, which I exactly why I used them all in my room. Using a variety of lessons, games, and center activities is the best way to ensure that your students stay engaged in learning. Don't forget, you can find all of these summer literacy activities, along with many more options, in my TPT Shop. Have fun planning!

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Make sure to pin this post on Pinterest so that you can come back to it when you're ready to plan summer literacy lessons for your classroom. 

Magnificent May Staff Morale Boosters!

May is one of the busiest months in any school. With summer on the horizon, teachers, administrators, and other school staff members are all hard at work to wrap up the year. I know that when life gets busy it can be easy to let staff morale activities slip. But, the truth is, this is when we need them most! Come along to see some magnificent May staff morale boosters that won't break the bank or take hours to prep!

Making Staff Morale Activities a Priority in May 

We all know that this month is a busy one for classrooms and schools. When things are busy, school workers often feel a bit frazzled, which means building staff morale is more important than ever. The last thing we want is for school workers and teachers to end the year in full-blown burnout mode. This is certainly not ideal! So even though this is a busy time, I encourage you to prioritize staff morale activities in May. I promise you will see a big payoff in your school culture!

"But how?!", you might be asking. Well, my friend, you're in the right place! Today, I have 5 May staff morale boosters to share that come together quickly, take minimal effort to prepare, and, best of all, are actually affordable to execute. These ideas will allow you to ensure that staff know they are appreciated and end the year on a cheerful and encouraging note! Ready? Let's go!

1. Staff Morale Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge 

This first idea is one of my absolute favorites because it's super simple to pull off and a little different from some of the other ideas you might typically use. Everyone loves a good game, right? That's how the Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenges were born! In this Spring/Summer Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge, staff members will face off to win! Here's how it works:

First, you will distribute a letter that explains the rules of the game to all of your staff members. You'll also distribute to each person a floral lei necklace with a fun tag attached. To play, teachers and staff members will challenge each other to a game of rock, paper, scissors when they pass each other in the halls. The winner gets to "steal" the floral lei necklace from the person they challenged. This continues throughout the day, and staff continue to collect necklaces. If someone with multiple necklaces loses a match, they only need to give away one to the winner. At the end of the day, the leis are counted up, and then prizes are distributed to the winners!

You can choose winners in a few different ways to make this work for your school. The staff members with the most necklaces can be awarded prizes, or you can give out prizes to anyone who still has at least 1 necklace. Either way allows for a lot of people to win! This game is a fun way to help staff feel connected and get a chance to check in and visit with each other for a couple of minutes throughout the day. It's the perfect May staff morale booster to lighten the weight of this hectic time and make your staff smile!

2. Staff Morale Taco Bar Luncheon 

It's taco time! I don't know about you, but I always loved a good luncheon, potluck, or group meal at my school. It was such a wonderful way to get the staff to come together, chat over lunch, and just enjoy each other's company. May is a great time to host a Taco Bar Luncheon in honor of Cinco de Mayo! But really, everyone loves tacos any time of year, so feel free to use this idea whenever it fits your schedule best. 

Taco Potluck 

There are a couple of ways we put together the Taco Bar at my school. The first was potluck style. In this case, I put out sign-up sheets ahead of time and everyone brought a little something to pull this lunch off. This is nice because you only need to do the organizing, and everyone works together to bring in taco fixings. Here are some of the things I recommend:

• seasoned proteins in crockpot (beef, chicken, plant-based)
• rice & beans
• lettuce / tomato
• salsa / pico de gallo
• shredded cheese
• sour cream 
• tortilla chips
• tortillas 

Everyone signs up to bring something, and then you, as the organizer, get everything laid out and ready for lunchtime. I liked to put out some festive decor and signs to take this up a notch. This is so much fun, and everyone loves enjoying tacos together!

Partial Catering Option

Another option, if you want to simplify this for your staff, is to have the meal, or part of it, catered. You could have a local restaurant provide the meats and beans, and then have staff sign up for toppings and fixings. This, obviously, is much more expensive and would require some funding from the administration or your Sunshine Committee to pull off. But, with some careful planning and fundraising ahead of time throughout the year, it certainly can be done! And. . . if you align this with Cinco de Mayo there is a really good chance that it falls during Teacher Appreciation Week, too! If you go this route, fill in the name of the restaurant for all the parts of the meal they will be providing, and allow staff to sign up for the other items. 

Oh, and don't forget, to help simplify this process, I created a resource to help! Grab this Taco Bar Luncheon Pack for shopping lists, sign-up sheets, decor, and more. No matter what you choose, this is bound to be a celebration that everyone will love. 

3. Scratch-Off Tickets 

I think we can all agree that winning prizes is just plain fun! I'm sure that's why so many people love those little scratch-off lottery tickets you can buy at the gas station. It's exciting to reveal a prize! That's where the idea for these April & May Scratch-Off Tickets came from. They are just like those fun little lottery tickets, except you get to choose prizes and rewards that your staff will love! 

To prepare, you simply choose the tickets you'd like to include and print them off. There are a few different options, as well as blank tickets so that you can write in your own prizes. After printing, you'll cover up the prize with a scratch-off sticker or paint. Then, pass them out and let the fun begin! There are so many great options for prizes out there, so you can really mix it up depending on your budget. I actually wrote a whole post about prizes that work well for scratchers, so be sure to read that next!

Pass these fun little tickets out at your May staff meeting, place them in mailboxes, or give them out just because. Each one features a fun, seasonal phrase, a cute image, and of course - a prize! I know that your staff will absolutely love these. 

4. Staff Appreciation Banner 

May includes Teacher Appreciation Week, and we have so much to thank our wonderful teachers for! Many other staff appreciation days and weeks for administrators, nurses, and lunch workers fall around this time of year, too. Not to mention, Employee Appreciation Day is May 7th, so why not celebrate everyone?! 

That's exactly why I made this Staff Appreciation Banner! This is a wonderful way to recognize your entire staff at once and make everyone feel valued and appreciated. Inside the resource, you get a set of adorable black and white pennant flags that can be arranged in 4 different ways to recognize your staff. Just print, cut, and string them together, and you're ready to go. It's simple and easy to prep, but will make a big impact! It's perfect for the staff lounge, school office, or a hallway that all the staff use. 

The best part of this resource, though, is the fillable pennant pages. These were created so you can create personalized messages for specific staff members or teams to add to the banner. You could string these on their own and hang them below the Staff Appreciation Banner for even more fun. Everyone will love finding their personalized flag and reading the note from administration or the Sunshine Committee. If you want to add some personalized recognition to your May staff morale activities, I know you'll love this resource!

5. Staff Morale Windshield Messages 

Last on this list of May staff morale boosters is another great way to make each member of your school feel valued! These May Windshield Messages are sure to brighten up every staff member's day! The idea here is to print them off and then head out to the parking lot to tuck them under each staff member's car windshield wipers. Each one includes a fun spring message, so you can simply print and go! There are 9 different seasonal messages included, such as:

• Live like it's Spring
• You are the Bee's Knees!
• We've got sunshine on a cloudy day!
• The earth laughs in flowers. 

These adorable spring-themed messages are decorated with colorful text and cute designs to add to the fun. Additionally, there is a black and white option that looks great printed on bright, colorful paper! You can even personalize them by adding a sentence or two on the back for specific staff members if you'd like. No matter how you choose to use them, I know everyone on your team will feel valued when they find their note. 

Simplify May Staff Morale Activities 

Which of these May Staff Morale Boosters was your favorite? Can't decide? Me either! And the good news is that we don't have to. With the May Staff Morale Boosters Bundle, you get all 5 of these great activities at one low cost. Not only will you save by purchasing the bundle, but you'll also get the opportunity to simplify your planning. I know you will love being able to take the task of staff morale activities off your plate this May, so be sure to check out the bundle! Have fun celebrating with staff and wrapping up another great year at your school. 

Looking for More Staff Morale Boosters?

The May Staff Morale Boosters Bundle is part of a year-long bundle that's designed to take the stress out of planning your faculty activities. Each month, you'll be well prepared with seasonal and holiday-themed staff morale activities that I know everyone at your school will love! Take the worry out of planning staff morale boosters at your school and check out the Staff Morale Monthly Round-Up Bundle!

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Little Things That Make a Big Impact on Staff Morale

Staff morale can feel like a big undertaking at times, especially in the hustle and bustle of a busy school year! If you've felt this way but still want to show appreciation to your staff, you're not alone. Today, I'm going to show you how to cut through the overwhelm and focus on the little things that make a big impact on staff morale!

Small Gestures Add Up to BIG Rewards

Managing staff morale activities can sometimes feel like a big "to-do". No one likes feeling like this! It's discouraging and difficult to manage, especially when you've got a million other things on your plate. But...what if I told you it doesn't have to feel this way? 

Over my many years as the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my school, I discovered an important fact. Small gestures, or "the little things," add up to big rewards. Most people just want to be thought of. I know I feel this way. Small but kind and thoughtful gestures are really all it takes to make people feel valued and appreciated. 

This is good news if you've been feeling overwhelmed by managing staff morale. It doesn't have to feel this way! Instead, let's talk about some of the most meaningful, small gestures you can use to help staff know they are appreciated for all their hard work. 

Staff Birthday Cards 

This one is always at the top of my list because I think everyone deserves to be celebrated. Even those who say they don't want to make a fuss about their birthdays usually crack a smile when they realize they were remembered. The great thing about sending out birthday cards is that you can write a customized note for each person. This means SO much! Whether you decide to pass around a birthday card for others to sign or send one out on your own, you can't go wrong.

I liked to use these cards. I saved them on my computer and once a month went through my list to see what birthdays were coming up. Then, I'd print one off for each person and personalize it. This resource also includes a graphic organizer to help you keep track of birthdays each month. This is a small gesture that always makes staff members feel valued!

Water Bottle Labels 

Another fun thing you can do to show staff they are appreciated is to stock the staff lounge fridge with water bottles. Everyone loves a nice, cold drink, and it's great to have them available at your fingertips. Take this a step further by adding printable water bottle labels that spread a little sunshine. These year-round labels include fun sayings such as:

• Welcome Back 
• Spooktacular October
• November to Remember
• Dash through December and more!

Best of all, these are so easy to use! Just print them out, cut them apart, and tape them over the label of regular water bottles. Then, place them in the fridge or out on a table for staff to grab. This is a fun and easy way to show staff you're thinking of them all year long. 

Popcorn Labels 

Everyone needs a snack to go with their drink, right?! Try these Popcorn Labels to boost staff morale and pass out a non-perishable snack to your team. These are easy to prepare and so much fun. Simply print the labels, wrap them around a microwave popcorn package, and tape them into place. Then, you can personally "pop in" to drop them off to each person. I find that hand-delivering them increases the gesture and makes staff feel super valued! 

You might also consider making these a special treat that you can leave on the teacher's desk after you do a walk-through or classroom observation. It's just a small token that helps to make those pop-ins less stressful.

You can buy a large package of Microwave Popcorn at places like Sam's Club or Costco. I've also seen them at Walmart and even on Amazon! This is a quick and easy way to show staff appreciation and pass out a fun treat!

Post-It Notes

One of my favorite "little things that mean so much" is a good, old-fashioned note. Simply giving someone a note is like a written high-five and easily boosts staff morale and mood. One of the ways that I made this easier on myself is by using templates to print bulk notes out on Post-Its. This is super simple. You just use the template to place sticky notes on, then place that page in your printer and print off a whole bunch at once! 

This resource includes 30 different post-it note messages that print 6 to a page. These are an easy way to reach out to staff and say well done! I liked to preprint a variety of notes to keep on hand. That way, they were ready to go when I wanted to share one. You can even jot a little message down on each one if you want to add a personal touch. 

Lottery Tickets 

Playing the lotto, or using a scratcher, is just plain fun! Best of all, though, these are an inexpensive way to reward staff at your school. There are many varieties that are only one dollar, and you can pass these out during staff meetings, as holiday gifts, or just for fun! 

When we used these at my school, I liked to personalize them a little more with a fun tag. These tags say "Thanks a Lotto" and look so cute attached to a lottery ticket. There are 3 different options to choose from, so that you can pick which one suits your needs best. 

At my school, these would randomly appear after a staff member had gone above and beyond or just helped in an unexpected way. There are tons of ways to use lotto tickets, and I know that no matter which one you choose, your staff will be super appreciative. 

Get Everyone Involved

When it comes to doing little things that make a big impact, you can get everyone involved with these Random Acts of Kindness Posters. These tear off posters feature a variety of fun and easy ways staff can make someone else's day. The suggested activities are no or low cost and take very little time. But to the receiver, it means a lot. 

I liked to print off one poster and hang it in the staff lounge or near the staff mailboxes.  It doesn't take long for someone to tear off a task and complete it. Before you know it, the small tasks of kindness become contagious. It is a great way to build a work environment where everyone looks out for each other and helps when there is a need. I don't know about you, but that is a great type of working environment.

Small Gifts to Boost Morale 

I saved my personal favorite for last! One of my favorite ways to boost staff morale and show appreciation was with small gifts that could be worked into the budget. Most everyone who works in a school loves office supplies and snacks, so why not use these items as small gestures to show appreciation?! The options are endless. Here are some ideas:

• pens
• post-it notes
• dry erase makers
• pretzels or chips
• packaged muffins 
• small bags of cookies, and more!

There are so many fun things that are inexpensive and easy to pass out to staff. Make this even more fun with a gift tag that correlates to the item you're giving out. This resource includes 30 different gift tags that are themed to go with specific items. They all have cute little sayings and are sure to make your staff smile! 

The Little Things Mean SO Much! 

I hope this list has inspired you to take the overwhelm out of the equation when it comes to staff morale. While planning big events and activities can be fun sometimes, it's often not necessary to show staff that we appreciate them and value their hard work. When we focus on small gestures that make a big impact, it allows us to sprinkle more joy into the workplace without getting stressed and overwhelmed! 

So, whether you hand out little treats, write meaningful notes, or give out personalized gift cards, these little things really do mean so much! If you need more inspiration, be sure to head on over to my TPT Store to check out all my Staff Morale Resources. Have fun, friends! 

Need Help Budgeting for Staff Morale?

Budgeting for staff morale can often be one of the things that can cause the most stress and overwhelm. If you're not sure how to manage this piece of the puzzle, be sure to read this post next! 

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