5 Fall Staff Morale Resources Perfect for November

November always seems to be gone in the blink of an eye! It's a busy month and many schools get a week off for Thanksgiving, so you've got to be super intentional with planning to fit everything in before break. That means your staff and teachers are going to be feeling the pressure. Busy months like these call for fun staff morale resources to keep motivation high. If you're looking for some fun fall ideas to use at your November staff meeting, or during the busy November days, you've come to the right place. Today I'm sharing some fall staff morale resources that are perfect for November!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post includes Affiliate Links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Making Time for Staff Morale Activities in November 

Are you worried about how you're going to "fit in" more activities into an already packed month? I get it! As the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my school for many years, this was a constant stressor during busy months of the year. Back to school, the holiday season, and the end of the year... I'm looking at you! 

But, I want to provide a little perspective shift for you.  Making time for staff morale-boosting activities during these busy months may actually give you and your staff some of your sanity back. What do I mean? So glad you asked!

It's no secret that working in a school is a taxing job. Teachers, administrators, and school staff work hard to make schools a safe, loving, supportive, and fun place to be. Add a short month packed to the brim with extra holiday activities and you've got a recipe for overwhelm! By using some fun fall staff morale resources in your school during this busy time, you'll be infusing some extra motivation and encouragement into those hectic days when staff need it most! 

Never underestimate the power of team-building activities, staff morale boosters, small prizes, and games in your staff meetings. These "little" things actually end up being big things in the long run! They'll reenergize your staff, boost motivation, and help carry them through! Making time for these is an absolute must, if you ask me. 

Fun Fall Staff Morale Resources

Alright, are you convinced that you NEED some fun fall staff morale resources in your plan for November? I hope so! The ideas I'm about to share will make a huge, and meaningful impact in your school. I know they did for us! 

1. Fall Staff Morale Scratch-Offs 

Are you using scratch-offs in your staff meetings yet?! If not, I know you will love this first idea. Scratch-offs are a fun prize to hand out during staff meetings, or anytime you feel like making staff smile. They work like those BINGO scratch-offs you get at the gas station, except when staff scratch them off, a fun school-related prize is revealed. 

The best thing about these though is that they're great for small budgets. Many of the prizes that we used were low-cost, or even no-cost! Here are some examples:

• jeans day 
• front row parking
• copies made
• lunch/recess duty coverage 
• class coverage 
• lunch provided
• pack of pens or Post-its

Try using these Thanksgiving-Themed Scratch-Offs in November with your staff. Each ticket has a cute fall theme, a prize, and a place to add a scratch-off sticker or cover with scratch-off paint. There are pre-printed ticket options as well as blanks so you can add your own prize ideas. I love this feature because it means they can easily be customized to fit any budget. If your budget is small, choose more of the low-cost or no-cost prices. Bigger budgets might include some more custom prizes like gift cards or office supplies. Need more prize ideas for your scratch-offs? Read this post next!

2. Staff Morale Gratitude Jar 

November is a month focused on thankfulness, so why not make a Staff Morale Gratitude Jar?! Year after year this was one of my favorites. As a bonus, it's super simple to implement too! This resource includes two options, one for making a real jar, and one for creating a gratitude notebook. Both are a lot of fun! 

The idea behind the real jar is that staff will write down notes of appreciation for fellow colleagues. They leave them in the jar throughout the month or a specific number of days. As the jar fills up, the notes can be read aloud at a staff meeting or displayed on a bulletin board in the breakroom. You might even decide to deposit the notes into specific staff mailboxes as well! 

The gratitude notebook is similar to the jar, except staff write their notes down on the pages of a bound book. You can pass the book around for staff to read through, or leave it in a central location. No matter what you choose, it's a fun way to show appreciation and gratitude for staff while also keeping motivation high during the month of November. 

3. Staff Morale Mirror Shout Outs

Looking for a simple way to decorate staff spaces without spending a ton of time or energy? You'll love these Fall Mirror Shout-Outs! 

These fun printable signs are designed to be displayed on a mirror and serve as a quick pick-me-up to your staff. At my school, I used these on the staff bathroom mirror. The messages are short and sweet, with a fun fall flair. They'll add a little seasonal pizazz to your space while also making staff smile. 

I always liked to print these out on fall-colored paper and then cut them out. Then, you can tape them to the mirror or other high-traffic areas in the staff breakroom. Bulletin boards, kitchen cabinets, and  staff mailboxes are great places to leave these fun messages! There are 10 different fall messages included, so you can even switch them out on a weekly basis during the month of November to keep staff guessing and looking forward to new messages. 

4. Fall Windshield Messages 

Can you imagine walking out to your car after a challenging, tiring day at work to find a thoughtful note pinned to your windshield? Pretty great, right?! That's exactly the idea behind these Fall Windshield Messages. To use, simply choose the desired messages, print them out, and place them on the windshields of your staff's vehicles! This fall staff morale resource couldn't be easier to use and will truly make staff smile! The fall messages include things like:

• I be-leaf in you.
• You are awesome to the core. 
• Your students are falling in love with learning. 
• Thanks for planting seeds that will grow forever.

This resource includes 8 different fall messages that print 4 to a page. Each one has a cute fall border to add some festive flair. All messages come in both color and black and white so you can choose what works best for your school. The black and white version looks great on autumn colored pager. I loved pinning these to cars on a Monday when we still had a week to go until break. This is the perfect way to boost motivation and help staff feel appreciated during an extra busy week!

5. Staff Morale Trail Mix Bar 

I saved the BEST for last! A Trail Mix Bar is one of my favorite fall staff morale resources to use in November. It's super customizable, easy to organize, and best of all - great for busy times of the year! Since the trail mix add-ins are non-perishable, you'll be able to set this up ahead of time and allow staff to come and go to grab a treat as they are able. No need to coordinate schedules during an already jam-packed month. So, how does this work exactly? Let's get to it!

To set up a trail mix bar for your staff, you'll shop for trail mix ingredients like cereal, pretzels, nuts, mini marshmallows, crackers, chocolate chips, and more. Then, on the day of your trail mix bar, you'll arrange all the goodies in small bowls with serving spoons. I also include baggies or cups for staff to fill as well as labels for each treat item. Then, decorate the space with cute signs and instructions to invite staff to create their own unique sweet and salty treat. 

This is a great activity to host the week before Thanksgiving break and is always appreciated by everyone! It's great for schools with allergies since everyone can choose exactly what they'd like to have. Just be sure to keep nuts (or other allergens) on a separate table if you're worried about cross-contamination. This resource includes everything you need to take the guesswork out of planning a trail mix bar for your staff. Inside you'll find detailed instructions, signs, snack labels, and even a shopping list! There's also an option to host this one potluck style if you'd prefer to have staff sign up for items to share. Either way, it's bound to be a hit!

Oh and if you're interested in hosting more snack bars, be sure to read this post next!

Simplify Staff Morale This November

Loving all of these ideas way too much to choose a favorite?! I've got good news... you don't have to! These Fall Staff Morale Resources can all be found inside the November Bundle. Inside you get all 5 activities in one, convenient package so you can simplify your staff morale planning and make the most of your limited time! 

If you love the idea of monthly staff morale kits, be sure to check out my Annual Staff Morale Bundle too. You'll find a fun-filled package for each month of the year, making it super simple to plan staff morale activities and keep motivation high all year long. 

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How to Boost Staff Morale in October: Ready to Use Resources You Don't Want to Miss

Looking for fun and easy ways to boost staff morale in October? You're in the right place! Today we're diving into 5 frightfully fun October staff morale resources and activities. Teachers, school counselors, nurses, cafeteria staff, and more will all love participating in these unique activities. Come along for some seasonal ideas to boost staff morale in your building all month long!

DISCLOSURE: This post includes affiliate links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases but this does not change the price you pay.

Making Staff Morale Fun in October

The kids aren't the only ones who get to have fun in October! This month of the year is notorious for fun tricks and treats! When I was head of the Sunshine Committee at my school, I loved playing on the fun Halloween themes in our staff morale activities. Incorporating some seasonal and holiday touches is the perfect way to keep things interesting in your school and boost staff morale with ease! Not to mention, everyone will get a kick out of these fun activities and resources! 

1. October Edition Rock Paper Scissors

As kids, I think we all played our fair share of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It's a simple game that is beloved by all! I used this game to boost staff morale in my school and kept it interesting by using a fun seasonal theme each month. In October, our Rock, Paper, Scissors Game gets a Halloween twist! 

This staff morale idea is fairly inexpensive and super simple to prep - which always made it a winner in my book! All you need is one plastic beaded necklace for each staff member and the printable tags included in this resource. I liked to grab fun Halloween necklaces from Amazon, but you can typically find cheap plastic necklaces at the dollar store and party supply stores as well. 

To prepare, you will wrap a Halloween tag around each necklace and hang the reminder signs up the day before your event. On the day of, staff get a letter and a necklace in their mailbox. The letter instructs them to wear the necklace and challenge other staff members to a friendly game of Rock, Paper, Scissors throughout the day. The winner of each game gets to "steal" their co-workers' necklace. Staff members with the most necklaces at the end of the day win the challenge! 

You can decide what types of prizes fit your budget best. And don't forget - no cost prizes are a lot of fun too! Things like jeans day, prime parking spaces, class coverage, and copies made were always a hit in my school! 

2. You've Been Boo'ed

Have you ever seen homes get "Booed" in your neighborhood around Halloween time? The idea is that neighbors will leave some kind of treat or surprise on their neighbors' doorstep along with a sign. Then, that neighbor pays it forward by doing the same for another. This is exactly the idea behind my October Staff Boos Resource, except for the houses turn into teacher classrooms or staff desks! 

To start this off, I would "Boo" 2 staff members by leaving a fun sign on their classroom door or on their desks along with a special treat. These can be things candy, coffee, some special pens, or really anything you want! Then, those staff members do the same for 2 more colleagues. You can choose a higher number if you'd like - this will make the "Boos" add up quick! 

This is a great activity to use during the week of Halloween in your school, or even all month long. I liked to encourage staff to pick small, but thoughtful things to "Boo" their fellow staff with. It doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful! 

3. Apple Snack Bar 

Snack bars are one of my all-time favorite ways to boost staff morale! They are super versatile, easy to execute, and just plain fun! In October, I loved to use a fall-themed Apple Snack Bar. This time of year, apples are at their peak. Why not use these crisp, delicious fruits to treat your staff?

To use this idea, you'll need a variety of fresh apples. I liked to visit the local orchard down the street, but the grocery store also has a nice variety at a great price this time of year. Once you choose your apples, you'll want to collect some toppings for your Apple Bar. Some of the things I used include:

• chopped nuts
• peanut butter
• caramel sauce 
• chocolate sauce 
• chocolate chips
• coconut flakes
• crushed cookies

Really anything sweet and festive will work here - have fun with this part! Then, you'll arrange all of your apples, toppings, and paper goods in the break room. I also decorated with some festive signs to let staff know that a treat was waiting for them in the breakroom. 

Then, as they are able, they can select an apple, use a slicer to prepare it, and then top it with some goodies! Snack bars like this are great for schools that have varied schedules since staff can come and go as they please. 

4. Pumpkin Decorating Contest 

Over the years, I have found that one of the best ways to boost staff morale in October is with some friendly competition. My favorite way to facilitate this is with a Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Not only will staff love competing for the award of "best pumpkin" but the decorating pumpkins will serve as a perfect Halloween decoration for your office or hallway. 

For this activity, staff will each get to decorate a pumpkin. They will label it with a number and then display it in an area for judging. The judging portion is a group effort as well! Everyone gets to vote for the best pumpkin. Then, the votes are counted and the winners are awarded a prize! 

It's a fun idea to provide art supplies during a meeting and encourage staff to spend a portion of the meeting decorating their pumpkin. This is a great team-building activity that everyone will love! If you're interested in trying this activity, check out this resource to simplify the process. Inside you'll find voting ballots, numbers for your pumpkins, detailed instructions, suggested supplies, and more! 

5. October Scratch Off Tickets 

Looking for a super simple (and fun) way to boost staff morale in your meetings this month? Give scratch-offs a try! These little tickets will make your staff smile as they "scratch off" the stickers to reveal a prize. Not to mention the cute ghost theme is perfect for the month of October! 

These come pre-filled with prizes like jeans for a day, class coverage, lunch provided, a book of your choice, and more! There are also blank versions that you can fill in yourself. Then, cover them with a scratch-off sticker or paint and pass them out to staff. You can use these as prizes for your other staff morale games and activities, or simply hand out one to each person at your meeting. Either way, these are sure to be a hit! 

Simplify Staff Morale in October

These October Staff Morale ideas are so much fun! Whether you decide to have a Pumpkin Decorating Contest or an Apple Bar, these ideas make boosting staff morale fun and easy for anyone! Can't decide on a favorite? You can find ALL five of these resources inside the October Staff Morale Bundle. 

Grabbing the bundle means you can simplify your staff morale resources and set yourself up for success for the whole month! As a former Sunshine Committee leader myself, I know how valuable it is to be prepared! And if you want to plan the whole year, be sure to check out the Monthly Round-Up Mega Bundle for even more great resources. 

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September Staff Morale Resources to Boost Motivation

September is usually a busy month for school employees. While many of us around the country go back to school in August, September is usually just as busy! And. . . if you start school in September it is even busier. Help boost motivation and remind teachers and other school employees that they are valued and appreciated with some fun September staff morale resources! 

DISCLOSURE: This post includes affiliate links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases but this does not change the price you pay.

Staying on Top of Staff Morale 

Being an administrator comes with many of its own unique duties and responsibilities. One of which usually includes monitoring staff and ensuring the employee climate stays positive. If you are in charge of this task, you know firsthand it can feel a tad overwhelming. But even though it can feel a bit tricky to juggle at times, staying on top of staff morale is SO worth it. When you work hard to focus on boosting motivation and morale in your school, you can look forward to:

• better relationships 
• better work ethic
• more positive staff meetings 
• a sense of community among staff 
• happier students and families and so much more! 

There's no end to the value of taking care of your staff and focusing on team building. This is especially true during busy months like September. So whether you start the school year in August or in September, making staff morale a priority this month will go a long way.  Here are 5 ways you can stay on top of staff morale in September! 

1. Back to School Scratch-Offs 

Have you tried using scratch-offs in your staff meetings yet? If not, you're in for a major treat! The idea behind this staff morale resource is a bit like those lottery tickets you can get at the gas station. You'll pass out cards that are pre-filled with prizes and covered with scratch-off paint or stickers. Then, staff will get to scratch off their ticket to reveal a fun prize. And don't worry, you don't have to spend tons of money on the prizes for them to be fun! 

My Back to School Scratch-Offs feature prizes like class coverage, copies made for the week, an impromptu jeans day, and prime parking. You can pick and choose the prizes that work best for your group and print them off accordingly. I think it's fun to pass out a single ticket to everyone, but you can also use these as a prize for other games and team-building activities you might be using during your meetings. There are also blank tickets that you can fill out yourself for other types of prizes as well. For more fun prize ideas, be sure to read this post next! 

2. September Staff Morale Photo Scavenger Hunt 

Speaking of team-building games for your staff meetings, I've got a really fun one for you to try! This Staff Morale Photo Scavenger Hunt is fun and easy to play at your September meeting and will have everyone eager to participate! To play, you'll choose from a list of 45 different prompts for pictures to search for in phone photo libraries. This resource comes with 3 different categories including Teacher Life, My Work Family, and Work-Life Balance. 

After you select the categories and slides to use, you will display them one at a time on a SmartBoard during your staff meeting. You can also print the cards off to be used like task cards instead of displaying them digitally. Staff will have to search their own personal phone photo library to see if they can find a photo to fit the prompt. If they can, they mark it down on their sheet. If they can't they have to move on to the next prompt. When all the slides are gone through, you'll be able to award prizes to winners who were able to "find" the most photos! This is a fun game to play in teams and really helps your staff get to know each other well. 

3. Breakfast Cart 

Is there anything better than having breakfast prepared or picked up for you? I don't think so, which is why I recommend using a Staff Breakfast Cart in your September staff morale activities! When teachers and other staff members are feeling a bit run-ragged from back-to-school festivities, they will be so happy to see a delicious cart filled with goodies waiting for them! If you don't have a cart, this is a great purchase and you will get a ton of use out of it. Check out this one as it will definitely do the trick! 

At my school, I used the resources in this packet to simplify this process. We used it monthly each year, so I liked to laminate the signs for future use. This resource will last you well beyond September! Inside you'll find sign-up sheets for 9 months. The idea is that every month a different staff team hosts the breakfast cart. This is a great way to show staff appreciation for each other, build a sense of community, and work in some time to socialize with colleagues. 

You may also decide to use Sunshine Committee funds or admin funds to organize it for the first month. This is an especially great idea for September when administrators are looking to show appreciation to staff. Then, every following month, another staff team can host. A monthly breakfast cart will absolutely make staff feel valued and appreciated during the busy month of September and beyond!

4. Sunshine Post-it Notes 

Looking for a simple way to spread a little sunshine during September? Try these post-it
note messages, which are designed to make your staff feel valued and appreciated! This resource includes printing instructions and templates so that you can print off these fun little notes for your staff. Each one has a cute phrase and image. There are 18 total messages to choose from, making this a great option to personalize the messages for specific staff members. 

To use, simply print them off, add a personal note if desired, and leave them in mailboxes, on desks, or car windows. I know your staff will LOVE beginning or ending their day with a personalized note just for them! Each of these notes has a "sunshine" theme, making them perfect to use all year long!

5. Hop to It Scavenger Hunt 

Alright friend, I've got one more fun September staff morale resource to share with you today! In this Hop to It Scavenger Hunt, staff members will scour the school for small, plastic frogs that have been marked with numbers 1-100 and hidden. At the end of the day, you will all meet up and take stock of which frogs have been found. Then, you'll draw numbers from a hat, and the staff member with the frog with the corresponding number wins a prize! 

This is a fun activity, especially if you get creative with how you hide the frogs throughout your school. I liked to place some in obvious areas, and others in no-so-obvious areas. You can find plastic frogs frequently at the dollar store, or on Amazon. If you choose to incorporate this activity, you'll also want to consider what prizes to include. These can be low-cost items like packs of pens, candies, gum, or scratch-offs, as well as larger items like gift cards. The best part about this game is that it's easily adjustable to your school, and your staff morale budget! 

September Staff Morale BUNDLE

Looking for a way to take some of the stress off your plate when it comes to planning staff morale activities for September and beyond? If so, I know you'll love my resource bundle options! You can find all of the September Staff Morale Resources mentioned here in the September bundle. You get all 5 activities, so you don't have to worry about planning and can instead just print and go! This bundle will make it super simple to ensure you have some fun staff morale activities ready to go in September. 

And if you'd prefer to be prepared for the whole year, I've got good news! I've bundled together 60 different resources perfect for motivating your staff all year long! Each month includes 5 different resources that align with the month, season, and holidays. This huge bundle will remove all of the stress from planning staff motivational activities and put the fun back into showing your staff how much you care! Check out the Full Year Staff Morale Bundle to get ahead on your planning so you can sit back and enjoy these activities with your staff each month. 

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August Staff Morale Resources to Start the Year Off Right

There's no denying that back to school time is one of the busiest seasons for administrators, teachers, and school staff! This crazy time of year is known for zapping the energy right out of us with endless to-do's, organizing, and prep work. If you're ready to welcome staff back to school in a new way this year, I've got your back! Let's talk about my favorite August staff morale resources to start the year off right! 

Why Staff Morale Counts from the Start! 

Working in a school is often a thankless job. This is especially true at the beginning of the school year. The students haven't arrived yet, but there is much to be done in preparation for the new year. There are floors to wax, cafeterias to stock, classrooms to prep, and new students to enroll. There are many moving pieces in a school and even before the year starts your staff is laying the foundation for another great year! Because of this, I think it is SO important to recognize your entire staff's hard work and acknowledge all they are doing.  

By taking some time to plan a few August staff morale activities, you'll be able to show your appreciation, encouragement, and gratitude to your amazing staff members. This, in turn, helps build increased productivity and a sense of community in the workplace. It's a win-win, no matter how you slice it! 

But let's not forget how busy you are! That's why today we are focusing on staff morale activities that you can prep in advance for August or the beginning of the year. These are things you can plan for during the summer and have them ready when everyone returns.

August Staff Morale Resources That Don't Take Hours to Prep 

Now don't worry friends! I'm not suggesting you spend endless summer hours prepping materials and activities. In fact, with some strategic resources, you won't need to spend much time or energy at all! Showing your staff that you notice their hard work and appreciate all they are doing does not have to take a big production or be a costly endeavor. In fact, it's often the small things that staff members appreciate because they come at just the right time.

These August staff morale resources come together easily and will wow your staff during the back to school season! Take a look at these ideas to start planning your own staff morale activities for the new year! 

1. Staff Favorites Booklet 

First off, let's start with a staff favorite... literally! This Staff Favorites Book was always something I looked forward to creating because it was so versatile. The idea behind this is that you will pass out pages with a list of blanks to fill in. The "favorites" on the page include items such as:

• favorite hot & cold drinks
• favorite sweet treat 
• favorite healthy treat 
• favorite store 
• favorite pens, and more!

Everyone will get their own page to fill out, and then turn them back in to be bound into a book. I like to make a few copies before binding. Then, the books get placed in strategic areas throughout the school. The staff lounge, office, and near the copier are all good places! I also make sure to share one with the PTO leadership.

Then, when someone would like to surprise a co-worker or get them a gift, they can flip through the book and find the perfect option! I love that this idea encourages a sense of community and doing good for others. Plus, the wide variety of "favorites" makes it easy to find something that fits a small budget! 

Print these pages off on summer break and plan to pass them out at the beginning of the year.  Better yet, set aside 5-10 minutes during an in-service meeting and have everyone fill them out at that time.  

2. Staff Birthdays 

Do you celebrate birthdays at your school? If not, you're missing out on a valuable opportunity to share a little recognition to each individual staff member throughout the year! But don't worry friend, this doesn't need to be an all-out production! In my school, I keep things simple with a fun monthly bulletin board display and birthday book to keep track. 

I used the printable pages in this resource to make a bound book with a list of all the birthdays in our school by month. The easiest way to do this is to print off the pages, bind them into a book, and pass it around at the first staff meeting of the year. Everyone will jot down their birthday under the appropriate month. 

Then, using the bulletin board supplies in the resource, create a fun birthday board for the staff lounge. Monthly posters are also included so you can see the list of names and birthdates for that month. I liked to laminate them ahead of time and put them on a binder ring. Then, just use a dry-erase marker to write down the names and birthdays each month. It's super quick and easy to flip the sign each month and fill it out! This simple gesture makes staff feel valued and encourages co-workers to browse the staff favorites book for a special treat for their colleagues.

 

3. Stock the Fridge 

Part of back to school time is spending a couple of weeks getting the classrooms and other areas of the school in order and ready to welcome students. Teachers and other staff members work extra hard during this time, often pulling long hours in the summer heat! Show appreciation by stocking the fridge with some cold beverages while they work! 

This Stock the Fridge resource is one of my favorite staff morale boosters for August because it's super simple and everyone loves it! All you need to do is print off the colorful signs and hang them around the school to notify everyone that cold drinks are available to them in the lounge fridge. Then, stock up the fridge with a variety of fun sodas, juices, and sparkling waters to treat your staff! 

This download includes 8 cute and colorful signs to let staff know that they are more than welcome to grab a cold drink while they get settled for the new school year. This will be a fun tradition that everyone will look forward to and appreciate!

4. Welcome Back Poem 

Looking for a heartfelt way to welcome staff members back to school in August? If so, I know you'll love this Welcome Back Poem! 

Included in this resource is an original poem written by yours truly! It's printed on a colorful, school-themed paper that makes it super simple to print and use. 

I recommend printing one for each staff member over the summer and folding them or rolling them up. If you want to get really fancy, you can use some pretty ribbon to tie the rolled-up poems. 

Then, on the first day, place one in each mailbox to welcome staff back and start the year off right! Your teachers and staff will be delighted to receive this special gift. 

5. Years of Service Award 

Last on my list of August staff morale resources is one that is perfect for recognizing your staff for their hard work and dedication. Years of Service Awards will be a wonderful surprise to your staff as you begin the busy back-to-school season. 

I liked to print these off and use them at our first staff meeting of the year. It's so much fun to pass out the awards and start the year off with a celebration! 

The certificates I use come in both color and black and white options for years 1-40. I liked to print them off on heavy cardstock and use a fancy pen to fill them in. This personal touch really adds to the gift and makes staff feel valued and appreciated. 

You can choose which years you'd like to recognize or make one for every staff member. Either way, this is a fun staff morale-boosting activity to use in August as you begin another year! 

Grab All of the August Staff Morale Resources In One Place!

Love all of these staff morale resources and ideas? Good news! You can find all of them inside the August Staff Morale Bundle! Simplify your planning for the whole month by grabbing the bundle! You'll get all 5 resources at a reduced price in one, easy download. This way, you can prep all of these activities over the summer and return to school in August ready to welcome staff with open arms! I know you'll be glad you did, especially as the busy season begins. 

I know this time of year is notorious for being busier than ever, but keep in mind that with a little bit of summer prep, you can recognize staff and start the year off on such a positive note. Choosing to incorporate some August staff morale resources will make all the difference when it comes to beginning the year on the right foot! 

Looking for More? 

If you know me, you know I love staff morale resources and activities! Here are some more posts to start your year off right! 

• Using Staff BINGO to Boost Morale
• 8 Ways to Boost Staff Morale in Your School This Year
• Create a Staff Morale Hub to Spread a Little Sunshine!

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Make sure to pin this post on Pinterest to keep track of these August staff morale resources and ideas! 

TWO WORDS TEACHERS HATE TO HEAR...INDOOR RECESS!!!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:  This post includes Affiliate Links to some of my favorite Indoor Recess Activities. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

TWO WORDS WE ALL HATE TO HEAR!

There were two words that I dreaded as a Primary Teacher more than anything. Those words were

INDOOR RECESS!  In the midwest, indoor recess can be due to rainy or snowy weather, or even below normal temperatures and I always preferred for my students to get outside and burn off some energy on the playground. However, there were many days due to inclement weather, when my students returned to our classroom after lunch for indoor recess. I felt the need to have engaging activities my students would love that vary from what they may use at other times in my classroom for centers or small group activities. 

BOARD GAMES AND BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE WIN...

I love a classic board game and building options for this very reason and so many more reasons too. First of all, the students may be familiar with the games from home. Second, if they are familiar  with the game, you do not have to spend much time explaining directions. Third, your families will be familiar with these too and if they are donating these to your classroom, this is a plus.  Fourth...building materials are open ended and allow your students to be creative and develop fine motor skills which is always a plus. And finally, your students learn social skills: sharing, taking turns, rule following, being a good sport, and so much more.  These are not typically learned from staring at a computer screen or tablet. These features all make these TEN great games/activities to put on your Amazon Wishlist, on your classroom Giving Tree that you post at your Fall Open House, or apply for grant money from your PTA/PTO.  Please be aware there are so many ways you can creatively fund these items so they do not come out of your own pocket! 

1. BANANAGRAMS

There are 2 versions of this game and I love them both.  Think Scrabble and Word Work combined, with the tiles all kept in a cute and zippered banana pouch.  

I love that students can work on this game at their own level.You can't go wrong with either version but this is my 

favorite.

2. UNO

Does this card game really need an explanation? Your students will love the colorful Uno cards.  Matching colors and numbers while strategically trying to get rid of your cards is always a hit with even the youngest of students. You will definitely like this double deck of Uno so more of your students can enjoy this game.

3. CANDYLAND

One of the classic path games that your primary students should experience. Drawing a card and moving along the colorful candy path has time on its side. Generations of students have loved this game so Candyland is a MUST HAVE! 

4. CHUTES AND LADDERS

This is right up there with Candyland. Your students will love following the path and sliding up and back. This too is absolutely perfect for the youngest of students. Click here if you would like to check out this game!

5. GUESS WHO

This game is a definite keeper. Your students will try to guess their opponent's "person" by asking pointed questions and eliminating the possibilities. This one wasn't around when I was a kid but I know it would've been on my top ten list then too. While there are a few variations of this, I prefer this version so be sure to check it out for yourself. 

6. KERPLUNK

This was a childhood favorite of mine and still a classic in my book. I can hear the distinct sound of playing this even as I am writing this post. Students love pulling a stick out of the Kerplunk tower, while trying to avoid the marbles dropping from their resting spots. This is a whole lot of fun and creates a bit of anticipation as to the outcome. 

7. LEGOS

This is another activity that needs no explanation.  Fine 

motor practice is a bonus and your students will love 

creating with Lego Blocks.  They need no patterns to 

follow but there are tons of versions  that they can 

build based on themes too. I simply loved having a jumbo 

box of Classic Legos like these and they always engaged my 

students. One big container full can keep a large number of 

students involved.

8. DON'T BREAK THE ICE

Setting up plastic ice cubes in the frame and using hammers to remove one block at a time has been fun for decades. Eventually, they all fall which is always entertaining. Your students will love this activity and the sights and sounds involved in this game.

9. JENGA

Eye-Hand Coordination is key in Jenga. Your students will love removing wood bricks from the tower while trying not to topple it over into a heap. But when they do topple, it's always fun torestack and rematch.  Many versions exist but I love the original version as well. 

10. CONNECT FOUR

And who doesn't love slipping the checkers into a Connect Four frame? Trying to get 4 in a row while blocking your opponent so he doesn't is key.  Your students can balance offense and defense, while keeping their eyes wide open. 

Check out Connect Four as you will want to add this to your indoor recess games!

So friends...are any of these your classroom favorites as well? My last group of students would be absolutely furious with me if I didn't mention one last activity. So consider it a bonus...with no extra charge.  Be sure to check out YETI IN MY SPAGHETTI.  This is like Pick Up Sticks meet Kerplunk.  Students are trying to remove a piece of spaghetti while trying to not spill the adorable Yeti who rests on top of the spaghetti.  OK...now they would give me the thumbs up for sure.

I'd love to hear what your favorite Indoor Recess games are and if you dread Indoor Recess as much as I did. What would you add to the list? Having a variety of great resources on hand definitely make those rainy days a bit more palatable for teachers and equally enjoyable to your students. So start filling your carts so you can check this off of your to do list!

Until Next Time, 

Planning a Year of Staff Morale Activities

Administrators and Sunshine Committee members work hard to help boost staff morale throughout the whole year. But usually, this is not the only responsibility on their plate. As the former head of our own Sunshine Committee, I vividly remember the days of juggling those duties along with my own classroom commitments, not to mention a personal life! One day I realized that I should approach planning staff morale activities the same way that I approach classroom planning... With an annual framework! If you're ready to simplify your staff morale activities, while still ensuring everyone feels appreciated, I know you'll enjoy today's post. 

Planning a Year of Staff Morale Activities is a Game Changer

We all lead busy lives with many commitments and priorities. This doesn't mean that we don't want to show up for school staff though! There's nothing worse than having the best intentions for an amazing staff morale booster, and then lacking the time or energy to put it in place. At least for me anyway, this always really bummed me out! 

When I started planning a year of staff morale activities at once, it changed everything for me! Just as I did in my classroom, taking some time to plan out the high-level overview for staff morale gave me so much peace. I could easily glance at the months ahead, budget accordingly, and prepare activities in my spare time. Overall, it really helped me feel as though I had a handle on things! 

Another great benefit to this tactic is that you can look at your whole plan for the year and ensure it feels balanced. If you're working to include ALL staff members and not only teachers, this is an important component to consider. The yearlong planning approach was a game changer for me, and I'm betting it will be for you too! 

How to Get Started Planning a Year of Staff Morale Activities 

So where do we even begin?! So glad you asked friend. I promise this won't be complicated. In fact, I have pulled together a year's worth of staff morale activities and ideas that you can easily implement in your school. Take a peek at my annual plan to draw inspiration as you map out your own!

September Back to School Yard Sale 

This time of year is crazy busy and everyone is going a million miles a minute. If I did my planning early enough, I liked to get these activities prepped in the summertime so that I was not trying to juggle too much during this hectic month. 

My favorite thing to use in September is the Back to School Teacher Yard Sale. This is perfect to plan when teachers are setting up their classrooms. The idea behind this resource is that teachers will put out things they no longer need, or don't plan to use for other teachers to snag. It's a great way to clean out the classrooms, the storage closet, or the bookroom, and give old materials a new life! 

Inside my resource, you'll find signs, sign-up sheets, and more. These items will help to make facilitating this process simple and easy. Just print the pages you need and you're on your way to hosting your very own teacher yard sale!

Another great idea to plan on for September is a good old-fashioned fridge stock-up! Simply stock up the fridge with a variety of beverages and let teachers know they can grab a cold drink while they unpack and set up their classrooms. This simple gesture is always greatly appreciated as staff work hard to get set up for the new year! If you want done-for-you resources to help with this, check out this resource. 

October Staff Pumpkin Decorating

By October, we were always ready for a little fun in our staff meetings. Back to School season has mellowed out and Halloween is just around the corner. So why not host a Pumpkin Decorating Contest with your staff? This is such a fun idea and as an added bonus, the pumpkins double as a fun decoration as well! 

For this idea, staff will each decorate a pumpkin and label it with a number. The pumpkin will be submitted for judging, where everyone votes on their favorite. Then prizes are awarded to winners! Inside the resource, you'll find everything you need to make this activity happen! There are instructions for use, signs, lists of suggested supplies, pumpkin tags to label them for judging, voting ballots, and even suggested prizes! 

This is the perfect way to celebrate fall and facilitate some team-building among your staff! 

November Staff Gratitude Jar 

November is one of my favorite months both at home and at school! The themes of thankfulness and gratitude speak to my heart and I was always looking for ways to incorporate them into our staff morale activities. A gratitude jar is a perfect way to do so!

With this resource, you can choose to use a real jar or create a gratitude notebook. The idea for the real jar is that staff will jot down notes of appreciation to other staff members and leave them in the jar. This can be done throughout the month or for a set number of days.

As the jar fills up, the notes can be displayed on a bulletin board. Or, they can also be read aloud during a staff meeting or dropped into specific staff mailboxes. It's a great way to celebrate staff members throughout the month of November

For the notebook option, staff will write their notes on pages of a bound book. This book can be passed around for staff to read through and contribute to, or set in a central location for teachers to browse. Either way, this is a great way to recognize staff members and keep the focus on things we're thankful for! 

Festive Cocoa Bar for December 

December is another month that always feels a little bit crazy in a school. Teachers are working hard to close out their lessons before the break, there are holiday productions, and everyone is preparing for holidays with their families. Because of this, I like to keep it simple and fun for December with a Hot Cocoa Bar. 

This is one of my favorite ideas for staff appreciation in the winter because it's just so cozy! Inside my resource, I include a recipe for slow-cooker hot cocoa, shopping lists, announcement posters, and more. It will make planning this event super simple and easy. Another great thing about this idea is that staff can come and go to grab their cocoa as they have time. This is really handy for the holidays when everyone has a crazy schedule. 

If you love the idea of staff snack bars, be sure to check out this post as well. It's filled with all of my best ideas for facilitating staff snack bars of all kinds! 

January Snowflake Hunt 

If you're looking for a fun and simple activity that you can have staff use throughout the month of January, you'll love this idea! In this Snowflake Hunt activity, all staff members are given a snowflake at the beginning of the day. It's a good idea to use something small like a snowflake table scatter, so they can be discreetly tucked in a pocket. 

As the day goes on, staff members will ask each other if they have a snowflake. If they do, they must give it to the person who asked. That person cannot immediately ask for that particular snowflake back once it is given away. The goal is to end the day with the most snowflakes!

In my experience, this activity infuses a little fun into what's usually a bit of a dreary month. Staff love "stealing" snowflakes from each other as the day goes on. 

February Love Letter File 

I love February because it's such a bright spot in the dead of winter! Valentine's Day activities aren't just for the kids! Here is a fun idea you can use to motivate and inspire your staff during the month of February. 

Consider having a staff "Make it-Take it" session and create a Love Letter File during a staff meeting, to collect student notes, cards, and letters. When I was still in the classroom, I loved getting student notes. But if you don't have a place for them, they can pile up or get lost really quickly! Teachers are notorious for not wanting to throw things away and with a Love Letter File, they won't have to! 

They can easily tuck all of the cards and letters inside the file and place it in their desk drawer. Then, on those especially tough days, they can pull out the file for a bit of encouragement and inspiration. This is such a great way to keep track of treasured keepsakes! 

March Rock Paper Scissors Challenge 

Who doesn't love a good game of rock, paper, scissors?! Use this March Rock Paper Scissors Challenge to boost staff morale! To use this  best selling resource, you'll purchase some fun, St. Patrick's Day necklaces like these. You'll need one for each staff member. 

To play, if staff come across another staff member in the hall, they challenge them to a game of rock, paper, scissors. The winner gets to keep the other person's necklace. At the end of the day, the person with the most necklaces wins! 

I love this activity because the staff really get into it! It doesn't take much time to prep, costs very little to facilitate and it's just plain fun! If you love this idea as much as I do, be sure to check out this Bundle of Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenges for a whole year of fun! 

April Easter Egg Prizes 

Looking for a fun game to inspire your staff in the spring? This Easter Egg Prizes Resource is the perfect way to kick off your April staff meeting! Simply grab an old easter basket and some plastic, colorful eggs. Print off the pre-printed prompts and tuck one inside each egg. Pass the basket around and allow each staff member to choose an egg. The prizes include things like:

• wear jeans on the day of your choice 
• early dismissal with class coverage 
• scratch off ticket 
• prime parking spot
• pizza lunch and more! 

This activity is great because you can pick and choose which activities will work best for your staff and your staff appreciation budget. Many of the prize ideas inside the download are free or low-cost, so you can make this game work perfectly for your school! 

May/June Jar of Sunshine 

This next idea on my list is perfect for the end of the year! Try making a Jar of Sunshine for each staff member in your school to show them how much they are appreciated. You can even get parents or the PTO involved to help make them.

This resource includes small slips of paper that other staff members will fill out with a positive note for each of their team members. It can be a positive interaction they had, a fun memory, or really anything to make that staff member smile. 

After everyone has filled out a slip, collect them and place them in the jars for each person. There are also jar toppers and ideas to decorate them included. Then, on the last day, pass them out for each staff member to keep and read through. There are also options specifically for staff who are retiring. No matter how you use these, I know your staff will love them!

For more end-of-the-year staff appreciation ideas, be sure to read this post for simple ideas you'll love!

Simplify Your Year of Planning 

So what do you think friend? Aren't these staff morale activities fun?! I know that once you get started planning your staff appreciation games and activities for the year, you'll be hooked! This removed such a heavy mental burden for me and made it actually FUN again to participate! 

If you'd like to use these Staff Morale activities with your students, I made it super simple and easy! Inside this bundle, you'll find a whole year of staff morale activities! I've done the planning for you, so all you need to do is print and go! 

Keep the Celebrations Going!

Looking for even more fun and easy ways to celebrate and show appreciation to staff? Be sure to grab my FREE Staff Morale Catalog to help you easily plan your year of events! Inside this catalog, you'll be able to flip through and get inspiration for every holiday, season, and event you can think of! It's the perfect companion to your annual planning process! 

My advice would be to grab a calendar as you flip through the catalog and plot out when you plan to use these activities. Then, count back 3 weeks from each date and put a reminder on your calendar to prep the items you need. This will allow you to essentially conduct your staff morale activities on autopilot! I promise you'll love how simple and easy this process becomes. Have fun planning! 

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