June 2025 - Top Floor Teachers

Join us on the Top Floor!

We're Joe and Quyen and we can't wait to share all things teaching with you. By signing up, you will be first in line when we share new ideas and resources. Can't wait to meet you!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time and we can still be friends.

    How to Help Your Child with Writing Over the Summer: 5 Easy and Fun Strategies

    Looking for ways to help your child become a stronger writer over the summer without it turning into a homework battle? You’re not alone. Many parents want to support summer learning, but don’t want to burn out their kids (or themselves) with rigid lessons and worksheets.

    The good news? Building writing skills doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, summer is the perfect time to make writing fun, creative, and connected to everyday life.

    Looking for fun ways to help your child with writing over the summer? These 5 parent-approved strategies will boost creativity and keep skills sharp—with no boring worksheets. Plus, try a kid-loved descriptive writing activity using scented markers!

    Here are five easy ways parents can support writing at home this summer.


    1. Start a Low-Stress Summer Journal

    Encourage your child to keep a casual journal—no prompts or grades required. Just let them write about what they did that day, something that made them laugh, or a weird bug they saw on a walk. Even a few sentences a day can help keep writing muscles strong.


    2. Add Writing to Screen Time

    Turn screen time into a writing opportunity. Ask your child to describe a favorite video game level, rewrite the ending to a movie, or invent a new character for their favorite show. This kind of writing builds creativity, vocabulary, and storytelling skills.


    3. Use Sensory Experiences to Build Descriptive Writing Skills

    Summer is full of sensory moments—sticky popsicles, the smell of sunscreen, the feel of sand under bare feet. These are perfect chances to practice descriptive writing. Ask questions like:

    • What did that taste like?

    • How did it feel?

    • What did it smell like?

    Want an easy way to introduce sensory writing? Try our Scented Marker Descriptive Writing Activities. This engaging printable resource lets kids explore descriptive language through smell-based prompts using fun scented markers. It’s perfect for reluctant writers or creative kids who need a little push.

    Engage your students’ senses and boost their writing skills with this no-prep Smelly Marker Writing Activities pack! Perfect for upper elementary grades, this resource offers a unique and exciting way to incorporate descriptive writing into your classroom.

    4. Write for Real-Life Reasons

    Real-life writing is one of the best ways to show kids why writing matters. Have them:

    • Write a packing list for an upcoming trip

    • Help plan a grocery list

    • Draft a letter to a family member

    • Create a menu for a backyard picnic

    All of these small tasks reinforce writing structure, sequencing, and clear communication.


    5. Connect Reading and Writing

    Reading and writing go hand in hand. After your child reads a book or watches a movie, ask questions like:

    • What would you change about the ending?

    • Which character would you want to be friends with?

    • What do you think happens next?

    They can answer verbally, draw a comic, or write a short paragraph—whatever feels right.


    Make Writing Fun This Summer

    You don’t have to be a teacher to support your child’s writing this summer. With simple, hands-on strategies, writing can become a natural part of your daily routine. Whether it’s journaling, sensory prompts, or real-life lists, the goal is the same: keep your child’s creativity flowing and their confidence growing.

    Want a ready-to-go writing activity that kids won’t roll their eyes at? Grab our Scented Marker Descriptive Writing Pack. It’s fun, easy to use, and helps kids practice vivid language in a hands-on way.

    0

    Dear Teacher: You're Allowed to Rest This Summer (No Guilt Required)

    Let’s just say it: you made it through the school year, and that alone is heroic. You wrangled chaos, managed deadlines, diffused conflict, powered through testing season, and (somehow) still taught actual content. Now it’s summer, and your brain might be having a hard time shifting gears.

    If you’re someone who struggles to fully relax in the summer (hi, we see you), here are a few ways to unwind without that pesky teacher guilt creeping in.

    Teacher lounging in a chair with books and an apple in the background

    1. Redefine “Productivity”

    Rest is productive. Rewatching old sitcoms? Rest. Taking a mid-morning walk with iced coffee in hand? Rest. Not responding to a single school-related email until August 1st? Rest. You don’t have to earn rest by being hyper-productive in other areas. It’s already earned.

    2. Unplug From Teacher Instagram (Temporarily)

    Yes, even us. We love teacher content as much as anyone, but the summer spiral of “I should be prepping my classroom right now” is real. Mute the accounts if you need to. Or give yourself a rule: scroll guilt-free for 15 minutes, then log off and go touch some grass.

    3. Pick a Hobby With No Endgame

    Try something you’re not trying to monetize, grade, or turn into a side hustle. Paint-by-number kits, Lego builds, learning guitar chords, or even playing through video games you missed during the year. The only goal? Enjoying yourself.

    4. Plan One Thing a Week—Max

    Teachers often swing between over-planning and complete “what day is it?” chaos. Try the middle ground. Put one fun thing on the calendar each week (beach day, bookstore trip, brunch), and leave the rest open. You’ll have things to look forward to without feeling overbooked.

    5. Trust That You’ll Flip the Switch When It’s Time

    The teacher part of your brain never really shuts off, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in planning mode 24/7. Trust that when August rolls around, you’ll be ready. You always are.


    Bonus Tip: Do Tiny Things for Future You—Only If It Feels Good

    Maybe it does bring you joy to print out some fresh classroom labels or prep the first few vocab words of the year. If that kind of thing scratches your “future me will thank me” itch, go for it. If not? Skip it. No gold stars are handed out for laminating in July.

    (And hey, if vocab is your thing… we might know a daily word routine that makes planning a breeze—just saying.)


    TL;DR: You Don’t Need to Justify Rest
    You are not a better teacher because you spent your summer prepping. You’re a better teacher when you’re rested, recharged, and maybe a little sun-kissed. Permission to relax: granted.


    Want more tips and relatable content from real teachers? Come hang out with us on Instagram @topfloorteachers! No pressure, no guilt, just real talk.

    0
    Back to Top