5 Ways to Use Handwritten Notes to Boost Staff Morale

If you're anything like me, you're probably on the lookout for simple yet effective ways to show appreciation and boost staff morale in your school. This was my focus for many years as the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my building. Over the years, I learned that handwritten notes are one of the best ways to add a personal touch and make everyone feel appreciated. Let's chat about simple ways you can weave these into your staff morale plan!

The Simple, Personalized Gestures Mean So Much!

Why handwritten notes? Well, they are a personalized, thoughtful gesture that's becoming less and less common. In our digital world, staff are used to receiving emails and e-cards, but receiving a handwritten note feels extra special! I know that personally, there's nothing that feels better to me than getting a note in the mail or finding one left on my desk. It's definitely a bucket filler!

Aside from making your staff feel remembered, handwritten notes are great for many other reasons, such as:

• They're inexpensive
• Easy to make time for
• Can be used for many occasions
• Easily adaptable 
• Encourage staff to slow down and connect 

No matter how you look at it, handwritten notes are a surefire winner for boosting staff morale! If you want to make an intentional effort to include these in your year, come along for 5 fun and unique ways to use them! 

1. Back-to-School Postcards 

If you work in a school, I don't need to tell you how busy the back to school season can be! It's a hectic time of year for everyone. This means that staff morale is more important than ever! We want our teachers and faculty to come back to school, looking forward to connecting with each other, not dreading it. One of the ways to help facilitate this is with handwritten notes. 

I loved sending personalized postcards to each member of the staff right as back to school time was gearing up. I heard so many staff members comment on how it was a wonderful surprise and just the boost of motivation they needed. The fun thing about sending personalized notes rather than an email blast is that you can tailor them to different personalities. 

This Back to School Postcards Resource is filled with 9 different designs that print 4 to a page. There's a wide variety of styles to choose from, so you'll be able to find something for everyone on your staff roster. Whether you need an encouraging quote, a funny joke, or just a sweet back to school message, these postcards will fit the bill! 

2. Summertime Postcards 

Postcards are a hit, so why not use them in the summer months too? I know that staff morale can be harder to facilitate in the summer months, and sending mail straight to their mailboxes is a great way to show appreciation! This Summer Postcard Resource includes 10 different designs. 

To use, just select the designs you like and print them off. There is also a backside design included that you can print using the 2-sided feature in your printer. Print on cardstock so they hold up in the mail! Then just fill them out, add postage, and send them off to make your staff smile! 

I recommend printing these off before the school year ends and cutting them with a paper cutter. Then, bring them home with you (along with some cute pens) and fill them out as you have time. You can send them throughout the summer to spread a little joy! Looking for more ways to boost staff morale in the summer? I've got you covered. Check out this unique list of ideas next!

3. Encourage Staff to Give Handwritten Notes 

Once you start showing appreciation with handwritten notes for staff, I know you'll be hooked! These small, yet meaningful gestures always invoke a cascade of positivity and joy in the workplace. We loved them so much in my building that I actually liked to take it a step further and encourage staff to send notes to each other. 

This is easy to do if you have a staff morale hub, or sunshine corner, in your school. Just fill a basket with a variety of notecards and let staff know they are free for the taking. You can remind staff during monthly meetings if needed. Before you know it, you'll see those cards disappear and wonderful, encouraging notes being handed out left and right. 

You can find lots of inexpensive notecards at places like Target and the Dollar Store. I also have a few personal favorites on Amazon linked below:

• Bright Colors
• Groovy Pastels 
• Elegant Florals 

Encourage your staff to share thank-you's among their team and throughout the school to keep those positive vibes flowing!

4. Take Time for Handwritten Birthday Cards 

What's better than getting recognized on your birthday? Not much, right?! I mean, seriously, it really can bring a big smile to staff faces. And the best part is that it doesn't take much to make staff feel special. A thoughtful Birthday Card is just the thing! 

There are 10 different birthday cards included in this resource, along with 10 different coordinating messages that can be mixed and matched. Just choose, print, and fill out to spread birthday cheer! You can pass these around for other staff members to sign, or print a few to be filled out by different team members. No matter what you decide, I know your faculty will love to receive a personalized card. 

If you really want to get ahead of the game, print several copies of these ahead of time and store them in a file folder for quick and easy access throughout the year. You'll be so happy you thought ahead!

5. Holiday Cards 

Alright, friend, one more simple idea to get handwritten notes out to your staff - Holiday Cards! I think we can all agree that December is a busy month. We're all trying to squeeze our teaching into a short month, prepare for time off, and spread some merriment. Help staff feel valued and appreciated during this crazy time with some handwritten, personalized holiday cards. 

The postcards in this resource are great to send out to the homes of your staff over break, or simply place them in your mailbox area in the office. Either way, they mean so much! Inside this resource, you will find 7 different cards to choose from for your staff members. They cover winter themes, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza, so you'll have plenty to choose from. 

Looking to mix it up? This resource also includes 5 options for you to send to staff family members. This is a fun alternative to the normal card and will allow you to tell staff family members why they are valuable to your team! 

Boost Staff Morale All Year Long with Handwritten Notes

With these simple ideas, you'll be able to send out handwritten notes all year long. I love this strategy for showing staff that they are valued and appreciated, without breaking the bank! We all know that it can be difficult to manage a staff morale budget, but with handwritten notes, your costs will be kept to a minimum. Plus, there's no denying how special we all feel when we receive a handwritten, personalized note of appreciation! Give these a try in your school at different times of the year to boost morale and keep spirits high. Click on the images below to grab them all on TPT! 

Looking for More? 

Be sure to read this post next if you're looking for more ways to make room in the school budget for staff morale activities!

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4 Must-Teach Primary Classroom Procedures for the Beginning of the School Year

If you have ever taught in the primary grades, you likely already know that the first month or so of the school year is all about laying a solid foundation that sticks. During back-to-school time, it's super important to focus on the routines and classroom procedures that will help your students be successful all year long. In fact, I recommend developing those skills from the very first day. So let's dive into the 4 must-teach primary classroom procedures that will save your sanity and promote independence all year long! 

Why Teaching Classroom Procedures is a MUST in the Primary Grades 

The truth is, when it comes to essential classroom procedures, like how to use scissors or care for books, many children simply haven't been taught. Your kiddos aren't trying to be irresponsible with the school supplies; they just don't know the proper way to use them. And that's okay, because we're going to fix that! 

Teaching routines and classroom procedures, especially when it comes to how to use materials and tools, is going to be a game-changer in your classroom. Not only will this help ensure your school supplies stand up, but it will also mean that your students will learn personal responsibility, respect for property, and how to share with classmates. I'm sure we can all agree that these are great things to focus on with little learners. 

These are also great to teach right away since that means you can get started using books, scissors, glue, and pencils. Not together, of course, but you get the idea! Teaching these things will also open the door to teaching other classroom rules and expectations naturally. All-in-all, it's a win! 

Make Teaching Classroom Procedures Simple with Read-Alouds

Alright, ready to see how I make this super simple, friendly, and easy to implement? In my room, I created some read-alouds that cover these 4 classroom procedures. During the first week of school, we use 1 per day with the whole group. I read it aloud, and then we had a discussion afterward to discuss what we learned. I also love to make these books available for the kiddos to look through later as a little reminder when needed throughout the year. 

The idea is to prepare the read alouds ahead of time and bind them into books you can use in your lessons. I liked to laminate the pages and use a binding machine to do so. Then, I would read the book aloud in the classroom and have a discussion with students afterward. You can even make an anchor chart with some of the things you covered to make this lesson more impactful. Using read-alouds has proven to be an easy and age-appropriate way to convey the message right from the start!

So, what exactly should you teach? Glad you asked! Here's a look at the top four must-teach classroom procedures for primary kiddos. 

1. Book Care Classroom Procedures

I loved having a large collection of books available to my students in my classroom. The classroom library was one of our centers, and I designed a cozy little area where kids were able to choose a book and tuck themselves away. I found this to be so helpful for students who needed some quiet time sprinkled into their day, or maybe didn't have access to many books at home. I would swap them out every season, so the choices were always fresh. 

This space only stays magical if the books stay in good shape, though! This is why I highly recommend teaching this classroom procedure right off the bat! I like to sit down with my students and use my read-aloud that discusses the rules regarding book use. Some of the rules we cover include:

• Make sure to handle books with clean hands 
• Not eating or drinking while handling books
• Not tearing or cutting pages 

and more! Reading aloud is a great way to help students understand that we must take care of property if we want to be able to keep using it! 

2. Classroom Procedures for Glue 

How to use glue properly is another super important classroom procedure to teach in the primary grades. I'm not sure if there's much worse than puddles of sticky glue dripping off every surface! So before it has the chance to happen, use an activity like this Glue Practice Read Aloud to make it easier on your students, and you! 

This book covers proper procedures for both liquid glue and gluesticks. No more broken glue sticks or excess glue on your watch! I recommend introducing this book during the first week of school, having plenty of discussions, and re-reading it anytime your kids need a refresher. Art supplies are fun and tempting to overdo it with, so you may need to revisit this one a few times! 

Oh, and if you're looking for another tip to make your glue sticks last longer, purchase giant-sized ones like these. They hold up better and are easier for little hands to use! 

3. Scissor Safety Practice 

Does the idea of teaching kids to use scissors give you the chills? I get it. This is a BIG one in the primary classroom. Not only for safety, but to keep the rest of your materials and classmates' hair out of the line of fire! But with an age-appropriate read-aloud about scissor safety, you won't have to stress about this! 

This resource is packed with all of the important rules and classroom procedures your kids should know when it comes to scissors safety. Inside the book, you will find age-appropriate, clear illustrations to help them understand. I've also used simple language throughout and empowering "I" statements. 

I also highly recommend purchasing some quality scissors for your classroom for your primary students. I love these blunt-tip scissors. The reason is that some of the cheaply made knockoffs don't work as well and will result in frustration when your kids are trying to use them.

4. Finger Spacing 

Last on this list is another important classroom procedure that I recommend teaching early on - finger spacing. This is so important because it will help your students with reading and writing legibility. In my classroom, I used the Spaceman for over 15 years. If you've never heard of this, you're in for a treat! 

I use this read-aloud along with my own "Spaceman" tool to demonstrate proper finger spacing. You can purchase wooden spaceman tools like these or make your own with popsicle sticks. The idea is that kids will use them as they write to leave the proper amount of space between words. The kids LOVE these and honestly, I do too! It makes teaching this classroom procedure fun and easy! 

Final Tips for Teaching Classroom Procedures

As you prepare to get started teaching these essential classroom procedures in your own classroom, I have a few more tips for you to make this as easy as possible! 

Teach One Thing at a Time 

Don't try to shove these lessons into a single day. For primary kiddos, focusing on one skill per day is usually a good amount of time that will allow you to teach the procedures, discuss, and practice. Speaking of which. . . 

Allow Lots of Practice! 

After reading each of the books on classroom procedures, allow your kids to practice. Many times. They can use glue sticks, try snipping paper with scissors, or have a few minutes of reading using the procedures taught. I like to talk through some of the things that were covered in the read-alouds as kids' work. 

Be Patient 

Even with the best lesson and lots of practice, patience is going to be an essential element for success. Know that there will be slip-ups and use them as opportunities to revisit the rules and re-teach classroom procedures throughout the year. 

Grab the Classroom Procedures Bundle to Simplify Your Lessons 

Want to make teaching classroom procedures and routines seamless in your room? Make sure to snag the bundle of Classroom Routines Read Alouds! Inside, you get all four books that you can prep and laminate to be used over and over again in your classroom. They take the guesswork out of this process and will help you effectively teach these essential classroom procedures in an age-appropriate and engaging format! Plus, you'll be armed and ready when it's time for a refresher! 

Looking for More Beginning of the Year Tips?

Make sure to check out these posts next! 

• 7 Ideas for Making Student Birthdays Special
• Back to School Resources for a Smooth Year

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Make sure to pin this post on Pinterest so that you can revisit it when you need ideas on how to teach classroom routines in your room.