Teacher Appreciation Week - thoughts? suggestions?

[newtodis]

What do you think of Teacher Appreciation Week? I'm particularly interested in what the teachers think. I'm all for it personally and try to thank my boy's "teachers" (with or without a degree in their name) often. I know it's never often enough but I try to make an effort.

So, what would you send with your kiddo? If you're a teacher, what would like more than anything?? I know a bit about DS5's teachers because I've been in his classroom throughout the year but not enough to feel like I know exactly what they need (teacher and assistant). DS3's only been in his day care for about 2 months so I'm not really certain she would like (his teacher's assistant is no longer there so the new one I'm not that familiar with).

I picked up some lotion from Bath and Body Works and Victoria Secrets and a candle from Bath and Body Works today. I wanted to get something small and send it in each day of the week with a note from DS and myself since it's appreciation "Week" and not just a day.

I know DS5's school is doing a couple of things - the principal is providing apples Monday, PTO is provoding lunch Tuesday and I'm makeing 7 dozen cupcakes for Friday for them. DS3's school sent home suggestions for Monday to bring in something for the teacher's for breakfast, a flower on Tuesday, recipe on Wednesday, something for the class on Thursday and Friday it's up to the parents. There are only about 14 teachers total at his school (including the directors and lunch lady) so I plan on just getting enough flowers for each of them to get one that day, making something for breakfast Monday and some kind of yummy dessert for Friday.

I'm kind of at a loss if I'm on track or not....thanks so much for any tips or advice you can share. I hate to send in a bunch of things that they're just going to throw out. I really want them to know that I appreciate what they're doing each and every day with my most prized things in the entire world.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

When I taught, a mother brought me lunch from Bear Rock Cafe. Another brought the teachers wonderful shakes from Cookout. Gift cards. Flowers from a garden.

I tended to like things that were consumable.

For my DS16's teacher, my DH picked up biscuits and I bought large OJs. I sent the teachers e-mails and they responded with their order. Very easy and much appreciated! We got a lot of positive feedback. I don't think HS teachers are shown much appreciation for their hard work.

DD13 brought her teachers a boxed lunch from McAllister's. I went in with another mom to cut down on the costs and to be able to include more people like the Assist. Prin, and counselor assigned to our daughters grade level.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

As a teacher I think it is compeletely un-necessary. It puts pressure on parents and frankly, I want to be appreciated all year long! The way parents can do this is to just teach their children to be respectful and and to have manners. THAT is appreciation enough! Helping the students to do their homework or at least making sure it is done would be nice too. A sandwich and some cookies does not do it for me. It is like the child who calls his mother only on Mother's day...an empty gesture that honestly has no substance.

Can you tell I work in a school where parents allow their children to disrespect authority?

A nice note from a parent saying ,"thanks for helping my child learn to read," means more than material things.

 

[disykat]

As a teacher I think it is compeletely un-necessary. It puts pressure on parents and frankly, I want to be appreciated all year long! The way parents can do this is to just teach their children to be respectful and and to have manners. THAT is appreciation enough! Helping the students to do their homework or at least making sure it is done would be nice too. A sandwich and some cookies does not do it for me. It is like the child who calls his mother only on Mother's day...an empty gesture that honestly has no substance.

Can you tell I work in a school where parents allow their children to disrespect authority?

A nice note from a parent saying ,"thanks for helping my child learn to read," means more than material things.

ITA. My favorite "appreciation gifts" are parent volunteers, parents who read my newsletters, parents who turn things in on time, parents who feed their kids breakfast before school (or get them to school in time for cafeteria breakfuast,) etc. Honestly, those things ARE a gift!

 

[traviesojmt]

We just had teacher appreciation week at our school. Here is what our class (1st grade) did for the week. Monday was an inservice day so the PFE (our version of PTA) served lunch for the teachers. We did a daily collection of small gifts. Tuesday, we asked each child to bring in one flower. This could be bought or picked. This made a nice bouquet for our teacher. On Wed, we asked each child to bring school supplies. Everything was put together in a tote for the teacher. We suggested pencils, glue sticks and things like that. Nothing expensive. Thursday, we did a fruit/treat basket. Each child brought in one piece of fruit or they could choose to make her a treat, that made a fruit/treat basket. Friday, every child in our class made our teacher a homemade card. The kids and our teacher really enjoyed this. This required very little money to be spent. All of the gifts for the week could be bought for just a couple of dollars. We also had parents who volunteered to come in and watch the class during lunch so our teacher could have a duty-free lunch.

 

[newtodis]

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions! I know what you mean about having parents involved that care about their child's education. I was there with ya when I taught preschool - the parents didn't care at all. Thankfully DS5's class is full over very involved parents which is not something I think their teacher was used to. I'm proud to say that we are one of the families that reads the newsletters, make sure homework's done, breakfast fed, ect. We try to do little things throughout the year as well.

I also love the idea of things they can use. I hate getting people stuff they're going to regift or throw out.

Again, thanks so much!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm a preschool teacher, and our preschool parents celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week last week. The board always creates a bulletin board and asks each child to create something at home to be a part of the theme. This year, they made a rainbow. Each class was assigned a color and a piece of oak tag. The instructions were to decorate the oak tag using the assigned color and to be creative. My class was orange, and the used everything from finger paints and markers, to orange candy, feathers, stickers, etc. Then they put all the pieces up in the shape of a rainbow. Very cute!

They also did a "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" theme this year, asking parents to bring in extra stickers, disposable cameras, etc., and unwanted toys, dress-up, puzzles, books, which would be appropriate for the classroom. I did not receive a ton of things, but all of my parents asked me if I could use the things they wanted to bring in. I got some new to us puzzles, some books that we didn't have, and some dress-up clothes.

On Thursday, they provided us with a wonderful luncheon after school. We each received an aluminum water bottle in various colors, and there was enough food left over that we were able to stay after school on Friday and have lunch too!

We have very generous parents, and although I don't NEED the gifts and food, it is a really nice feeling to know that they appreciate what we do!! (I teach 2 year olds, so it's especially nice for me, since my job can be both physically and emotionally draining at times!)