Gifts for Teachers

    This is a post that I've run twice on my old blog.  Please, give it a look see if you have kids in school...One update:  all the things I've seen as suggestions for teacher gifts on Pinterest are cute and thoughtful, but times anything cute by 20 or 30, and you'll just see a lot of, well, useless stuff.

     This is one of those risky posts.  One, I may seem greedy.  Two, I may seem presumptuous.  Three, I may seem judgmental or demanding.
     You can tell me shame on me after you read it.
     I always got my son's elementary teachers Christmas gifts.  I wanted to.  I liked to.  Even when money was tight, I thought it was important to scrimp elsewhere and spend a bit on them.  They, each and every one of them, were important to my son and his learning.
     (In middle school, Mac selected the teachers he wanted to buy for. We used to give them lottery tickets! I should have done more for all of them.)
     It's been my experience some of my students give me Christmas gifts.  It's been my experience that some of you wonder at what to give your kids' teachers.  Since some of you have asked me for suggestions, I'm giving them.
     I keep EVERY gift of writing I receive.  That's the best gift.
     My class usually selects a service project to give to and I ask that the kids give to it instead of me.  (Admittedly, when they did this at Mac's elementary school I gave to both, service project and teacher.  I had to.  I couldn't ignore the teachers!)  This year, we hope to bring gifts to the Elder Day Center.
     Here comes the risky stuff...
     When it comes to choosing a gift for your child's teacher, realize your child is one of 20+ kids who may be sharing a present with the teacher.  Avoid trinkety things, even though some can be quite touching to receive. Twenty plus trinkets is a lot of stuff.  Multiply that by 20+ years of teaching, and you've got an episode of Hoarders in the making.
     When I was single, I lived in a tiny condo.  I couldn't keep much.  Right before I moved, I went downstairs and visited a retired teacher who had kept EVERYTHING any student had ever given to her.  Her unit was beyond cluttered--and that was in May, who knows how many teacher ornaments she pulled out in December.  Yep, she bordered on a hoarder.
     One teacher I know once got 17 candles for Christmas.  Seventeen.  When something like that happens, I donate the duplicate gifts to a local thrift store.

     Anything "teachery" or "appley" isn't the best plan.  Being a teacher defines who I am.  Absolutely.  I don't need to decorate with or further adorn myself with my job--I wear my job with my exhausted expression and my colored fingers--dyed by overhead marker on a good math day!
     Lotions or similar can be allergenic.  Avoid.
     Avoid jewelry unless you are familiar with the teacher's style.
     Services, a gift of a manicure or pedicure would be such a welcome indulgence!
     Never give a mug.
     I get mugs even though I drink only diet pop (I wish I could say water) in front of my kids. One year, a mom said, "I almost got you a case of diet Pepsi."  I wanted to say, "And you didn't because?"
    Gift cards are wonderful.  To get a gift card to just about anywhere?  What a treat!
     Class gifts are great. Things for the class.  Ask your child's teacher what she needs.  Some teachers spend a lot of their own money on their classrooms.  Games in my game closet and books on my shelves have been given to me by students and enjoyed by many.
     Class gifts are great.  Collect five dollars or so from each kid and get something from the class.  A gift card to TJ Maxx, Target, a restaurant.  My first year in 5S, my 29 kids collected (with the help of a mom), and I received gift certificates to the teacher store, a bookstore and dinners out.  After Christmas, I brought in much of what I bought, and we had Christmas all over again!
     Two years ago, I had a mom who sent in a personal questionnaire and had me answer all sorts of neat questions about what I did for fun, my favorite colors, and favorite foods.  I felt so cared for!  She wound up giving me a thoughtful gift of payment for one month of Netflix and some movie watching snacks.
     Snacks...just like any holiday, too much food is, well, too much food.  So unless it's something special and homemade, maybe not.  I share mine at my family Christmas celebrations, but I usually wind up throwing some things away because we can't eat them fast enough.  I hate that.

     A few from a trusted kitchen are perfect (these were from a friend, 2012.)

 Pretend you are buying for a male teacher.  Most of the gifts on this list that we get too many of are never given to our male peers. Because they are hard to buy for, they get more practical things.  Sometimes, we women teachers are a little envious...
     Truth, it IS the thought that counts.  I can tell.  My kids love me to open their gifts in front of them. They are excited.  And when it comes down to it, really gets down to it, that's all that really matters!
 

Thanksgiving Mix Recipe

     Earlier today, I commented on Kay's blog that I'm not a big fan of Thanksgiving.  After I made that  statement, I felt like the biggest Thanksgiving Scrooge.  I went back to her blog later in the day, and lo and behold, I found her wondering why.  The whys don't really bear repeating, but I did make note that I DO do things that cause me to enjoy the holiday a lot more than I used to.
     One Thanksgiving tradition is my Thanksgiving Mix making with my class.  The kids bring in the ingredients, we clean the room well, we wash our hands, set up an assembly line (which aligns with our 4th grade social studies curriculum), and we get to mixing.  The last step in the line is to attach a label with the explanation for each item.  The kids love the experience and bringing home a treat to share.  (Side note, this year I have a student who is Jehovah's Witness, so we're making it a "fall mix" so he can participate.  However most of the bag labels will read similar to the ingredient list below.)
     We have a week off for the holiday, and with all that time to do so, a few of my students wind up making the mix to take to their family parties.  I love that.  Oh, and we also make enough bags to give one to each staff member, so my peers look forward to this too!

Here's what's in it and why:

Bugles
Shaped like a cornucopia, a symbol of our nation's abundance

Pretzels
Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving

Candy Corn
Food was so scarce that Pilgrims survived on just a few kernels of corn a day during their first winter

Seeds
Promise of future harvests to be reaped only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence

Dried fruits
Harvest gifts from our bountiful land

M & M's
Memories of those who came before us and memories of those whom we miss on this and every day

Kisses
The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives, a symbol of giving to those we know and to those who are strangers except for knowing of our kindnesses

     Some added helps: the pretzels are mini twist in variety, for seeds I use sunflower kernels, raisins are the dried fruit, and I make sure I get the candy corn now (I'm shopping for this today), so it's easier to find (and on clearance).  Oh and of course, we always talk about putting Bugles on our fingers like witches' nails. That's part of the tradition too!
     Since this is such a hit, I am sharing it early in hopes someone will come along the recipe and think it's as sweetly touching as I do!

Happy November!

Photo source

Lead On

I have a sweet, kind class this year, but one of my students (we'll call this child "X") behaves in a way that is unpredictable and inappropriate for a classroom setting.  I like this child very much, but the baffling behavior gets in the way of X's learning (often) and my teaching (sometimes). It upsets me because so much good goes on in our room.  I have a well behaved class in an organized room, and these distractions don't fit well with my outlined plans for each day.

Beyond that, of course, I cannot give more details.

Yesterday in church, because of these political times, the message was about leadership, specifically how to pray for our leaders and our potential leaders. The crux of it all was that we must pray that our elected officials recognize God is in control.  The United States is a great country, but we need to look to Heaven--our leaders need to look to Heaven--for guidance.

The story that was shared was from Daniel chapter 4.  King Nebuchadnezzar was surveying his kingdom and admiring it greatly when God stopped him in his tracks, and, well, turned him into someone who was more animal than human.  At the end of seven years (or so), Nebuchadnezzar turned toward Heaven and realized it is God who deserves praise for all our accomplishments.  He was returned to his kingly demeanor and went on to testify that God is the one who deserves all praise and credit.  (Eugene Peterson's The Message has nothing on my retelling!)

I recognize that if I were to bring a nonbelieving friend to church, this story might be scoffed at as magical thinking.  But to me it held truth.  Shrinking it down to my leadership role as the leader of my classroom, I must remember God is in control there too.  Thinking of this particular child, I recognize that a prayer I started praying just last Thursday is exactly what will be best for both of us, both X and me.

My prayer?  Since X's behavior may not change, my reaction to the choices X makes must be altered. My guidance must come from my God as I seek to help this child.  I must take a moment and listen to that still, small voice and heed its direction.  For this child is one of God's children too.  If I truly want X to flourish in fourth grade, I have to pray for this child and how I will lead this child with Love.

We all are leaders in life.  In what area might you employ Heaven and God's guidance?

The School Year So Far

This isn't a teacher blog, but it is a blog authored by a teacher.  So of course, sometimes a little school is going to sneak in.  Now, how to allow some blog to sneak into my school filled life?

We have a new reading curriculum that is overwhelming and daunting and I finally allowed myself to really work with it hoping it would get easier but it's still overwhelming and daunting.

This is a blog written by a teacher who is not making any effort to edit the above run-on sentence.

My class is great, my math class is a puzzle--fitting for math, our new principal is kind and funny, our meeting schedule is full, tutoring hasn't started yet (how will I do that too?), student council is just gearing up, science--please don't ask me about science, sped schedules keep changing, I have a wonderful aide ("para"), lunch always at my desk or laptop or white board, oh--an interactive white board--how to use it, grad classes being sought, and recess.

That's not all...

My one goal endeavor, and I have not been successful yet, is to live in the moment.  I find I'm always thinking of what's next (ala President Barlett), and I'm constantly tripping over my words (ala not anything written by Aaron Sorkin), so I want to slow down and be.

It ain't happening.

Here is something fun from the week.  Some BPS teachers walking in the BHS Homecoming Parade:

It's a candy fest really.  Folks line the street to have candy thrown to them.  My face hurt from smiling.  My legs hurt from running to catch up after seeing students past and present in the crowd and stopping for hugs.

All in all, all is well in B town.

Waiting for a getaway to W state if even for a few hours.  Stay tuned...

Kids Write

Coincidentally, last weekend, I wrote a little blip of a post about apologizing.  It received some sweet comments.  At school I had a chance to work through a "sorry" situation with some little ones.

On Wednesday, some second graders used the door by my classroom to come in from recess.  I heard my peer Kate reminding them to be quiet.  Telling them to be quiet.  Shouting at them, "Miss Stewart is going to have to close her door because you are being too noisy!  Her children can't learn!"  So I walked over to close the door to reinforce her statement. 

At the end of the day, I found a pile of notes clipped together in my mailbox.

Among them were these messages:

Der M Stewart I am sory that we were talking alot.  frome Alex

I am sorry we were to noze and you had to shot the Door Faith

MSStewart I'm sorry you had to sut the dor From EVan

to:  M.S. Stort.We are sorey we wr lowd MS. Storet  from Annika

Ms. Stewart I Sorry adout it  Cameron

Dear Ms. Stewart I'm sorry you could not teach and I will try to setel down and sorry you had to close the door.  Kenzie

I am so sorry. Please forgive me.  I relly am so sorry.  Lauren

Okay.  How cute are those?  I got such a kick out of them, I had to write back.  (It turns out there were two coming in, and yes, 52+ second graders can be quite lowd.)  In my note I told them of course I forgave them, but I would know they were really sorry if they changed their behavior.

Sure enough, later that day, they came in like mice.  I was teaching at the front of the room, and I saw them--I didn't hear them--and they looked so proud!

Definitely a week for cuteness (and noze) and lessons learned at school.  :)

Teacher, Teacher

I should be doing homework.  I should be walking.  Instead, I entered the word "teacher" in the Pinterest search box and was a little weirded out by what I saw.

First thing that caught my eye was this outfit.  I like it.  But then I noticed someone had it pinned to her "Halloween Costume Ideas" board.  Okay, really, no one would look at this ensemble and proclaim, "I know, you're a supposed to be a teacher! Great costume!"  Not to mention that it's really difficult for me to consider wearing such a fetching outfit to work when I think of the kneeling, crouching, climbing, recess monitoring, copier unjamming, and rug sitting that fills my day...

The next thing that grabbed me (and not in a good way), was this necklace.  Um, no.  Enough said.

There was a link to a story about a teacher stabbing a teacher, but for the sake of my profession, I'll leave you to search that one out.

There are lots and lots and lots of crafty ideas for people to make gifts for their kids' teachers, and seriously, though the thought always does count, my room cannot hold any more knick-knacks.  Even cute ones like this:

A couple of years ago, on my old blog, I wrote a post about teacher gifts, and I'm going to link it here just in case someone comes a wandering.  It was pretty well received, and I stand by it still.   Oh, and then I wrote another one...  I think I have those in reverse posting order, but you get the idea.

Know this:  I remember every student I have taught and something specific about each one.  It's not the gifts they've given me, it's their gifts that they've shared and the growing they do in the school year they're with me that is always memorable.  Each and every child holds a place.

Now a gift I got this year on the first day of school did make me giggle, in a good way.  Instead of an apple for the teacher,

a pineapple.

It's going to be a good year!

A disclaimer, I have found some wonderful and useful classroom ideas via Pinterest.  I just don't think I ever did such a broad/vague search before tonight.