Welcome to Christmas in July at Little Yellow Star—a month-long celebration filled with free teaching resources and back to school giveaways designed to make your new school year easier, calmer, and more joyful. 🌟
Whether you’re still enjoying summer or already prepping for August, this is your one-stop hub for daily freebies, tips, and tools to support your classroom success.
***Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you purchase through the link from my blog. Thank you for your support!
Table of Content
- What is Christmas in July for Teachers?
- Free Teaching Resources
- Free Resources Calendar Chart
- What Resource(s) Are You Going To Use Later?
🎁 What Is Christmas in July for Teachers?
It’s 25 days of completely free teaching resources—from classroom management tools to editable templates—all created with love and experience from one teacher to another.
Each day in July, you’ll receive a brand-new back to school giveaway, plus a blog post sharing exactly how to use the resource and why it matters.
These printables and digital tools are classroom-ready, time-saving, and made to support you during one of the busiest times of the year.
Why You’ll Love It:
✔️ Classroom-tested and teacher-approved
✔️ Saves time and energy in the back-to-school rush
✔️ Helps build confidence, routines, and community from day one
✔️ Easy to download, print, and customize
📅 Free Teaching Resources
🎄 Day 1: Meet the Teacher Letter Template
Let’s start with first impressions! Today’s free teaching resource is a beautifully designed Meet the Teacher Letter Template. These pastel tone templates have been many teachers’ favorite free template for years! Grab them here.
I also have a customizable Minimalist School Color Canva version so you can share a warm, personal introduction with students and their families. This small touch makes a big difference when building trust and connection at the start of the year.
Please Note: Every educator is eligible for a free Canva Pro license!
👉 Read more & download here
🎄 Day 2: Editable Monthly Classroom Newsletter
Whether your school requires newsletters or not, sending a monthly update can seriously help strengthen that home-school connection. Today’s freebie makes it easy with eye-catching templates you can drop into Google Slides or Canva—no design skills needed!
✨ Boho Rainbow version included (a crowd favorite for a reason!), plus:
✅ Gnome Theme
✅ Ocean Theme
✅ Retro Theme
Want to go weekly instead? You can grab the editable Canva version too. Just a heads-up: teachers can sign up for Canva Pro for free!
💌 This little routine helped me avoid parent confusion, share shoutouts, and keep everyone in the loop with way less effort.
🎄 Day 3: Boho Rainbow Birthday Board + Center Rotation Slides
Free Classroom Decor + Management Tools: Today we’re mixing a little ✨cute✨ with a whole lot of function!
🎁 Boho Rainbow Birthday Board
Celebrate your students all year with this editable display—it adds charm and shows each kiddo you care on their special day.
🎁 Boho Rainbow Center Rotation Slides
Ready to ditch center time chaos? These slides help you organize your groups for math, literacy, or morning work—all with a clean, calming vibe.
These are teacher favorites for a reason—and they pair perfectly with any Rainbow Boho classroom theme.
P.S. More classroom management + decor goodies are coming soon, so stay tuned!
🎄 Day 4: Meet the Teacher Checklist + Parent/Student Activity
Free Meet the Teacher Night Helpers
Let’s be real—Meet the Teacher Night is a lot. So today’s freebie is all about helping you stay organized and make a great first impression.
✅ Meet the Teacher Checklist – So you don’t forget the forms, the sign-in sheet, or your own name 😅
✅ 3-2-1 Parent & Student Activity – A simple, fun way to get to know your new families while they explore the classroom.
These little touches go a long way in building trust and making that whirlwind night feel smooth.
🎄 Day 5: Family Interview Worksheet
Free Printable Family Interview Form
Want to build better relationships with your students and their families from day one? This worksheet makes it easier.
Instead of asking, “Tell me about your child,” this interview guide helps you get the kind of info that actually helps—strengths, needs, and what makes each kid shine ✨
Perfect for Meet the Teacher night, Open House, or even scheduled one-on-ones during the first few weeks.
✅ Printable Family Interview Form
It’s one of those small things that makes a big difference all year long.
🎄 Day 6: Classroom Procedures + Hand Signal Posters
Free Procedures Checklist & Visual Hand Signals
Let’s talk routines! Today’s resource is all about setting clear expectations right from Day 1—because teaching procedures early saves so much time (and sanity) later on.
🎁 What’s included:
✅ A Classroom Procedures Checklist to help you cover all the must-haves
✅ Hand Signal Posters for common needs like water, bathroom, and help—so students can communicate silently and respectfully
I used to revisit these after every long break to keep everything running smoothly. These tools just make life easier.
🎄 Day 7: Positive Behavior Rewards
Free Reward System + Class Incentive Templates
Encouraging the good stuff? Yes, please! Today’s freebies are all about positive reinforcement—with simple, fun systems your class will love.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A Class Reward Ideas Sheet to spark your creativity
✅ Templates for Brownie Points & Class Goal—super fun and super effective
Whether you’re using Class Dojo or a paper system, these little rewards help build a motivated classroom community.
🎄 Day 8: Free Reflection Sheets & Behavior Support Resources
Free Reflection Sheets & Behavior Support Resources
Today’s resources are designed with care—for students who need a little extra support learning to manage their emotions and choices.
🎁 Included in today’s download:
✅ Behavior Reflection Sheet to help kids think through their actions
✅ Weekly Tracker to monitor patterns over time
✅ Check-In/Check-Out Booklet for building consistent habits
These are gentle, helpful tools—no shame, just support.
🎄 Day 9: Class Jobs
Free Classroom Job Cards
Let’s give your students a chance to shine! Class jobs build responsibility and ownership—and let’s be honest, being Line Leader is a huge deal to a 2nd grader.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ Editable Job Cards and Clipper Sheet
✅ Perfect for bulletin boards or clip systems
These roles help students feel important, trusted, and part of something bigger.
🎄 Day 10: Feeling Thermometer Poster
If your students ever say “I don’t know how I feel”… this one’s for you.
🎁 Today’s resource:
✅ A Feeling Thermometer Poster with visual cues to help kids name their emotions
It’s a simple way to build emotional literacy—and a great addition to your Calm Down Corner during the first week of school.
🎄 Day 11: Breathing Poster + Grounding Technique
Free Mindfulness Posters for Calm Down Corners
Calm Down Corners aren’t time-out zones—they’re safe spaces. Today’s tools help students regulate when things get overwhelming.
🎁 Today’s free posters:
✅ A Breathing Poster
✅ A Grounding Technique Poster to help kids return to the present moment
These visuals are great for your corner, bulletin board, or SEL station.
🎄 Day 12: Free Month of SEL Morning Meeting Slides
Free Month of SEL Slides + Printable Booklet
It’s easy to want to do SEL—and hard to keep it up. That’s why today’s freebie is a game-changer: ready-to-use SEL slides for every school day in a month.
🎁 What you’ll get:
✅ Daily Morning Meeting Slides with thoughtful, student-friendly prompts
✅ A printable student booklet version for easy engagement
This was one of the most loved routines in my classroom—and now I’m sharing it with you.
🎄 Day 13: Superhero SEL Activity Worksheet
Free SEL Read-Aloud Companion
Let’s make big feelings feel a little easier to talk about—with superheroes! Today’s freebie pairs perfectly with Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker (one of my favorites for the first week).
🎁 What’s inside:
✅ A reflection worksheet where students explore how superheroes might act when they feel mad, sad, or overwhelmed—and what they can do, too!
This worksheet is great after your read-aloud, but also works solo as an SEL conversation starter.
🎄 Day 14: Reading & Writing Stamina Tracker
Free Printable Tracker + Launch Guide
Tired of students losing focus after five minutes of reading or writing? Today’s freebie is a game-changer for building endurance without the eye rolls.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A Stamina Tracker printable your students can use to set goals, track growth, and celebrate focus time
✅ A step-by-step blog post that shows exactly how to launch it in your classroom
Start strong and stay consistent—it works!
🎄 Day 15: First Day of Alien School Writing Activity
Free Creative Writing Printable
Today’s freebie flips first-day nerves into an imaginative, silly writing adventure your kids will love.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A writing prompt + printable pages where students imagine their first day at an alien school—or aliens joining our school
✅ Space-themed writing templates, perfect for bulletin boards or portfolios
Fun, weird, and totally effective for kicking off writing time.
🎄 Day 16: Back-to-School Passport Activity
Free Printable Student Passport
This foldable passport turns your first week of school into a friendly classroom adventure!
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A Back-to-School Passport full of fun “missions” that help students get to know each other, the classroom, and routines
✅ Great for morning work, early finishers, or community-building breaks
Kids love collecting stamps, stickers, or teacher initials as they go!
🎄 Day 17: Math Review Games
Free Jeopardy + Multiplication Picture Hunt
Let’s make math fun again! 🎉 These games review key skills without boring drills—and your students will actually want to play them.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ Editable Math Jeopardy Game
✅ Multiplication Picture Hunt—solve problems and reveal a hidden image!
Perfect for review, assessment, or sub days.
🎄 Day 18: Guided Center Rotation Slides with Timers
Free Editable Slides with Timers
Center time just got smoother! Today’s resource helps keep students on-task with zero chaos.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ Editable Center Rotation Slides with built-in timers
✅ Includes 3 versions:
Your students always know where to go and what to do—no reminders needed.
🎄 Day 19: Multiplication & Division Timed Tests
Free Printable Timed Tests
Let’s build math fluency in quick, meaningful bursts—without the stress.
🎁 Today’s freebie includes:
✅ Multiplication Timed Test
✅ Division Timed Test
Perfect for warm-ups, centers, quick checks, or homework. Track growth weekly to build confidence and speed.
🎄 Day 20: Creative Math Puzzle
Free Independent Math Activity
Need something fun and challenging that works for sub days or fast finishers? I’ve got you.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A Creative Math Puzzle that builds logic, problem-solving, and strategy skills—all in one printable
It’s quiet, engaging, and doesn’t need much explanation (aka perfect for busy days or emergencies).
🎄 Day 21: Growth Mindset Morning Meeting Slides
Free Week of SEL Morning Meetings
Let’s teach students how to grow through challenges, not just get through them.
🎁 What’s inside:
✅ 5 Days of Growth Mindset Morning Meeting Slides with prompts, questions, and short video suggestions
✅ Printable version of the S.T.E.P. strategy—an easy-to-remember acronym for real-world problem solving
Use them all in one week or sprinkle them in as needed.
🎄 Day 22: KWL Chart (Printable + Digital)
Free Classic KWL Chart
Sometimes simple = powerful. Today’s freebie is a timeless tool for activating thinking and tracking learning.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ A printable KWL Chart
✅ A Google Slides version for digital use
Perfect for unit launches, small groups, or reflection—and works across subjects and grade levels.
🎄 Day 23: Editable Emergency Sub Plan
Free Editable Emergency Sub Plan
Let’s make those “just in case” days way less stressful. Today’s freebie is a must-have for every classroom—because emergencies don’t come with prep time.
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ An Editable Sub Plan Template (Google Slides + Canva!)
✅ Sections for your daily schedule, student info, helpful tips, class routines, and more
Fill it out once and have peace of mind all year. It’s clean, simple, and easy to update when things change mid-year!
🎄 Day 24: Ocean & Space Themed Center Rotation Slides
Free Station Slides for Your Themed Classroom
Sticking to your classroom theme and keeping things organized? Yes, please!
Today’s freebie includes beautifully designed Center Rotation Slides for two of the most popular classroom themes:
🎁 You’ll get:
✅ Ocean Theme Station Rotation Slides
✅ Space Theme Station Rotation Slides
Each set is editable in Google Slides and includes built-in timers to make transitions smooth and stress-free.
Perfect for math, literacy, morning tubs, and more—without losing your class theme vibe!
🎄 Day 25: IB PYP Unit of Inquiry Display Kit (Digital & Printable)
Free PYP Bulletin Board Display Pack
We’ve made it to Day 25—and we’re finishing strong with a beautiful and functional display kit made especially for PYP or MVP teachers.
🎁 You’ll get the full Unit of Inquiry Display Kit:
✅ Digital version for your virtual classroom
✅ Printable version for your bulletin boards
✅ Editable headers and labels for each element of your IB display
This resource is designed to make your classroom look intentional and help students engage with their learning journey from day one.
📅 Free Teaching Resources Calendar: Updated Daily!
Come back every day in July to grab the latest freebie and read the full blog post. This running list will link to each day’s featured free teaching resource as it’s released.
| Day | Free Teaching Resource | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meet the Teacher Letter Template | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 2 | Editable Monthly Classroom Newsletter | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 3 | Boho Rainbow Birthday Board + Station Roation Slides | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 4 | Meet the Teacher Checklist + Parent/Student Activity | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 5 | Family Interview Worksheet | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 6 | Classroom Procedures + Hand Signal Posters | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 7 | Free Reward System + Class Incentive Templates | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 8 | Behavior Support Resources | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 9 | Editable Class Jobs Chart | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 10 | Feeling Thermometer Poster | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 11 | Breathing Poster + Grounding Technique | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 12 | Free Month of SEL Slides + Printable Booklet | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 13 | Superhero SEL Activity Worksheet | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 14 | Reading & Writing Stamina Tracker | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 15 | First Day of Alien School Writing Activity | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 16 | Back-to-School Passport Activity | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 17 | Math Review Games | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 18 | Guided Center Rotation Slides with Timers | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 19 | Multiplication & Division Timed Tests | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 20 | Free Independent Math Activity | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 21 | Growth Mindset Morning Meeting Slides | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 22 | KWL Chart (Printable + Digital) | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 23 | Editable Sub Plan Template | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 24 | Ocean & Space Themed Center Rotation Slides | 🎄 Read More & Download |
| 25 | IB PYP Unit of Inquiry Display Kit | 🎄 Read More & Download |
Check Out Capybara-Theme Daily Reflection Journals For Kids!
🎉 Back to School Magic, One Freebie at a Time
This collection of back to school giveaways is more than just printables—it’s a way to feel supported, seen, and ready for the new year. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned pro, you deserve tools that work with you.
Each free teaching resource was made with intention to lighten your load and bring joy into your planning.
💌 Don’t Miss a Freebie!
Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter so you never miss a day—and feel free to share this link with your teacher besties! Let’s make Christmas in July a new favorite tradition full of gifts, gratitude, and great ideas.
Follow me on the different social media platforms get the latest posting of freebies and new resources below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleYellowStar
Instagram: @littleyellowstarteaches
Happy teaching!
Prima at LittleYellowStar
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Other Blog Posts That You Might Enjoy:
- 15 Minutes Daily Social And Emotional Learning Activities For The Classroom (SEL Made Easy)
- How To Offer Growth Mindset Praise Effectively
- 3 Activities To Introduce Growth Mindset
