The Ultimate List of Midyear Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Teacher Appreciation Week is a big deal. But what about the midyear slump, when teachers could really use a boost? We've got your group covered with lots of cool ways to show teachers some love, from school supply charcuterie boards to a "happy halfway there" snack cart (cue the Bon Jovi playlist). 

Restock school supplies with a school supply charcuterie board

You could say themed charcuterie boards are having a moment. We love how this PTA turned a typical school supply bar into a school supply charcuterie board for their teachers - such a fun way for teachers to stock up on much-needed supplies midyear!

@mamamcgoon This staff appreciation week our PTA hosted a School Supply Charcuterie. We included a shopping list of items they were to collect as well as the quantity of each. They had a blast and it was gorgeous! #PTAideas #PTA #schoolsupplies #schoolsupplyshopping #teacherapprecationweek #teacherappreciation #teachers #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #elementaryschool #charcuterieboard #charcuterie ♬ Creative - Smile

Bagel Bar for National Bagel Day (January 15)

"Anyway you slice it, our teachers and staff are the best!" Display bagels and spreads (butter, cream cheese, jams) in the teachers' lounge to celebrate National Bagel Day on January 15.

Popcorn bar for National Popcorn Day (January 19)

Pop some popcorn (or do a walking popcorn bar with individual bags of popcorn instead), grab some mix-ins, and invite teachers to pop by for some treats! Get a popcorn bar sign and treat tags in our year’s worth of appreciation mega bundle!

@ptotoday Love this fun popcorn bar from Soaring Heights for their monthly staff hospitality set up! #teacherappreciation #ptopresident #schoolvolunteerlife #ptolife #ptomomsoftiktok #popcornbar ♬ original sound - PTOToday ✨ School Family Media

"SOUPER" Bowl

We might be stating the obvious here, but the Super Bowl is a great time to serve up some soup in the teachers' lounge. Don't forget the football-shaped stress balls! 😉 Get "For a SOUPER" teacher tags in our FREE school appreciation mega bundle.

Set up a health and wellness bar for teachers

An immunity-boosting wellness bar for teachers is just the boost they need come January. You'll need: a variety of teas, immunity boosters, fresh fruit, hand lotions, chocolate (obviously!), water, and healthier snacks. Get our teacher appreciation wellness bar signs in our FREE school appreciation mega bundle.

@ptotoday A great mid January boost for teachers…a stay healthy bar! 📸 Coastal Elementary PTO #ptopresident #ptapresident #teacherappreciation #selfcare #schoolvolunteerlife #januaryblues ♬ I Think I Like When It Rains - WILLIS

Spread love, not germs

Sharing is caring, but germs are gross...guess which PTO loves you the most? There's nothing teachers and staff appreciate more than a surprise mid-year restock of tissues, hand sanitizer, and cleaning wipes for the classroom! Add immunity-boosters, too, to help teachers keep the germs at bay. 

"Whoaaa, we're halfway there" snack cart (featuring Bon Jovi)

Okay, so maybe Bon Jovi in the flesh can't show up for your teacher appreciation festivities (darn), but we have the next best idea: fire up your Bon Jovi playlist, print out your best Bon Jovi memes (cut out and affix to drinks or snacks), and celebrate that we're (whoaaaaaa) halfway there (and yep, teachers are basically livin' on a prayer at this point). This theme is a fun way to revive teachers come January, or even midweek on a Wednesday. We even found Bon Jovi big head cut outs for those of you with really dedicated sunshine committee volunteers...

Photo credit: Olmito Elementary School PTA, Brownsville, Texas

For those of you who don't like Bon Jovi (um), there's also a "Happy Half Way" woot woot wagon:

Photo credit: Ashburn Elementary PTO, Ashburn, Virginia

Dirty soda bar

We're SODA-lighted to have teachers like you! Here's everything you'll need to organize a dirty soda bar for teachers and staff, including teacher-themed dirty soda drink recipes, free dirty soda bar signage, and a shopping list.

Stock the teachers' lounge with a side of LOLs (meme theme)

Come midyear, most teachers could use a good laugh...and what better way to do that than with a meme? Here’s everything you’ll need (memes included).

@ptotoday Stock the Teachers’ Lounge: Meme Edition #teacherappreciation #PTOlife #ptopresident #ptomomsoftiktok #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #meme ♬ Printer print sound (ink-jet, room) - LEOPARD

Set up a flavored water hydration station for teachers

If you've spent anytime going down the rabbit hole of teacher appreciation ideas on TikTok, you've probably come across #WaterTok, which is basically a jazzed up hydration station. What's fun about #WaterTok is you can change up drink names around the holidays. Jingle Juice or Grinch Water, anyone? Here's how to do #WaterTok hydration station for teacher appreciation (including teacher themed recipes, printable signage, and a list of shopping supplies). We also have a holiday hydration station recipes and signage if your PTO is looking to treat teachers ahead of winter break!

@hearditfromhannah Got this idea from @Adventures of Bella and added our own spin to it! The teachers LOVED it! @PTOToday ✨ School Family Media #ptomom #ptoideas #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationweek #teacherappreciationday #watertok #watertok2023 #elementarymom #elementaryteachers ♬ original sound - Hannah | Midsize & Mom Life

Get a little fancy with an Italian soda bar

Teachers need a break from the 40 ounces of water their Stanley tumblers can hold? We get it. An Italian soda bar is a fun way for teachers to experiment with different flavor profiles to make the perfect fizzing lifting drink to get them to the bell.

@ptotoday A little Italian soda bar treat for teachers before spring break! 📸 @willowvilleelemen #ptomomsoftiktok #teacherappreciation #sodabar #schoolvolunteer #ptopresident #PTOlife #ptapresident ♬ original sound - PTOToday ✨ School Family Media

Blind Date with a Book: Teacher Edition

Valentine's Day also happens to be International Book Giving Day, so hosting a Blind Date with a Book for your teachers is a fun way to show your staff some love. Get tips for setting up a Blind Date with a Book for your teachers, along with a free Blind Date with a Book bunting banner and sign for the teachers' lounge. (And yes, you'll learn how to neatly wrap books, too!).

@ptotoday Middlefield Memorial Parent Teacher Council asked parents to donate lightly-loved books that they thought the school staff would enjoy 😍 The PTC wrapped and stuffed the books with goodies and hosted a "Blind Date with a Book" for school staff on Professional Development day! More teacher morale boosters - hit the link in bio! #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #principalsoftiktok #principal #ptomomsbelike #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciation week #teachersoftiktok #blinddatewithabook #teachermorale #booktok #fyp ♬ Double Trouble (Sped Up) - Swimming Paul

Appreciation station

National Handwriting Day (January 23), Random Acts of Kindness Week (February), World Kindness Day (November 13) and Thanksgiving are all great times to set up a teacher appreciation station where students can write thank you cards and notes to teachers and staff.

@taylor.mart Happy World Kindness Day! Spread some kindness today and every day! This product was kindly #gifted by @Sharpie and @PTOtoday. #schoolcommunityinsider #pto #pta #ptomom #sharpie #teacher #teacherappreciation #teachersoftiktok #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationgift #teachergift #teachergiftideas #giftideas #giftgiving #worldkindnessday #kindness #teacherapprecationweek #thankfulgift #ptotoday ♬ original sound - Taylor

 

Trail mix bar for parent teacher conferences

Help teachers keep their energy levels up with a health trail mix bar. Get more ideas for parent teacher conferences

 

@ptotoday It’s parent teacher conference time, and a trail mix bar is a great way to help teachers keep their energy up 🤪! What’s your PTO doing for teachers? Trail mix bar 📸 @NelsonPTA #parentteacherconference #teacherappreciation #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident ♬ original sound - PTOToday ✨ School Family Media

Over the moon about your staff? Try a camping themed set-up

For National Education Support Staff Day (November 15), Santa Fe PTA treated their star support staff to a camping-themed spread.

You're appreciated S'MORE than you know!

We love this adorbs s'more to go kit for teachers from Mandarin Middle PTSA in Jacksonville, Florida. Tie it to a new year's resolution, like, "Let's make S'MORE good memories this year!"  

 

"Time to Wrap Up Another Year" Wrapping Paper + Tape

If one thing's for certain during the holidays, it's that you can never have too many rolls of wrapping paper or tape! Set up complimentary rolls of wrapping paper, bows, and tape as a thoughtful send-off for teachers before holiday break. Get the free sign in our year’s worth of appreciation mega bundle!

 

Pizza trolley on National Pizza Day (Feb. 9)

From Ted Lasso to pizza puns, we've got your group covered with lots of treat trolley themes to get your teachers through the midyear slump. (Psst: National Pizza Day is February 9.) Get our shoppable list of the supplies, décor, and themed Canva sign templates.

@ptotoday Teacher Trolley Goals 👏 📸 Brookwood Elementary PTO in Enterprise, Alabama #teacherappreciation #ptomomsoftiktok #ptopresident #PTOlife #treattrolley ♬ son original - Whoxver

Mark your cup and drink up at the hot cocoa bar on National Hot Chocolate Day

Celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day (January 31) with a hot cocoa bar for teachers! You'll need hot cocoa packets, whipped cream, cups and holiday cookies, of course. Get a free hot cocoa bar sign in our teacher appreciation holiday printable bundle. 

@ehe_pto Cocoa Bar to keep the teachers Warm #cocoabar #hotchocolate #parentteacherorganization #ptomomsunite ♬ It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year - The Xmas Specials

Teacher coupon books (includes the "gift of time")

Everyone loves a good deal ahead of the holidays, so we created this editable coupon book just for teachers (jeans passes and the "gift of time" included). Download this free editable file here.

Set up a Valentine's Day "Bloom Bar" for teachers

Invite teachers to make their own flower bouquets using loose stems provided by the PTO. Get a free Make Your Own Flower Bouquet sign, part of our DIY treat bars for teachers bundle.