Need advice, especially from Elem. Sch. teachers

[lovin'DVC]

Our babysitter will be student teaching this fall for the first time. She is excited, but very nervous as well. She LOVES Disney. Our family is traveling to WDW at then end of this month, right before she starts teaching, so we would like to bring her back a little gift. Any suggestions from seasoned teachers on something Disneyish that would make her first days in the classroom easier, or more cheerful? My MIL and FIL were elementary school teachers for 30 years, so I know NOT to get her a coffee mug, a candle, or an ornament - she'll be getting plenty of those soon enough!

Thanks in advance for any advice-
Terry

 

[holly7347]

First I'll say I'm NOT a teacher. But DD#1 had 5 teachers last year and DD#2 had 2 teachers. I gave them all a Christmas gift and most of them sent home a thank you card. And my oldest just started kindergarten and her teacher had a printed checklist on fun themed paper and the notes she has sent home have been on fun stationary. It is clear that the thank you cards as well as the stationary her current teacher used were from their personal supply and not paid for by the school. So I would think some Dinsney papers or stationary might be benefitial for her sending notes home or writing thank you notes for gifts.

 

[lovin'DVC]

Oooh, thank you! That would be a great gift for her! And my kids will love picking some cute paper out for her.

Terry

 

[tigger21475]

I am a first grade teacher and I love pens. I really love the pens from Disney. You could also get her the shaped pencils too. You can never have enough pens.

 

[DCbride]

I buy the special pens that have characters at the top (they are plastic but look like wire I guess- about $3 each) Anyway, I have about 15 of them on my desk and if a student does something really special I let them use that pen for the rest of the day. I know it sounds silly, but boy do my students love being the special one using the pen that day!!

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!

1st grade teacher here

I love the pen idea (I also collect Disney pens).

How about a Disney tote bag. Every teacher uses some kind of bag to carry her stuff home in. You could get a Disney tote & have her name embroidered on it (and maybe some mouse ears?)

 

[wlwilliams9]

SAHM and former 3rd grade teacher here...I LOVE pens and stationary, basically all school supply stuff! I also like stickers and stamps (not the kind for mailing, but the stamp pad type), they are great for checking papers and special projects.

 

[3girls4me05]

Oh stamps are awesome! I love to use stamps (yes, I am a teacher). Not sure how much you want to spend but a tote bag with pens, stationary and stamps in it would be fab!

 

[mickeymouse1017]

First grade teacher here. I love the above ideas. Another idea is a picture frame. I have many Disney picture frames around my classroom. My favorites right now are the Mickey heads that are different sequin colors. Trust me, she will appreciate anything thoughtful to make her classroom feel more personal.

 

[mjantz]

If she's the kind who plays music in her class a CD of instrumental Disney music might be good. Especially if they have a 'music from the parks' CD.

 

[sk!mom]

Give her an assortment of Disney pens, notepads, post-its. Or make her a snack basket- Disney fudge, pretzels, etc... Or a nice Disney themed shirt- not a t-shirt.

I would go with the pens and such. She can use it daily.

 

[lovin'DVC]

Thank you all for the wonderful ideas. She is the best babysitter ever, so we will get her a tote bag filled with stationery, pens, stamps, and stickers.

Terry

 

[mncherokee]

Sounds like you have enough ideas! Just wanted to say how fortunate you are to have had a babysitter like that. I believe that the best teachers have that extra-special something that I think you have seen in her. Her students will truly be lucky to have her.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Lots of great ideas here. However, I know at my school we aren't allowed to use anything "commercial" with the kids -- disney pens, disney picture frames, notes home on disney paper would all be forbidden, as would any other character found on TV or in a movie (characters like Curious George or Ms. Frizzle who were book characters first are tolerated to some degree).

Given that I'd probably vote for something disney that's for her personal use, but where the kids would see it -- like a tote bag of some subtle mickey earrings.