Boost Morale with Staff Treat Carts

If you're an administrator, PTO member, or Sunshine Committee leader, you might already know that it can be tricky to come up with fresh ideas to boost staff morale at your school. This was something I heard a lot from others in my school and continue to hear as someone who shares tips on staff morale activities. If you've ever felt this way, you're certainly not alone! Today, I want to share an idea that is easy to tweak for each season or month and shows staff appreciation in a fun way. Let's boost staff morale the fun way with a treat cart! 

What is a Treat Cart? 

A Treat Cart, or a Treat Trolley, is something that I loved using as the leader of the Sunshine Committee at our school. It's basically a rolling cart that you set up with some kind of special treat or snack that teachers and staff members can enjoy. 

The options for your treat cart are endless! You could include:

• fruit 
• desserts
• beverages
• breakfast items 
• DIY trail mix 
• coffee and pastries
• holiday treats and more! 

The best thing about Treat Carts is that they are super versatile! You can use them every month and still make them feel brand new by choosing to include different treats and decorations. 

Another big benefit, and my purpose for creating them in the first place, was to have an excuse to bring staff together. We all know that school workers are busy! Setting up a Treat Cart is a great way to purposefully take a break and get together during the day. This is something everyone will look forward to at your school. It certainly was a huge hit at ours! 

And. . . you can't go wrong with a traveling treat cart. Set the administration loose with a stocked cart to bring a little joy to each staff member in their classroom or work area. Not only does this show support for your staff, but it also sends a wonderful message to the students. The students can see a great example of how their teachers are supported. Either way, treat carts are always appreciated!

Setting Up a Staff Treat Cart 

When choosing a cart to use for your Treat Trolley, you'll want one like this. It has a lip on each shelf to keep things from rolling off. This is great if you decide to use all 3 shelves when stocking the cart. It also has a nice, sleek profile to save space and, as a bonus, is really easy to decorate! 

Also, just as a side note, the advantage of using a cart is that it's portable. You can hit the hallways and deliver treats to different areas in the building or move the cart around in your staff lounge easily. This makes them super versatile and easy to use at your school! 

There are so many fun ways you can set up your staff treat cart. At my school, I liked to use seasonal scrapbook paper to line the top. This will help soak up spills, plus it just looks super cute! You could also use a tablecloth if you only need the top shelf of the cart for your treats. Then, I'd hang a fun banner across the front. This usually said something related to the treat, holiday, or season to add to the fun. Finally, add a couple of pieces of seasonal decor, and you're ready to stock the cart! 

These cute, decorative touches make all the difference and will make the staff smile when they see it! Plus, you can pack up many of these items each year and save them for next time. I used large plastic tubs to store materials and reused them over the years. It's great to have a Treat Cart kit ready to go! 

Staff Treat Carts for Every Season 

Staff Treat Carts are a great way to show your faculty you care and provide them with a fun treat or snack to enjoy. At my school, I really liked to tailor our cart to the seasons so that it felt fresh and new every time I set one up. Here are a few of our favorites from over the years. 

Bagels (or Donuts) and Brew 

Coffee and bagels or coffee and donuts are always a favorite at any workplace. This first cart idea is great because it can easily be used any time of year. These Treat Cart Kits include everything you need to set up a cart for your staff. Inside the resource, you'll find:

• decorative banners
• decorative signs 
• shopping lists 
• water bottle labels

All you need to do is print the decorative sign and place it in a picture frame on the cart. Then, string the banner across the front, and you're ready to stock! The water bottle labels are perfect to add a festive flair as well. You'll just print them out, attach them to the water bottles, and place them on a shelf on the cart. The shopping lists make it easy to remember what to pick up, too! 

Oh, and the fun doesn't have to stop with donuts and bagels! If you'd like to supply a more complete breakfast, be sure to check out this Breakfast Cart too. This resource includes everything you need to arrange a big breakfast for your staff! 

Orange You Glad It's Friday?!

If you work in a school, I don't have to tell you that Fridays are worth celebrating! Everyone looks forward to making it through a tough week, so why not show appreciation for your staff's hard work? This is a great way to boost staff morale, bring folks together, and just sprinkle a little fun into the work week. 

This Orange You Glad It's Friday Staff Treat Cart is sure to bring some sunshine to your week! This cart plays into the "orange" theme with fun treats and snacks. You can get creative with this cart and add all kinds of orange-colored or orange-flavored snacks. Some of the ones we used in the past were mandarin oranges, orange soda, orange cheese crackers, orange sherbert, and candies wrapped in orange plastic. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups are a fun favorite! 

This set also includes a decorative poster, banner, and orange water labels to complete the look. Try using this on a Friday to boost staff morale in a fun way! 

Holiday and Seasonal Staff Treat Carts 

I loved celebrating holidays and seasons at school. This is why I created holiday Treat Carts, too! I mean, why not?! Holidays are special, and there's no reason the kids should get all the fun, right?! You can see some fun options here:

• Winter Treat Cart
• Valentine's Day Treat Cart
• St. Patrick's Day Treat Cart

The Holiday Staff Treat Carts have lots of room for customization. They include decorative banners, posters, water bottle labels, and suggested shopping lists, but you can choose what you'd like to include. Don't worry, I've provided plenty of suggestions for each one! For example, the winter cart looks great when stocked with warm muffins, spiced nuts, and powdered sugar treats. Choosing snacks and treats that tie into the season is an extra special touch that I know your staff will appreciate. 

Year-Round Treat Trolley 

Another great option is to use a Treat Trolley that can be modified and used year-round. This resource is perfect if that's what you're looking for. This one has a trolley theme that can be used any time of year and is sure to make your staff smile. I've included:

• trolley banner 
• decorative poster
• shopping lists
• ideas for stocking 
• water bottle labels

This one is super customizable! You can make it a one-day special event with warm pastries and coffee. Or maybe you'd rather set up a cart with non-perishables that can sit out for a few days. Either way, having this resource on hand is a must! You'll love being able to show appreciation to your staff any time of year with the Treat Trolley! 

Want to Boost Staff Morale All Year Long?! 

Staff Treat Carts are so much fun! I know that once you give them a try at your school, you'll be hooked! They offer such a wonderful way to bring everyone together, show appreciation for hard work, and of course - boost staff morale easily! If you want to keep the fun rolling, consider checking out my Staff Treat Carts Bundle.

Inside, you get all of the Staff Treat Carts mentioned above PLUS any future additions. This is a great way to save money on fun resources that your staff will love and ensure you never run out of great staff morale ideas. Be sure to hop on over to my store and check it out, along with many more fun resources to boost staff morale!

Looking for More Ways to Boost Staff Morale?

Check out these other fun options to try at your school! 

• Staff Snack Bar Ideas
• School Staff Celebrations
• Planning a Year of Staff Morale Activities

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5 Simple and Effective Literacy Activities for May

May begins one of the busiest times in the classroom for many teachers. School is almost out for summer (yay!), which means that we're all usually busier than ever. This time of year, I always relied on tried and true activities to get us through! If you need some simple, yet effective literacy activities for May in your classroom, I've got you covered!

Make the Most of Your Time in May 

Is your last month of school May? Or maybe you've got a few weeks in June? Either way, there's no denying the busyness of this time of year for teachers. We're squeezing in review, assessments, end of the year activities, field trips, and all the things! Because I already knew how crazy this time of year was in my room, my aim was always to simplify my lesson planning. 

Now, don't worry; we're not resorting to endless worksheets and boring activities. Oh no! Just the opposite! I tapped into those classroom favorite, hands-on activities that kept my students engaged while practicing and reviewing key skills. 

I'm sharing 5 simple yet effective literacy activities for May that will keep engagement high in your room. Let's inch toward summer on a positive note and make learning fun! 

1. May Nonsense Word Sort

I love word-sorting games for the classroom. They're so versatile and can be used as a whole group lesson, a small group game, and even an independent learning activity. Having literacy activities for May that check all these boxes was a must for me! This allowed me to switch and swap and use things in a variety of ways depending on our needs that day. 

That's just one of the reasons this May Nonsense Word Sort is on my list of favorites. This activity includes headings for real and nonsense words as well as 60 different cards to sort. Students will choose a card, read the word, and decide which category it falls into- real or nonsense. 

This game is great because it gives students an engaging way to practice both decoding skills and reading comprehension! They will love reading the words aloud and then determining if it's a real one or not. I've included an optional recording sheet that students can use to keep track of words. They will write each one in the correct column, adding another layer of practice. This resource also features a bright and colorful bug theme that's perfect for May!

2. Spin and Say Nonsense Words

Nonsense words are a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that I've got another literacy activity for May that incorporates them. This Spin and Say Nonsense Words activity is going to be a new favorite in your classroom. It's much more engaging than regular old CVC worksheets, easy to prep, and can be used in many different ways!

To play, each student gets a game card as well as a spinner mat. They will use a plastic spinner, or a pencil and a paperclip to spin. Whichever picture they land on represents the row they will read from on their game card. They point to each nonsense word, reading as fluently as possible. 

My favorite way to use this activity is in small groups so that I can informally assess student progress. Once the kids know how to use these, they also make a fantastic addition to your literacy centers. I like to laminate the game boards and spinner cards so that they can be used again and again. 

3. May Sensory Bin 

Hands-on learning is always a win in my book. Primary learners love using tactile activities, which is why I know this May Sensory Bin is sure to be a hit in your classroom! The idea behind this activity is that you will fill a small sensory bin with the included letter or letter sound cards. Students will use a spinner to spin a letter and then find the matching card in the bin. There is a recording sheet included so that they can write down each one as they go. 

I would fill sensory bins or tubs with easter grass. It's inexpensive, low-mess, and really easy to hide the cards in the bin. You can also add seasonal mini erasers and fun figurines for an extra fun touch. I also liked to have the students use tweezers to pick up the cards for an extra fine motor element. 

This activity is great because you can set it up once and pull it out a few times during the month as a literacy center option. Just print a stack of recording sheets and leave them next to the bin to prepare this simple yet effective and fun literacy center for May! 

4. Counting Syllables Spring Scoot Game 

Next up, this Counting Syllables Spring Scoot Game will get your kiddos moving and practicing phonemic awareness skills in a fun way. This resource includes 40 different picture cards that have a syllable count of 1-5, as well as a student recording sheet. You will lay 1 card out on each desk, or around the classroom perimeter, and provide each student with a recording sheet. Then, set a timer and have them work on counting the number of syllables in that word and mark down their answer before the time is up. When the timer goes off, they scoot to the next task card and repeat. My students loved this game because we could all play it together and move from spot to spot. 

I've also included headings for 1 syllable, 2 syllables, and so on. You can place these in a pocket chart and use the picture cards to play a sorting game instead if you prefer. I liked to use both versions of this game throughout the month of May to mix it up. The versatility is great because it will allow you to target the skill of counting syllables in more than one way.

5. May Letter Recognition & Sound Fluency Activity 

Alright, friends, I've got one more all-star on this list of simple and effective literacy activities for May! These May Letter Recognition & Sound Fluency Mats are going to be your new best friend. These work just like activity #2, except instead of reading nonsense words, we're focusing on letter recognition and letter sounds. Just choose which skill your students need to target.

Students will spin the spinner, find the matching picture on their card, and read the letters straight across and as fluently as possible. As they work their way across the card, they will simply say the letter name or sound as they move across the line. 

This is a very versatile and fun resource to add to your literacy activities for May. Use them for independent desk work, center time, small groups, or fun and easy assessments! The options are endless. 

Simplify Your Literacy Activities for May 

We all know that May is busy, busy, busy in the primary classroom! So, why not simplify your lesson planning with these engaging activities? You can find all of these great literacy activities inside the May Literacy Centers Bundle. Not only will this streamline your planning, but it will be fun for your students too! Plus, when you buy the products in their bundle, you get them at a great discount. So, if you want to take one thing off your plate for May, be sure to check it out! 

Looking for More? 

Check out these posts next for more literacy teaching ideas.

• 7 Engaging Ways to Practice CVC Words
• Teaching Poetry in the Primary Classroom
• Fun Phonics Activities that Align with the Science of Reading

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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 literacy activities for May.