We all have that special memory from our school years: our birthday celebrations. Those little parties and recognition from our teachers and friends made our day truly unforgettable, didn’t they? But, remember the ones with summer birthdays? Often, they missed the fun at school. As a summer-born myself, I know the feeling.
So, today, let’s brainstorm some fun, engaging, and pocket-friendly ways to celebrate each student’s birthday, focusing especially on our summer-born stars. Here are three innovative ideas that worked wonders for me!
Celebrate Students with a V.I.P. Pass
It’s simple, yet so effective! Choose a day to celebrate summer-born students individually. Call it their V.I.P. day. For instance, “Sarah Day.” Even though it isn’t their actual birthday, who wouldn’t love a special day dedicated to them?
Here’s what you can do for students on their VIP day:
- Let them pick their seat
- Choose the morning or dismissal song
- End their work 5 minutes earlier
- Decide who they eat lunch with
Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Student Birthdays
Gifts never fail to bring smiles! You can opt for pencils, birthday hats, or my personal favorite – academic games. I’ve found success gifting Grammar Games and Math Games from my TPT shop. I simply apply laminated birthday labels to a ziplock bag or a pencil container, prep the game, and voila!
Click here to check out my Grammar Games and Math Games on my TPT store!
Alternatively, let students pick a prize from your surprise box. A surprise box is similar to a treasure box, except students can’t see what’s inside. It’s such a fun twist! The prizes inside are a surprise.
Check out this post to learn more about implementing surprise boxes in your classroom.
Creating a Class Birthday Book
Finally, let’s discuss something that I absolutely love doing – creating a class birthday book. The best part? Keep it a secret from the birthday star. Have your students complete it during centers or small groups. You can even send the birthday student on an errand to maintain the suspense!
If you want to get inspired with other ideas for building positive relationships with your students, make sure you read this blog post too! I’ll share five tips for building a positive community.
I hope these tips help you celebrate each of your students’ birthdays with equal enthusiasm and joy. After all, each student deserves to feel special on their day, right? So, let’s hop to it! With school just around the corner, it’s time to plan for them.
Keep on teaching, and keep on inspiring!
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