BLOGS > AUGUST 14, 2020
BY AMY RAEMONT
Just like everything else we've done this year, we're going to have to think outside the box. We can still celebrate all our students have accomplished – and we should, given the year they've had! There are dozens of tools out there that will help us make it memorable, we just need to get creative – and isn’t that what we’re known for?
Zoom Party
While connecting with classmates and loved ones over Zoom is something most of us have already been doing, it’s probably the best platform for large group gatherings. Design your Zoom virtual celebration with your occasion in mind and make it special using these tips.
Create your invitations using ZmURL. You can customize the invitation’s URL with your class pet’s name, your school mascot, anything that’s memorable! Use your own image for the invitation to make it more personalized and ask invitees to RSVP – that way you can give out the join code privately and avoid Zoombombers.
Want to make this classroom meeting feel different?
The Entertainment
Hiring a magician or princess or superhero may not be in the budget, but anyone can play the part! Find someone who dabbles in magic or acting and ask them to put together a half-hour program for your students. Give them a theme (maybe surrounding a unit you completed during the year or a science concept you studied) and ask the performer to work key words or ideas into their show.
Play a round of The Masked Singer on Zoom using Flipgrid! (Read this story about a New York school’s faculty playing this game – and see examples!) Students interested in performing (perhaps a Flocabulary song?) can use Flipgrid to submit a 90-second video of their performance with an emoji covering their face. Then on party day, the teacher can use this customizable template to run the game via Zoom. No singers in the group? How about a masked reader?
The Food
The best part of hosting your end-of-the-year party over Zoom is that you don’t need to prepare any snacks or drinks! But you’ll want to end with a toast to the hard work you did – so ask students to come prepared with a drink (anything from lemonade to sparkling water) and a simple snack. At the end of your party, take a moment to remind your students that even though the classroom environment changed, the community didn’t. They deserve cheers!
AMY RAEMONT
Copywriter
Amy Raemont spent 12 years in the classroom as a high school English and journalism teacher, and five years as an instructional technology coach. She’s a Google Certified Educator and Google Certified Trainer. Her love of technology started in eighth grade when she received her first computer, a Radio Shack TRS-80.
We're Book People: The Summer Reads That Made Us Readers
June 5, 2026
Maybe it was a rainy afternoon, a long road trip in the back of the minivan, or a reason to convince mom for a trip out of the house to the library. For most of us who found our way...
Read more
Bilingual STEAM Books Your Youngest Learners Will Love
May 29, 2026
STEAMWORKS from Charlesbridge is an engaging way to introduce young learners to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through story, character, and entertaining problem-solving. These books feature children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific, mathematical, and creative thinking to solve everyday problems and...
Read more
Follett Content is now serving public libraries – here's what you need to know.
May 25, 2026
You may know Follett Content as a trusted partner for K-12 school libraries. But we’ve expanded our reach, and public libraries are at the center of that growth.If you’re a public librarian evaluating vendors, exploring options for adult book fulfillment,...
Read more
Graphic Novels Your Students Will Love from Annick Press
May 21, 2026
The intricately crafted worlds and dynamic characters of graphic novels capture the imagination of students of all ages, no matter where they are in their literary journey. These worlds foster deeper cultural understanding while the narratives hone critical thinking skills crucial to...
Read more
Best-Selling SEL Professional Development from Norton Books in Education
May 19, 2026
Cutting-edge research continues to confirm that teaching students social and emotional skills provides enduring behavioral and learning benefits for academic and lifelong success. These hands-on professional development titles from Norton provide school leaders and classroom teachers in Grades K-12 with SEL tools and strategies grounded...
Read more
The Adult Title Fulfillment Gap in Public Libraries – and What It Means for Collection Development
May 18, 2026
For decades, a major player in the public library space was one of the most relied-upon sources for adult print titles.When that leading library book vendor exited the public library distribution market, it created a gap that collections professionals are...
Read more