Showing The Teacher Love . . .

Teacher Appreciate Week ended today and I'm really happy my kids and I had such fun this week making things together. I have a degree in teaching, and though I never taught full time, the fourteen weeks I spent student teaching were grueling. I think these people deserve a huge pat on the back and some fun little treasures from their students.

Here's the run down of our school's daily theme, what we made and how much it cost.

On Tuesday (since I covered Monday in yesterday's post) the assignment was to "offer up a goodie to your favorite teacher or staff member." Since Hannie B has a boy teacher who is obsessed with donuts, we got him some "Softees" and tied them up in a little cello bag with a punny tag attached. Then to lessen the cost for the other three female teachers, I divided up two bags of Ghiradelli chocolate squares into three cello bags. (Have I mentioned that I have a slight addiction to cello bags? They can make ANYTHING look cute. Try it - with sardines even. I bet they'd look cute, too!)

We also picked up a bunch of rainbow Twizzler packs at Target on clearance for a mere 36 cents. We made a fun sticker for them and the kids handed them out to all the specialists they see each week - PE teacher, Music teacher, Art teacher, Spanish teacher, etc.)

Total Cost: $2.00 per teacher, 36 cents per specialist

On Wednesday the kids were supposed to "write a poem or note to let the teacher know how important they are". Big C took in two funny limericks about teachers that we found on the internet and read them aloud to his class. The teacher loved them and laughed heartily!

With my help, Hannie B. and RedDog went small scale by making a minuscule (1x2 inch) poems on the computer in a 6 pt font. We also made pretty little envelopes to put them in by tracing a template from a tiny coin envelope. The teachers all had to use magnifying glasses to read the poems and thought it was clever. My kids are very fascinated by miniature things, so this was almost too exciting for them to handle.

Total Cost: $0.00 (all supplies on hand)

On Thursday, the kids could "bring in a flower to brighten up the classroom or office". Again, we hit Target and bought two bouquets of their cheapest flowers at $4.99 a pop. Then, while wandering the aisles, I found some tiny glass vases on clearance for $1.00. We took it all home, divided it up by the four teachers, crafted a cute label on the computer and sent the kids to school the next day with a little arrangement in their school colors (yellow and green).

Total Cost: $3.50 per teacher

For Friday, the children got to "create a special work of art to represent their gratitude." My kids each drew a picture on some sturdy cardstock. We then wrote the teacher's name down the back of the other side and came up with complimentary words to describe the teacher. I laminated each card, punched a hole in the top and strung some leftover ribbon through the hole, creating a one of a kind bookmark. And, Hannie B commented, "It's waterproof!" Excellent.

Total Cost: $0.00 (all supplies on hand)

So, for only about $6.00 per teacher, we were able to come up with what I think are some fun ideas all while accomplishing three goals: It was important to me that my kids felt like they were doing something special for their teachers. It was important to me that we make these things together. And it was important to me that I not spend a lot of cash in the process.

Mission accomplished! (and thank you to the PTA for coming up with such economical ideas for each day! Very helpful.)