Posts tagged "teaching"

Teacher Appreciation Day

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Teacher Appreciation Day is May 3rd.  What are some of the different ways others have celebrated your dedication to teaching?  There are a variety of ways that students, parents, and community members show their appreciation for teachers.  Some of the ways include hosting a luncheon, buying special gifts, and donating classroom supplies.  As a teacher, it is extremely important to feel like your job is important and that you are making a difference.

I’m sure that you can remember the teachers that have made a difference in your life.  It is amazing how many teachers each person encounters in one lifetime.  From your beginning days of preschool to your college days and beyond, you are no doubt continuing to work with teachers almost daily.  Do you remember how you have showed your appreciation to your dedicated teachers in the past?  Some of the most meaningful gestures of appreciation in my teaching career have been both simple and heart felt.  I have had students create stepping stones, mugs, and picture frames.  I have also had families buy me gift certificates for my favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and book stores.  Some more memorable gifts include beautiful note cards, a pen and pencil set, and a quote of a day.  Classroom teaching supplies that I use everyday such as fun post-it notes, highlighters, and children’s books also top my list of the best Teacher Appreciation gifts that I have received.

Still don’t know what to get a dedicated teacher in your life?  You actually don’t need to buy anything.  Even if you just express your gratitude by writing a note or volunteering in their classroom, you are thanking them for their hard work.

Remember teachers are everywhere!  When you go to church, teachers are teaching Sunday school classes, at day cares, camps, schools, and libraries teachers are making a difference in the lives of children.  Stop and do something to appreciate them today!

Teacher Office Supplies

Teacher office supplies for your room can quickly add up.  Most people wish that they only had to spend their budget on bulletin board sets, charts and posters, incentive pads, and other materials.  However, teacher office supplies are necessary to make a class run smoothly.  Some of the most popular teacher office supplies include; highlighters, index cards, dry erase markers, and folders.  Theses school supplies help one stay organized and focused.  When one has the teacher office supplies that she needs, then the classroom can be a great place where learning happens.  Sometimes teacher office supplies are included in school supply lists that are sent home at the beginning of the year and every student brings in several materials for the teacher.  At other schools, staff members may have a community supply room where the school purchases office supplies and people are able to take what they need.  Unfortunately, this system can no longer function in many schools across the country because district budgets are being drastically cut.  Now many people are responsible for their own teacher office supplies.  This can be stressful for new and veteran teachers alike.  How does one decide what are the most necessary materials?   Here are some questions to ask your self as you try to decide what materials you need to purchase.

What are the supplies that you use daily that make you a better teacher and enable your students to be successful? For example, maybe you love to make your own flash cards and index cards are the perfect tool for making your cards.  Whatever your “go to” item is, be sure that you have that supply in your room so you can use it when ever you need to .

What is on sale and how can you use that item instead of a similar item that you are currently using? Yes, we all have our favorite kind of notebooks and dry erase markers, but have you tried out some other brands?   Often times the competitors to the products we love meet or exceed our standards.  Look to see if you can find some great bargains on some new products.

Check out www.k12schoolsupplies.net for your supply needs.