teacher appreciation...

[JAK]

week is next week. Are any of you doing anything special for your dk's teachers? In the past I have always given a gift, something personal for the teacher. This year dd has only been in the class for 2 1/2 months and I don't really know her teacher. Her other teachers have been very friendly and outgoing and I can say that each of them became my friend because I volunteered so much in the classroom. This teacher doesn't really seem to want me to volunteer (which is fine) but she seem kind of standoffish. I want to do something for her (my dd really likes her). I'm just not sure what.

What you you and/or your dk's do?

[AnnW]

I have never done individual gifts for teacher appreciation, but our school does monthly teacher appreciation luncheons hosted by the parents.

[Bjay]

For teacher app at my school (where I am a preschool teacher) our administrator distributes a page to all the families "tell something special about your teacher" and then there is a space to draw your teacher. They bind it into a book and present it to us. It was too cute - didn't cost a thing - and meant alot.

[KarlaB]

There isn't an official teacher appreciation for dks teachers, but at the end of the year I give them something. Last year I got them something from Bath & Body Works and think I'll do the same this year for youngest ds's teachers - he has three and they are AWESOME! :)

[kathleen]

My plan is to take a small gift to my son's teacher and teaching assistant each day with a picture drawn by my son (if he wants to cooperate -- his ideas and mine do not always mesh). On the back will be a thank you ...

one day thanking them for their kindness...with a small gift, like their favorite donuts (I had my son ask them what their favorite was.); one day thanking them for their patience...with a small vase of daisies; one day thanking them for their guidance...with a small candle or picture frame, stickers, stamps, school stuff, etc.

I haven't seen anything from his school about participating in a school-wide thing, so I thought this would be OK to do.

I read somewhere (PTA.org messageboard, I believe) where the PTA placed a vase in each teacher's room, then sent home a note about each kid handing the teacher a flower to put in the vase -- the PTA was there that morning with extras in case a child didn't/couldn't bring one.

Whatever I do, I cannot thank his (or any) teacher enough for all that they do! You may want to check the PTA bulletin/message board for more ideas.

Kathleen.

[JeannieOR]

Please Acknowledge our teachers every day...

Mon: Bring a flower
Tues: Note of appreciatation
Wed: A piece of fruit
Thurs: Office Supplies
Fri: A little special treat


Now, am I the only one who thinks this is tacky? :grimace:

I feel like I'm being dicatated to. It really rubs me the wrong way.

[Leigh]

I think that teachers deserve to be appreciated. I mean after all they are teaching our most valuable possessions, but I do not think that it should be a forced issue. Maybe the PTA didn't mean for it to sound the way it did. Maybe they were just trying to give ideas to people. I used to always buy my teacher or teachers one gift for teacher appreciation day.I never bought one gift for each day of the week, but then again I only remember having teacher appreciation days. I never remember having it for a week.

[JAK]

Our PTA did the exact same thing-
One day a note from your child, next day flower, one day a piece of friut and another day a candy bar- onr Friday they are having a potato bake (parents have already volunteered to take care of that).
I don't really like that they send the note home- I don't really want to send in all those things!

[Reb]

I think it's sad that you can't spend 5 days to say how much you appreciate all your child's teacher does. As a teacher myself I know how much time I spend each night doing the mundane things, not to mention the special projects to make parents memorable gifts. I certainly don't do them to get a the week of free things, but I think we should be appreciated more! Is it really that much trouble? Please walk a mile in our shoes!

[Ryleigh]

I'm a teacher too!! And while it's always great to know and be told how much you are appreciated I don't think it is right to dictate to families that they bring things for the teacher, what to bring and when to bring it. Some how that takes all the "appreciation" out of it. They are bringing the gifts because they have been told to.
Some families are on a very strick budget that even an extra apple can make a difference.
When my students and their families show there appreciation it's because they CHOOSE to, not because they feel obligated to because the PTA said so. Sometimes just a smile or a hug, can mean more than any gift a child could bring.

[JeannieOR]

Yeah! that's what I'm talking about :thumb:

Today, my kids took apples to their teachers on flower day. :brow:

[JAK]

Did I state something wrong to give Reb the impression that I didn't want to show my dd's teacher that I appreciate her?

I was just asking to see what others were doing for their dk's teachers.

I don't agree with the PTA sending out a list to tell us what to bring on what day. I think it should be a personal choice. I don't know what a person would do with 20-30 pieces of fruit or candy bars in one day. Just a thought...

My dd did write her teacher a nice note and we gave her a teacher container full of chocolate (dd picked it out).

[angie r]

My neighbor made the cutest appreciation gifts for her ds's teacher. She took the green containers that you get tomatoes/strawberries in and ran ribbon all through them and filled it with those strawberry candies. They are soooo neat. She made them for the teachers and assistants AND the bus driver and her assistant.

I agree with appreciating teachers everyday! Thank you all for educating our children.

[Ryleigh]

While my little ones show up with little trinkets for me every once in a while, I think the kindest gift I ever recieved I just got this past Fri.
A little girl in my class came in quietly approched me when her classmates were busy playing. She tapped me on the arm and handed me a BIG bunch on dandilions that she had picked on her way to school. It must have taken her quite a while because I think by the size of the bouquet she cleared someones lawn. She looked at me shyly and said " is it ok if I give you these flowers for Mother's Day? I don't have a Mommy, but you always help me and give me hugs. I love you." It was all I could do not to cry. I gave her a big hug and told her how beautiful her flowers were and thanked her. She helped me get some water to put them in and proudly displayed them in our classroom. I still feel like crying when I think about it. One because I am thrilled that she thinks so much of me, and two because it makes me sad that she is missing out on the special relationship a little girl can have with her Mother. He father is great with her though, so I know she will be ok.

[KarlaB]

Wow! What a story! I am in tears! :bigcry: So sad she doesn't have a mommy. It's great that you have touched her life like you have - I am sure she's not the only little one who admires you like that. Way to go!!! :)

btw - Maybe your dh could transfer to MN so you could help my ds thru his school struggles?? ;)

[DanaTx]

What a wonderful story -- it brought tears to my eyes.

Congratulations for truly touching that little girl's life!

[kat]

Ryliegh, how very sweet. You are right, that's the best gift of all, one straight from the heart that didn't cost a dime. I cherish the little notes, cards and letters that I get. I have a wall behind my desk where I display them. Then when I'm having a down day I can read my wall and know that at least some people think I'm doing a good job.

[Ryleigh]

Originally posted by KarlaB
btw - Maybe your dh could transfer to MN so you could help my ds thru his school struggles?? ;)

Hey, if were moving anyway, why not. What part of MN. are you in? I use to live just across the boarder from International Falls. Loved it there.

I hate to see any of the little ones feeling sad and left out. I try to set up a "Buddy system" when a new child starts and have another child be his "BUDDY" for the day. They like helping each other and me and at their age are very accepting. It usually works out well.
I'll be thinking of him when the new school year starts, but doubt I will be working by then. I am finished at my present position the end of June. We hope to move then, and I will stay home with the kids for the summer. Don't know too many places that are going to hire someone having triplets in five 1/2 months time anyway. We'll see what happens after they come. When my Mat. leave is up, I may decide on SAHM, but I love teaching and would miss it very much. I have lots of time to decide so won't worry about it just yet.

[KarlaB]

I'm in southern MN.

Ds's teacher mentioned the buddy system this year, too but never did anything. :( You'll have to keep us all updated on your plans once you have your little ones. You sound like a wonderful teacher and mom, so whatever you decide you'll continue to touch lives. :)

[Linda/NE]

We had teacher appreciation week at school too, but they didn't pick themes/gifts for each day.

Actually I missed the whole week because I had so much going on and the teachers just got theirs yesterday. You'd be surprised at how many people never think of giving appreciation to the teachers. By setting aside a day or week, it serves as a reminder and possibly puts the idea in the heads of someone who never thought of it before.

What I did for my kids' teachers is make a Bubble Bath jelly with Lilac scented Bubble bath and gave them a vase of lilacs from my yard. The kids enjoyed giving to the teachers. In addition to showing appreciation, the kids are learning the pleasure of giving and thanking someone. :)