Parents: Need Your Thoughts on This Idea!

[*NikkiBell*]

I just posted this on a teacher thread I belong to and was wondering what all of you great DIS members thought as well. Please let me know! I'd really appreciate it!

Response to a post about sending home a wish list to parents...

I have never done a wish list because I am concerned about how it might be perceived by the administration and our very demanding parents. This year, a co-worker and friend of mine told me about a great idea she has for Back-to-School Nite. She plans on having each of her fourth grade students make an imprint of his or her hand on construction paper. They then will tie a bow on the top of it and pin it to a special bulletin board entitled, "Lending A Helping Hand." As the parents enter her classroom, they are free to take off a hand and donate the item listed on it. It is a very cute idea and I am considering modifying it for my fifth grade classroom.

Would anyone think this would be a bad idea to replicate on my school website? Would that look bad for the district?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

When my kids were in elementary school, the PTA got ideas from each teacher and did this sort of thing on a Christmas tree so parents could give useful gifts at Christmas. (Not one more mug that says #1 Teacher.) I thought that was a great idea. Not so sure how I would have felt about it the first Back to School night though.

 

[Sparx]

I don't have any advice, but here is a

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 3 school aged kids and many of their teachers just had either post it notes or apple shaped papers to solicit for classroom donations.

I think you could run it by administration to see if it's okay, but in our school district it seems like such a common thing to do that teachers here - or so I have been told - don't need to get permission. If you're new to the school, though, I would check protocol just to be sure, though.

GL!

 

[coolbeans]

I am not a teacher, but I am a mom. My daughters teachers have always sent home wish lists with their supply lists, and I think it is great. My dad always told me that teachers put so much into their classes anything extra you can do to help you should do it, and I always have. This time of year supplies are fairly inexpensive and I like to stock up on everything just in case they need it.

 

[cepmom]

I'm a mom of 3 school aged kids and I think it's a great idea.....several of my kids' teachers have done something similar and I always feel good about donating something that can/will be used by the class. I know many teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies and if I can donate items, I will. It is usually things like, tissues, glue sticks, hand soap, paper towels, washable markers etc.
One year, my DD8's kindergarten teacher sent a note home before Christmas time asking that we not give her any gifts, but if we really felt the need to give something, she would really appreciate donations of "listed items needed". It made things so much easier to give her something I knew she wanted/needed instead of another useless gift. At the end of last year I gave DD8's teacher gift card to Staples to purchase more supplies for next year. I think she really appreciated it too!!

 

[sleepyone]

I have 3 school aged kids and many of their teachers just had either post it notes or apple shaped papers to solicit for classroom donations.

I think you could run it by administration to see if it's okay, but in our school district it seems like such a common thing to do that teachers here - or so I have been told - don't need to get permission. If you're new to the school, though, I would check protocol just to be sure, though.

GL!

Yep, dd's teachers always have paper apples.

 

[clh2]

Our elementary school did this, except only when the book fair was going on, specific to books they would like purchased for their classrooms.

I personally wouldn't have a problem with requests like this. We always try to help when we can.

I really like the idea of the PTA Christmas tree. However, at our elem. school, the room mom usually solicited donations from the students, and purchased 1 meaningful gift from the class, instead of many individual items from everyone.

 

[Tink123]

I do this exact same thing. I get almost everything listed and then some. I even have parents send notes throughout the year and ask what I need. I ,think it is a great idea, but I would get your administrations approval, our entire school does it together at back to school night.

 

[golfgal]

Every teacher in our kids' school does this, but it is a Catholic school. I don't see a problem with it. It is there for those that can help out and there isn't pressure on those that can't. I would rather have the teachers tell us what they need instead of getting something they can't use.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I think wish lists are a great idea

 

[Byrd]

I think it's a great idea. I wish we could do that at my school. This year we were not even allowed to have a supply list for the students. The teachers had to provide everything for the class from the $75 the teachers got from the school for supplies. I hit the sales and got what was needed, but I get upset when I see students break crayons ect. I do think parents should help out if they can, I always did for my own children.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

My dd's teacher does that. She does stars with a supply needed listed on it and posts them on the door and it says "wish upon a star" at the top. I think its a great idea and parents have been all to happy to help so far.

 

[disykat]

Even though I'm a teacher myself, I'd be bothered if my kid's teachers did this. We have a pretty extensive supply list we have to provide and asking for more during September would not be good politics! I try to keep my wishlists to free stuff people can collect (like film canisters, etc.). That can sometimes stimulate other offers.

 

[tar heel]

Our teachers have always done this. At open house before school starts, most have a bulletin board with things you take off as a reminder. I always take one or two and also tell the teacher to please let me know if she needs anything else. Last year's teacher took me up on that offer, and I bought the supplies for the Mother's Day craft. We've had teachers to put on their website later in the year that the class is running low on Kleenex. My son's middle school teachers have a short wish list on the bottom of the supply list this year.

I don't know why this would bother someone, but from reading the DIS, I know there are a lot of things that bother people that don't bother me.

 

[Rachie0507]

I like it when my kids' teachers do this. When my DD was in a private preschool, every other month or so they would make a list of supplies they needed in the monthly newsletter. It was a great school and the tuition was low so I didn't mind helping out. I'll do the same now that DS goes there. DD just started public kindergarten and has only gone one day so far. In the teacher's welcome letter she listed supplies that she needed for the classroom and I have already bought two things and tucked them into DD's backpack. Budget cuts were not kind to our schools this year and I am willing and able to help however I can. I think a majority of parents want to help out with the children's schools and wouldn't be bothered by donation requests.

The preschool we use always requested that the teachers not receive gifts at Christmas or end-of-the-year but if you wanted to do something, donate a toy/game/puzzle/book that your child would like.

 

[Barb D]

How can we know what you need if you don't tell us? I don't have a problem with it at all.

BTW, I just found a stack of fun foam I bought on clearance at a craft store a while back, and was thinking of putting it in DD5's backpack for her K teacher this morning with a note. If she doesn't want it, she can send it back.

 

[pam66]

I'm a teacher and I have done the same thing. On Open House night I have a tree on a bulletin board with paper apples or leaves. On them I write things I could use in the classroom and I call it the Giving Tree. It's never caused a problem and a majority of the parents are always willing to help

 

[lewdyan1]

My school does exactly that...We have a wish tree and each leave has something the teachers need. It is introduced on Back to School night, and continued all year long. I love being able to pull a leaf and let me kids send in something useful!

 

[mickeyboat]

I would love it if my kids' teachers did something like that. I have emailed both teachers and asked if there is anything they need. They said they will have some sort of sign-up sheet at Fall Open House. I am looking forward to contributing whatever I can.

Denae