Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year no matter where you spend your days. But you spend them in a school, it’s more magical than one can imagine. With trees filling the corners of every classroom, paper-made snowflakes hanging from the ceilings and the festive post box that lives in every entrance hall over the month of December. As Love Actually’s Billy Mack would sing, Christmas is truly, all around.

In the run up to the big day, we decided to create some seasonal joy of our own, and asked edu-Twitter to share their favourite Christmas memories from teaching with our hashtag #12daysofTesmas.

Putting on a massive and very moving production of A Christmas Soldier with something like 300 kids in it, and managing even to teach the dyspraxic ones to march.

— Sandra Leaton Gray (@drleatongray) December 16, 2018

Such a special time of year in school but always enjoy it when we surprise the children with a staff panto - they love seeing another side to their teachers and it’s great for staff bonding and morale too. My favourite role was as Grumpy Fairy Godmother! #12DaysofTesmas pic.twitter.com/Nf0dkFbSaz

— Daniel Woodrow (@Daniel_Woodrow) December 21, 2018

Watching Veeka (a Russian orphan) open her Christmas presents - was staying with us for the school holidays and her bag of presents from so many people took up half the boot. She didn’t know where to start. She had never experienced anything like this before.

— Magnus Caithness (@mjcaithness) December 20, 2018

Mine was yesterday. Currently a student teacher and seeing all the kids so happy has made my xmas already! Also I’m very shy and they loved how I did the cha cha slide with them 😂 #growingconfidence

— Nicola Taylor (@NTaylor_91) December 21, 2018

In the last seven days I have created a new favourite. Taking 17 sixth form students to visit a local care home. Giving gifts, festive food and spending time singing festive songs. A memory I will never forget and hopefully neither will my students #giving

— MissTy (@jeanettet78) December 16, 2018

Receiving Christmas decorations as gifts from students. I still think of them every year when I decorate the tree.

— Laura Passmore (@LFPassmore) December 20, 2018

More a feeling than a memory.... Party games, word searches, making hats, colouring ("mindfulness") sheets, children having fun and not stressing...and getting thanks from parents. Cards that make me laugh (a saint on the cover with "ty for putting up with him" inside...) 🤔🎄🙂

— Anon Educator (@thursnextus) December 17, 2018

Sorting the Christmas cards and delivering them to every class! Think it began my love of giving x

— RachaELSA (@chael_ray) December 16, 2018

A big thank you to those at Oxford Notebooks, The Happiness Planner, Moi-Meme, The Cruelty-Free Beauty Box, Brown Paper Packages, The Blurt Foundation and Your Bath Box for their contributions and support to the education sector, and this Tes giveaway. You can find more information on the above contributors on their respective websites or social media channels.