Seasonal Teacher Tips & 13 Free End of Year Gifts for Students

Flip-Flop Cards for Middle and High School by The Reading and Writing Haven

Want Five? Cards by B’s Book Love

Playdough Printable by Language Arts Classroom

Reward Bookmarks by The Daring English Teacher

Bookworm Gift Tags by Musings from the Middle School

Words of Wisdom Cards by The Creative Classroom

Write On! EOY Cards by Doc Cop

EOY Infographic by Lit with Lyns

Cute Pencil Holders: Writing Quotes by Presto Plans

Summer Survival Kit by The Marvelous Middle

Punny Gifts by The SuperHERO Teacher

“Emojinal” Gift Tags by Tanesha B. Forman

Gone Fishin’ Gift Tags by EB Academic Camps

1. A Necklace for Book lovers

Any avid reader can relate to this quote and chuckle. Luckily, we’re no longer in an age where people lock up women for loving novels, but there are still people out there who don’t quite understand a book nerd’s love of books.

This quote calls to those who get it. I love that you can get it as a lovely necklace now! This design is pretty epic.

2. A Snarky Coloring Book

Coloring is cathartic, and this snarky coloring book will keep the teacher in your life chuckling!

I love that this book is a blend of benign inspirational quotes and sassy observations of classroom life. You can ritualize coloring and self-care while still keeping it real.

3. A T-shirt on a Mission!

This shirt, designed by my friend Secondary Sara, is on a quest to Save the Oxford Comma!

That’s a mission I can get behind. 🙂 Sara offers lots of other clever t-shirts for teachers, too.

4. Shakespearean Insult Bandages

This is another gift with some pizzazz! Students need bandages at the most awkward of times, so why not help your English teacher keep some in stock?

These are funny and “on brand” for the English teacher in your life.

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5. A Zen Chime

More and more teachers are choosing to start their classes with a chime or another ritualized noise.

Some students find clarity from listening to a chime or a short piece of music for a few minutes as they calm down after the transition between classes.

This chime is perfect for that.

6. Bright, Beautiful, Bookish Socks

As Albus Dumbledore said, “one can never have enough socks.”

1. Do Short, Creative Projects

I’ve found that students find it a lot easier to focus on creative, collaboration-based tasks in the last couple of weeks before break.

During this time, I give students small partner or group projects that take a day or two to complete and a day to present.

Some examples:

• Design an advertisement using persuasive techniques
• Write a song using symbolism
• Create a group skit based on a poem by… (poet of teacher’s choice)

2. Practice Public Speaking

You can incorporate the above principles as students practice public speaking, too. I’ve done Impromptu Speeches, where students have two minutes to prepare and one minute to speak on a topic.

Students “preparing” step outside while the speeches continue in the classroom, so there’s constantly two people “on deck”.

The best topics, I’ve found, are not at all controversial. Still, students looove to argue!

Have students argue ridiculous perspectives, but still encourage them to use an argumentative structure and try to incorporate supporting evidence.

With an emphasis on speaking skills, I usually let them invent their evidence.

Here are some ideas:

(Students draw one, and must argue that…)

• Orange is the best color
• Ketchup should be banned from school cafeterias
• Short people have more advantages in life
• Cats should be required in all homes

You can see that the resulting speeches are generally funny and engaging, which will in-turn boost student confidence while speaking.

Also, a minute is not that long to be in front of the class, so even your shyest students will be able to accomplish this.

Lastly, I only give a participation grade for this activity, and we generally do three days of speeches (one descriptive, one argumentative, and one narrative).

3. Play Improv Games

I’ve written before about using Drama Games in the classroom, and December is the perfect time to try some out! Improv games help students practice public speaking skills, teamwork, and quick thinking. 

Plus, once students understand a game, they can pretty much run themselves.

My favorite games for leading up to Winter Break are group games where students spend half the class preparing a short skit, and the last half watching the performances.

Here are some quick ideas:

Fairy Tale in 3…2…1…

Have students prepare three versions of a fairy tale, to be performed back-to-back. The first version should be three minutes long, the second version two minutes, and the last merely one minute. You can always have the class vote on the funniest!

Someone Stole the …

This is a prop game. Each group is assigned a prop, and they must incorporate it into their skit. I like to give students the “Someone stole it…” prompt because it gives them a conflict as a jumping-off point.

Movie in a Minute

This is another sped-up game. Students have one minute (exactly!) to perform their version of a movie. For an added challenge, have students perform the movie in reverse!

What are your summer goals? For me and my wife, Amanda, our summer is all booked up spending time with the newest addition to our family.

Maybe you, too, have your summer all planned out. But if you’re stuck in a rut, or having analysis paralysis, here are 9 ideas to get you started 🙂

1. Grow your teaching toolbox

Read a book for professional development. And no, it need not focus on reading strategies or teaching writing! For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood by Christopher Emdin is a critical look at how we relate to our students.

I recommend it to all of my fellow white educators, regardless of your district. Another must-read for teachers is Pushout by Monique Morris. Pushout examines how implicit biases can victimize black girls and compromise their education.

I recommend the professional development books that impacted me the most, in this post.

2. Flex your imagination

Read for FUN. I love historical fiction, so I adored Malinda Lo’s new book, Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It’s light and fun, while still having characters that face real issues.

I’ve been reading more Indigenous authors lately, and Moon of the Crusted Snow is an incredible, post-apocalyptic thriller by Anishinaabe author, Waubgeshig Rice.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, a perennial favorite of mine. Afterward, watch the gem of a TV adaptation on Amazon. 🙂

3. Invest in yourself…

… by freshening up your portfolio. Whether you plan on changing jobs in the next year, life can be unpredictable.

That’s why it’s always beneficial to update your teaching portfolio to showcase your strengths. Read tips on how to present your best self.

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4. Build connections…

… by building your online community. These past few years have been incredibly isolating for everyone, but teachers are under an incredible amount of pressure.

From different states prohibiting any discussion of LGBTQ+ identities to the barrage of trauma from school shootings, it’s easy to become isolated and discouraged.

Stay motivated and engaged over the summer by tapping into the vast network of fellow educators on Instagram.

Together, we can find humor when we’re ‘in the weeds’, lift each other up, and hold ourselves accountable.

Whether you’re already active on #teachergram, or new to the world and unsure where to start, check this out: these 11 Instagram Accounts to Follow for Secondary ELA Teachers are a starting place for newbies and “must follows!” for veterans teachers.

5. Broaden your horizons

If you’re feeling comfortable doing so, travel. Due to COVID, many of us had to cancel family visits, honeymoons, vacations, conferences, and missed out on so many experiences. Even when you’re on vacation, you’re still a teacher, and you’re still nerding out. 😉

One of my favorite trips ever was when I traveled with my family to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Did I watch for sparkly vampires in Forks? You bet!

Additionally, the North Olympic Library System has transformed a trail into a Poetry Walk. Even in relaxation and rejuvenation, I found inspiration.

It’s easy to imagine having students creating their own Poetry Walk during National Poetry Month. Here are other ways I make poetry fun.

6. Prep for the unexpected

Make ‘snow day’ or sub plans. Illness or inclement weather can strike anytime, so make plans NOW to ensure continuity for your students.

Here are ready-to-go ‘emergency’ lessons in my TPT store you should check out.

Or maybe your district is transitioning to more online learning for weather days? In that case, check out my tips for adapting your lessons to distance learning.

7. Expand your shelves

Have you been putting off revamping your your classroom library? Are your books looking dog-eared and stale? Do you lean on the classics because it’s overwhelming to keep up with new releases? Worry not! I have recommendations for ALL your students.

Now, the biggest obstacle to expanding your classroom library is probably a lack of funds.

And since thrift store scrounging and DonorsChoose can only help so much, find out how to get FREE books for your classroom library. I love discussing books, so let me know if you ever need recommendations 🙂

8. Make a plan to minimize first day jitters

Brainstorm ideas for the first day back! First days are tough for teachers and students alike.

Even though things don’t always go according to plan, I find it helps to have fun activities picked out ahead of time. A peer interview makes a great icebreaker.

You could also try an escape room. I have a Back to School Escape Room customizable for any secondary subject. Students work together on a scavenger hunt, a syllabus close reading, and word puzzles. Strangers will become teammates 🙂

9. Build your curriculum

Try designing an escape room! Maybe you’ve already been using escape rooms in your classoom, but have you ever dared to create your own?

It can be a daunting task, but I’ve learned a thing or two after making nearly twenty of them 😉

One way to make the process easier is to use a template. This ELA Escape Room Template Kitincludes instructions, puzzles, templates, and everything you need to make an escape room for any text.