The Ultimate List of Midyear Teacher Appreciation Ideas
From teacher hydration stations to "Whoa, we're half way there" snack carts (cue the Bon Jovi playlist), here are some of the coolest ways to celebrate teachers midyear!
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5, 2025) 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"
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
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 (February 9, 2025) 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.
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
"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
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 (printable memes included).
@ptotoday Stock the Teachers’ Lounge: Meme Edition #teacherappreciation #PTOlife #ptopresident #ptomomsoftiktok #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #meme ♬ Printer print sound (ink-jet, room) - LEOPARD
Put the fun back into drinking water with a hydration station
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
Appreciation station
With World Kindness Day (November 13) and Thanksgiving happening within a few weeks of each other, November is the perfect time to set up an appreciation station for families and students to write thankful notes to anyone in the school community that they're thankful for!
@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 in 2025!"
"Time to Wrap Up Another Year"
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!
Because the sound of a treat trolley coming down the hallway is the best sound they'll hear all day...
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
You'll need hot cocoa packets, whipped cream, cups and holiday cookies, of course!
@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
Coupon books, just for teachers
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.
