Back to School!

It's that time of year again!  In Texas, teachers and kids are frantically prepping and shopping for the big FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!  I taught for 9 years, and this part of the year was my favorite.  Everything's fresh and new, and I had a whole new room of kids to meet.  Of course you want to make a great first impression, so here are some fun ideas to bring to Meet the Teacher or the first day of school!

What a cute wreath for her door or behind her desk.  See the directions here.

I love these because you can easily make them for several teachers! Well, that and because they involve Rolos, one of my favorites. :) The tutorial is here.

If you are REALLY ambitious, or if you just went a bit overboard during all those good school supply sales, you could make this "cake!"  Any teacher I know would say YUM. :)  The tutorial is here.  Now is a great time to make this since these things are so cheap!  You could even make one to save for your school's auction later in the year...it would be a great seller!

This one's for you bakers or chocolate lovers!  How easy and adorable??  The directions are here and so easy your kids could do it!

I don't know that I've ever met a teacher who DIDN'T have a sweet tooth.  :)  This blog post has cute ideas for caramel apples and other cute stuff, PLUS, she includes the printables!  You get to cheat and just look super-crafty!

Want to see last year's back to school "Make Your Teacher Love You" post?  Just click here for lots of ideas that will get you an A+ in her book!

If you like to plan ahead, you can check out my "12 Days of Christmas-Teacher Edition" post for 12 more fun ideas in every price range. :)

Happy first day!!

On a side note, I found all of these ideas on my new favorite site, Pinterest!  It's the best of the internet, all in one place! You can "pin" favorites that you find on the internet to your virtual boards so they are all in one place.  Follow people with your same taste and let them do all the searching for you!  :)  If you want to follow me, try this link: http://pinterest.com/corlistal/

12 Days of Christmas- Teacher Edition!

Welcome to the 12 days of Christmas- Teacher Edition!  We can all use a ton of teacher gift ideas, right?  This is my first Christmas to NOT be an elementary school teacher!  After 9 years in the classroom, I've enjoyed lots of sweet kids and fun teacher gifts!  We love teachers, but often don't know their personal taste.  We need a gift that says "I APPRECIATE YOU!" but doesn't cost a fortune.  I hope you find one you can use!

So, let's get started!  (Feel free to sing along) :)

On the 1st day of Christmas, my students gave to me: 

a homemade gift I loved so much!

Homemade gifts are straight from the heart.  Here are some easy ones!

-Every teacher needs a cute sign for her room!  If you are crafty, paint one of those thin boards from Hobby Lobby and use cute ribbon or wire to hang it.  This Etsy shop has a bunch of cute ones if you want to buy one instead!  Here's one:

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my student gave to me: 
2 personalized items!

1.  Teachers go through pencils like CRAZY.  She needs these!

You can order 24 "Mrs. Homan's class ROCKS!" pencils for her for just $5.99 at Oriental Trading.  

2.  Teachers are forever writing notes.  Personalized paper makes it more fun!

This one is $18.95 here. 

These goodies range from $8-16 here.  CUTE!

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my student gave to me: 
some delicious food when I was hungry!

1.  It doesn't have to be homemade!  Find out her favorite candy and get the Christmas version.  Put it in a cute container and you're done!

2.  Make her some Christmas candy!

Look at these Oreo Balls.  The student who gave me these so got an "A."  HEAVEN! Here's the recipe.  

These patriotic chocolate covered pretzel sticks would be so cute with Christmas sprinkles!  The recipe is here.

On the 4th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:
4 gift cards!

I have never ever met a teacher who would turn down a gift card!  They are easy (you can find every kind at one of those kiosks at Walgreens or the grocery store) and teachers LOVE them!

Is she a coffee drinker?  Starbucks cards are a hit, whether they are $5 or $50 ones!

 

Not a coffee girl?  There's something for everyone at Sonic!

If you want to spend a bit more...

These are the BEST restaurant cards because you can use them at 4 different restaurants!!

On the 5th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a FIIIIIIIVE DOL-LAR GIFT!

Lots of the ideas from days 1-4 are $5 and under, but here are some more ideas!

1.  A cute Christmas ornament for her tree is always a winner.  There are adorable ones out there for a great price.

2.  Anything small (cheap!) turns into a cute gift if you attach a cute saying.

-A bag of mixed nuts: "Mrs. Keyes, the Long family is NUTS about you!"

I found a bunch of cute sayings on this website.  Just promise me you won't do the one that involves the Milk Duds or Whoppers.  Ewwwww!

3. Take a group shot of her class on a field trip or just pop in and take it one day.  Frame it!

You can even get one of these craft frames and decorate it if you're crafty!  One mom used a silver paint pen and wrote "Mrs. Long's Class 2010-2011" on a black frame.  Easy and cute!

On the 6th day of Christmas my student gave to me:

a great gift for under 10 bucks!

Do you have just a little bit more to spend?  It's hard to buy for her home, since you've probably never been there.  Instead, buy for her home away from home and help make her classroom cuter!

1. A real, potted poinsettia is always festive!  Give it early, and she can enjoy it at school, then take it home over break!

 

2.  Personal is always fun!  It seems like there are a lot of teachers who are really devoted to their alma mater.  I always needed magnets to hang things on the chalk/dry erase board.   Look how cute these are!

This website had these cute little $10 glass magnet sets for almost every Texas college!  They have other fun sets too, all in cute little tins!

These are fabric covered push pins for $8.  Aren't they cute?!  I found them in this shop.  She also sells paperclips with these on them, bookmarks and even hair clips! (Not that your teacher needs a ponytail holder, but I bet you can think of a cute little girl in your life!) Everything is under $10.

On the 7th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a gift that used her special skills!

1.  One family had season tickets to the Rangers.  They gave us the choice of several games and we LOVED our night out!

2.  Do you work for a hotel?  Own or manage a restaurant?  She and her husband would probably love a night away or dinner out!  (These are also GREAT to donate to your school's silent auction!)

3.  Oh, I almost forgot.  If you have a private jet, she might like a to borrow it for the weekend. :)

On the 8th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a gift to celebrate my special day!

If she's having a baby or getting married, the gift is a piece of cake!  Check her registry!

When I was engaged, I LOVED when my students called me "The future Mrs. Long."  I had a director's chair in my room, and I got new covers for them with my NEW NAME!  I was in heaven!

On the 9th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a gift that thought of everything!

Here are some easy logistics to make gift giving easy!

- Don't be afraid to give the gift on the Monday of the last week of school.  Everyone likes an early gift!  Plus, she'll have less to carry home on that crazy "Winter Party" Friday. :)

-Don't forget the special area teachers!  Pick something from the "Under $5" or "Free" category and give!  Does your child attend Speech, ESL or GT classes?  All kids have a music and PE teacher, and hopefully they have an art teacher too!  You don't have to give everyone something, but if your daughter loves the counselor, she would love a little something!

On the 10th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a free gift I totally adored!

Just like the $5 gifts, if you put thought or time into it, a FREE gift is appreciated because it's from your heart!

1.  Have your child make a Christmas card for her.  You get bonus points if you put a sweet note inside. :)

2.  Offer to cover her class so she can leave early or take an extended lunch.  (Check with the principal or PTA first.)  She will love you FOREVER!!

On the 11th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a big gift from the whole group!

1.  I was so jealous when Tiffani's room mom contacted all of the parents in her room and asked them to give $5 instead of a gift.  The room mom asked her teacher friends (so sneaky!) what her favorite store was.  She got a $100 gift card to do some major shopping, and 20 sets of parents didn't have to think one bit. :)

2.  I had moms go in together and get a gift card for a pedicure.  So fun!  If the gift you want to give is out of your price range, ask a friend to go in with you!

On the 12th day of Christmas, my student gave to me:

a creative gift for me!

1.  I mentioned this one in my "Make your teacher love you" post, but really, it's a good one!  Organize volunteers to cover all the teacher's classes on the grade level so they can go out to lunch in a REAL restaurant with their friends!  Of course, clear it with the principal first!

I hope you found an idea or two!  Now it's your turn!  Leave a comment with an idea of your own!  Happy shopping!  (Teacher friends, feel free to link this blog in your weekly newsletter. :) )

If your kids are too little for school, then you HAVE to check out Melissa's Christmas lesson plans for her kids!  SO CUTE!!  She's a former teacher too, and she did the hours of work and planning for you!  I think I'm going to print it out and do them all next year with Landrie!  :)  

Teacher's Pet

Well, around here school starts for most kids tomorrow.  Teachers, parents and kids are excited, worried and scrambling today, but our house is quiet.  After 9 years of teaching, for the first time I will not greet students at the door, excited about a fresh, clean start of a new school year.  Nearly every parent I know wants their child's teacher to like them, so here are my top ten hints on how to have a teacher LOVE you!!

10.  Bring a small gift on Meet the Teacher night, the first day of school, or the first Friday of school.  I've loved cards the kids made, a new set of colorful grading pens or stickers.  What a great way to start off on the right foot!

9.  Don't tell the teacher detailed instructions as you drop of your 1st grader on the first day.  She has 22 new students and is still learning names!  Her brain is on overload, so you can tell her orally if you need to (briefly!!) then hand her a note that she can read later that explains that you think your child may have dyslexia or that you are going through a divorce.

8.  Everyone knows teachers love volunteers!  Sometimes teachers are too overloaded to sort through that list of parents or to come up with jobs.  Suggest concrete things that you would be good at/like to do and give her an idea of your time commitment.

-weekly copy queen- spend 30 min. a week doing all of her copies every Friday

-come up Thursday mornings to help with reading groups

-do bulletin boards once a month

-be room mom

-work, but can take off for parties

-send home stuff to cut out or games make- I have preschoolers and need to be home.

7.  Communicate by email.  It's easy and teachers can answer it when they have time!  This is easier than chatting at dismissal, and they are less likely to forget.  Some teachers like texting too.

6.  Send her a note or holler at her from your car when you appreciate something she did.  Did your kindergartener wear you out talking about that activity?  Tell her. :)

5.  Support the teacher in her discipline.  I LOVED it when parents found out that their child got in trouble at school (not an occasional forgotten homework, but being ugly to another student or stealing, etc.) and told me that they were also grounded at home.  

4.  Bring her a Sonic drink at dismissal!!!!  It's often over 100 degrees and teachers are exhausted and sweaty.  Ask her what her favorite drink is (or have your child ask) and surprise her through the car window at dismissal. She'll love you forever!  This is also great when you go on a field trip and follow the bus back or during field day.  Happy hour is 2-4!

3.  If your child takes meds for ADHD in the morning, talk to the nurse and see if you can send a spare pill in the Rx bottle to leave in the nurse's office for days you forget.  This can make a HUGE difference in 23 peoples' day!!

2.  If there's snow, ice or flooding rains, pick up your child about an hour early.  Bad weather dismissal can be a nightmare.  We have to find new plans for all walkers and dismiss kids from inside.  YUCK.  One family less in line is great!  Just don't wait until 15 minutes before school is out- the office will be a madhouse!

1.  Do you really, really want her to love you??  Check with the principal or PTA board and see if you can cover her class before or after lunch so she gets an hour or hour and a half lunch break instead of 20 min. to scarf down cafeteria food.  If you can swing it, do the grade level so they can go out to lunch together.  Going out to lunch at work is a HUGE treat for teachers!!!  A little worried?  Bring a friend or your mom and you can both cover it.  Recess is often attached to lunch too. Still too intimidated or don't have time?  Give her the choice of a few local REAL restaurants and pick up to- go for her one day!  You and a friend can split the cost and share the brownie points!! :)

To my mom (a kindergarten teacher!), all my teacher friends, my friends who are parents and ESPECIALLY to my 2 nieces starting kindergarten, I hope you have a GREAT first day of school!!

I know there are other fabulous ideas- leave a comment with yours!!