Calling all kindergarten teachers

[KarlaB]

I am trying to come up with an extra special idea for ds's class to do for his teacher at the end of the year. What are some of your favorite gifts? I don't know that some of the parents would be willing to contribute any $$, so I thought about having them make something - like maybe a canvas tote bag with all of their handprints on it along with the class year? And then ds would just give her a gift certificate type gift on his own. She is just wonderful and I was thinking a sentimental/keepsake type gift from the class (or are those over done?) and then something more of a personal treat for her from ds. Am I making sense? LOL! Please share your fav ideas with me. :)

[kat]

Some of my very favorites have been plants. I'm looking at one right now a student gave me several years ago. It's really a kind of tree. I need to re-pot it because it's outgrown it's current pot. I think of the little girl who gave it to me evey time I see it. I hang tiny little candy canes on it every Christmas and think of her. I also have a beautiful dogwood that my students gave me one year.

[MaryL]

A couple of years ago, one of my room moms used her thumbprint and put little white thumbprints on an oversized red t-shirt. She used a black laundry marker and added arms, legs, faces, and hair. She also wrote a different child's name next to each thumbprint. I think the top of the shirt says, "Mrs. L******* is Thumbbody special to us!" I use it as an exercise/sleep shirt. It's adorable!!!!! I'm sure it didn't cost much, but I love it! I received a lilac bush from one of my classes last year...it's just starting to "come back to life" after the winter.

One year my room mom sent home a piece of paper for each child to draw a picture of themselves and me! Then the room mom collected them (She had parents return them to her in a large yellow envelope! Sneaky!) and she compiled them into a booklet. At the bottom of each page it said, "I loved Kindergarten because........................ and the children (with their parent's help) completed the sentence.

I also have a video tape from one of my classes. A parent came into school one afternoon, and while the dks were at phy. ed. class (I think?!) she pulled each one aside and videotaped each child saying "thank you" to me. That was touching! These parents are so clever!!!!!! :)

[KarlaB]

Thank you!! What neat ideas! I'm gonna run them by the other room mom and see what she thinks! Thanks!! :)

[lindaM]

dd class did a canvas apron with handprints along with art supplies for the class room last year.

[angie r]

Those are such cute ideas!! I am having two Mary Engelbreit prints framed for my kids teachers this year.

[littlesista06]

Last year, I bought a huge terra cotta pot and had the kids all put their handprint on it in primary colors and they took a Sharpie pen and wrote their name under the handprint. Then I planted impatients (I think) in it and had to roll the darn thing to school in dd's wagon!! ROFL

The teacher did like it, though.

Let us know what you go with. I've got to think of something really special for dd's teacher too, it's been an incredible year!

[KarlaB]

Linda and Amy - How and where did you get all of the handprints donw without the teacher knowing?

Amy - LOVE the terra cotta pot idea! I was actually considering doing a bigger version of what we did for ds's preschool teacher last year. We used a smaller pot and made flowers on it using the ds's thumb and fingerprints, drew a stem, and added fingerprint leaves. Around the top rim of the pot I wrote, "Thanks for helping me grow." It's time consuming though and I'm not sure how I'd get thru his class without her knowing what we were up to. :\

[littlesista06]

Originally posted by KarlaB
Linda and Amy - How and where did you get all of the handprints donw without the teacher knowing?

Amy - LOVE the terra cotta pot idea! I was actually considering doing a bigger version of what we did for ds's preschool teacher last year. We used a smaller pot and made flowers on it using the ds's thumb and fingerprints, drew a stem, and added fingerprint leaves. Around the top rim of the pot I wrote, "Thanks for helping me grow." It's time consuming though and I'm not sure how I'd get thru his class without her knowing what we were up to. :\

Amy??????????????? Did someone named Amy post and I'm missing it????? ?( ?( ?(


LOL

[lindaM]

We had help from the librarian. On library day we did a few kids every week for a couple of weeks in a row. The teacher didn't go to library so she had no clue!!

[MaryL]

My room parents typically pull the kids aside during phy ed class. (Now...I can't say I didn't know "something" was going on. ;) I mean...come on, these are 5 year olds! They don't keep secrets well!;) )

I think it's perfectly fine to be "evasive"...but find out from the teacher when a good time to work on a secret project with the children would be. The children love feeling like they are in on some big secret! :)

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by littlesista06


Amy??????????????? Did someone named Amy post and I'm missing it????? ?( ?( ?(


LOL

Oops! Guess I need to actually concentrate and pay attention when posting. :rolleyes: LOL! sorry :tinysmile

[KarlaB]

Thanks Mary! I'll talk to her this week and try to get a day planned. :)

[littlesista06]

Originally posted by KarlaB


Oops! Guess I need to actually concentrate and pay attention when posting. :rolleyes: LOL! sorry :tinysmile


LOL!! That's okay, you're allowed what, one mistake here? ;)

Well, let's hear it from the Amy's then! Know Imamama hasn't done the school thing yet, but she's a crafty one! ;)

To answer your question - I just took the kids around the corner. The teacher knew I was up to something, just not what.