Every single year, without fail, Valentine’s Day manages to sneak up on me. I don’t know how it happens, but it does. You’d think February would feel fast, after all, it’s the shortest month of the year, but somehow it stretches on like a slow-motion snowstorm. Time seems to crawl between winter break and spring break. Maybe it’s the never-ending cycle of sickness going around, the constant reshuffling of lesson plans because of snow days, or the general grayness that takes over this time of year. Whatever the reason, I always find myself dragging and, let’s be honest, a little grumpy.
Now, you would think that with time moving at a snail’s pace, I’d be ahead of the game — Valentine’s Day plans neatly wrapped up with a bow. But nope. Every year, without fail, I glance at the calendar and realize it’s February 13th. Cue the panic. Cue the mad scramble. Cue me digging through the junk drawer and wondering how quickly I can throw together 50+ valentines for my students that don’t involve me maxing out my Target budget.
As a reading specialist, I see anywhere from 50 to 75 students a day. That’s a lot of little hearts to shower with something sweet, and a lot of money if I’m buying individual valentines or treats. And so, this year, in a rare twist of fate, I actually had a last-minute light bulb moment before the final countdown. On February 9th (a record for me), I whipped up something simple, fun, and totally on-brand: reading-themed Valentine’s Day bookmarks!
I knew I couldn’t be the only teacher caught in this annual Valentine’s Day time warp, so I’m sharing them with you — for FREE. These bookmarks are cute, easy to prep, budget-friendly, and most importantly, they still feel thoughtful.
Here’s what’s included in the free download:
- Four unique bookmark designs:
- Read your heart out!
- You’re #1 in my book!
- Happy Valentine’s Day!
- I’m Read-iculously glad you are my Valentine!
- A color version to print and go.
- A black-and-white version students can color themselves.
Each sheet prints four bookmarks to a page, so you can run off a class set in just a few clicks. Print them on cardstock, trim them quickly, and you’ve got a Valentine your students will actually use. One that celebrates reading and shows you care.
Want them delivered straight to your inbox? Just [sign up for my email list] and you’ll get instant access to this freebie, plus future time-saving resources designed just for busy reading teachers like you.
Seriously, these bookmarks have saved me from total Valentine’s Day meltdown—and I hope they’ll help you too.
Now I want to hear from you: What’s your go-to way to show your students a little extra love on Valentine’s Day? Drop a comment below or reply to the email with the link to download your bookmarks. I’m always looking for simple and meaningful ideas to tuck away for next year (or, let’s be honest, February 13th!).
