MONDAY - an apple

TUESDAY - a thank you balloon

WEDNESDAY - muffin & coffee or tea

THURSDAY - candy bar or flower w/ thank you picture drawn by the kidss

FRIDAY - dinner to take home (enchiladas, rice, beans)

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

A similar memo came home from the kids' government school yesterday. The suggestions were slightly different. I was absolutely floored to think anybody would have the gall to send out such a thing. I'm guessing the tote full of supplies I provided mid-year, the fuel I've expended on field trips when I drove my own car and other miscellaneous donations throughout the year don't count toward this.

Unfreaking believable!

__________________
I want to keep ALL of my paycheck and eliminate the pyramid scheme known as Social Security (there is no lockbox ). Do you want the same thing? www.fairtax.org

WHAT! Oh my Gosh...You're kidding, right???????

I wonder, deerekid, if you have any idea how much money teacher's spend out-of-pocket for "their" kids, not to mention all the time, not at school, grading papers, working with extracurricular activities and such.

I think the idea is wonderful - Personally, we can never show our teacher's how much we appreciate them. Except for the dinner, you're only talking a dollar or 2 a day per teacher. Are the mom's going to supply the dinner or get frozen-type dinners from Sams, Costcos...?

__________________
Mary

oh no. This isn't anything sent out by the schools or anything. It's just something I want to do for my kids teachers b/c I think they're so awesome.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Sounds good to me. Is this given by the room mom(s) or are you asking the kids to each send something?? We missed the memos, since DD is home from school this week, but, I talked to the Room Mom last night. Our PTA is providing them with breakfast and lunch, that takes care of two days.

I think teacher appreciation is a wonderful thing, and not EXPECTED of the parents, but, it is nice to acknowledge them. As for the gas on the field trips, it is our choice to go or not go, at our school. I don't see that as any type of showing appreciation, but, that's just my opinion.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

How nice of you to do this for the teachers! Very thoughtful, I think they will love it.

__________________
Mary

Serious as a freaking heart attack, sweetie. There are parents out there who care about their kids and make sure they are equipped and ready to go to school everyday. In addition, myself, along with others that I personally know, donate what totals to be a whole lotta dollars in supplies and labor to the school every year without ever being asked to do so.

Since I scour clearance bins and regularly use my coupon binder to help secure items needed for not only my kids' classroom, but the school in general, I'm very familiar with how much teachers can and often do spend out of pocket.

That memo was a slap in the face to me and everybody I know that works their butts off to make sure teachers have what they need.

__________________
I want to keep ALL of my paycheck and eliminate the pyramid scheme known as Social Security (there is no lockbox ). Do you want the same thing? www.fairtax.org

My understanding of etiquette is that it's okay to suggest ways to treat other people, but not to make such suggestions about yourself. So it would be okay for a parent or PTA leader to send out such a memo, but for a teacher to do so would be rude. I can remember really excellent teachers, and awful ones, too, so I figure some would have been a lot easier to appreciate in such a fashion than others. I'm also noticing that no other countries seem to devote a whole week to this purpose. Teachers' Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You are in the minority, derrekid. Most parents (and I know from experience working with PTO so many years) send their kids to school and just "forget-about-it". I think you sending stuff all year long is wonderful, and I know it's very much appreciated by the teachers.

Please don't think of it as a "slap in the face" - for most parents, this may be all they will do all year.

__________________
Mary

I agree that if a suggestion like this came from the teachers, it would be out of line - but usually it's from the PTA, PTO (or regular mom's like jaded) - they just give the flyers to the teachers to pass out instead of mailing them.

__________________
Mary

SO... dh was NOT thrilled about the $$ for the dinner, so would it be tacky of me to make them a lunch for Friday instead?

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Am I understanding this correctly? You're doing this all by yourself? It's not a PTA project or project for the whole class? If you're doing this all by yourself, I'd say you're going way above and beyond. What you outlined seems more like something the PTA would do, not just one person. Let me guess.......your child/children are in elementary, right? Most parents start in the elementary years showing a whole lot of appreciation. Then as the years progress, the volunteerism slowly drops off as does the show of teacher appreciation. My jr. high PTA is doing donuts and juice Tuesday morning, candy bars the next day and lunch on Thursday.

We just got a similar note.

1st Dd had to draw & cut out a 4 inch tall "olympic athlete body" that they are going to attach the kids school picure head to and decorate the teachers door.

Then we have a teacher wishlist that we are supposed to bring supplies from: scissors, rubber cement, duct tape, dry erase markers, candles, sticker name tags, teacher recourse books, magnet tape.

Then each kid is supposed to bring in a flower to form a bouquet. The room mom brings a vase to collect them all in.

They are also supposed to write a paragraph nominating their teacher, principal or anyone else they feel like for an "Olympic Gold Award"

We do something similar to this every year for the teachers. It's the room mom coordinating it. I've never seen an individual do it on their own. I think it's fantastic, jaded!

Lisa

__________________
"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I think anything you do would be so appreciated. I know our teacher love it when we give them a pot-luck. How about spaghetti? Everyone likes it and it's economical.

__________________
Mary

Yes, I'm doing it on my own, for my daughter's prek teacher & assist, my 8 year old's 2nd grade teacher and my son's social studies & math teacher s(7th grade).

The only expensive part will be Friday. The rest is really cheap. I can get the apples tomorrow for $.50 each @ the Farmer's Market. I can get the balloons at Dollar Tree for $1, the muffins from Dunkin (I have a coupon) and the coffee from McDonalds, the candy from Dollar for $.50. So if I make a plate for lunch for each of them, it should come out to about $5 each. I already have the beans and rice here @ home.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I am a teacher and think your idea is great.

Ok, when is teacher appreciation week?

__________________
visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

next week.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Jaded, I think it's wonderful that you are doing this for your children's teachers. Teachers are unappreciated and many spend a lot of out of pocket money on "their children".

__________________
Tracey

So, you work to make sure the teachers have adequate supplies and tools to do their job? Well, good job!

That doesn't mean you appreciate the teachers. That just means you realize that is part of your responsibility as a parent.

Most teachers are paid far too little money, and are expected to do far too many things w/ too many children in their classes. For every parent like you--who does volunteer, provide supplies, etc.--there are probably a dozen who do NOTHING! They don't even bother to come to Parent-Teacher conferences, much less thank the teacher for the time, energy, LOVE, attention and knowledge they give the children.

The biggest shame is that 1) the schools don't provide the teachers with enough money/resources to do their jobs and the teachers either have to solicit donations or pay for it themselves. 2) and that some of the parents who do volunteer/contribute supplies or money seem to do so grudgingly!

Since the teachers are with our children for the vast majority of the day--and usually at least 15-20 more kids--and they still manage to impart knowledge, referree squabbles, clean up spills, grade papers, provide guidance and counseling, deal with any learning disabilities a child may have(or many children), identify a sick child/an abused child/a neglected child, etc. I think the least we, as parents, could do is show some appreciation!

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Jaded--how about fixing a nice little basket w/ some pasta, a jar of sauce and a loaf of french bread?
or a basket w/ muffin or scone mix and some jam w/ a little mini bag of coffee r individual tea bag assortment?
Or even a jar mix of cookies or brownies (there's a lot of those on-line, most people only think of them at Christmas, but who doesn't like cookies or brownies all year round! LOL)

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Providing classroom supplies is different than appreciating the impact a teacher has on your child. Is it their job? Yes. Are they paid for it? Yes. Should they do any less than a good job with their students? Nope.

But that doesn't mean that as people, we can't have a personal appreciation for the positive impressions they leave on our children. If you appreciate that *personally*, then thank them as *people*, not just as professionals.

If my husband said he wasn't getting me anything for Valentines Day because his check paid for groceries all year and that he'd done his part, would I feel personally appreciated as his wife? Nope.

It would be more insulting, though, for him to insist he didn't need to do anything for V.D. because he'd already done his part than it would be for him to forget it entirely.

I'm glad yall brought this up. My little baby just changed daycares and I don't want to be out of the loop.

I like this idea. It also gets around the often-mentioned issue of homemade items not always being well-received.....

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I think some of the ideas suggested are wonderful! I sometimes feel that parents tend to *blame* the teachers when they ask for supplies to be sent in. Its not the teachers fault, they have no control of their budget, that is decided by the school board. They get what they get and if they don't like it.....too bad.
I had no idea how difficult a teachers job was until I started subbing about eight years ago. After my first day, I never wanted to step foot in that school again, but I stuck it out and now I have come to enjoy it. Its such a hard job, and sometimes the lack of respect, low pay, and the fact that they don't often get appreciated makes it even more difficult. I applaud taking the time to do something special for these hard working individuals...

Yes, you're idea is awesome! We just had Teacher Appreciation week at our school and it had a luau theme.

Monday--Students brought their teachers a note in a bottle! It was cute, and the notes were awesome. The lounge was decorated in a Hawaiian theme, and we had a fruit breakfast.
Tuesday--Students brought their teachers lei (I thought that was really funny when I first read the note. Told my friend that I would be sure and shave my legs that day!) Some of them brought flowers, and I put all my different flowers together in a super arrangement! We put it in on the table in front of our tadpoles so the whole class could enjoy it!
Wednesday--The PTA gave us a luncheon, and it was awesome...the gym was decorated like an island getaway, and we all got prizes. Also, the local car wash donated free car washes! What a treat!
Thursday--Students brought their teachers their favorite survival snacks...I got loads of nuts and Diet Mountain Dew!
Friday--Students wore Hawaiian shirts, the PTA provided us with Smoothies...

It was a wonderful week...BUT, I still am not crazy about Teacher Appreciate week. I don't want to have to ask anyone to appreciate me. I would rather just know I am touching a child's life in someway. A little note, hug, or a hand-picked flower does me just fine!

The people, I believe, who need to be thanked are the PTA members and parents who help us out day in and day out...the parent who stays up studying spelling words...who makes sure the homework assignment is in their child's book bag...who cuts us a little slack when we make a mistake...those are the people who deserve the kudos!

__________________
If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting space.

I agree totally!!!

Honestly, I thought you showed appreciation at the end of the year with a gift.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Yeah, you're probably right. I don't appreciate and understand the fact that my child's former teacher is working her *ss off to make sure my child exceeds the goal in the school reading program by meeting us early in the morning when she doesn't have to. Nor do I appreciate or understand the extra effort teachers have made to make sure my child's personality fits with the best classroom environment for him/her to succeed. And oh, yes, let's not forgot the constant e-mails and telephone calls outside their school time and my work time to coordinate, plan and figure out how to help each other. Obviously, I don't have a clue as to how to appreciate somebody.

I applaud the OP for doing it of her own accord. It's a great idea, but I don't want it forced by the school. That was the point I apparently didn't make clear. MY mistake was to assume the OP had also gotten a note sent home from school suggesting gifts were appropriate.

And since you're so fired up about appreciation, I'm going to assume that you participate in fireman's appreciation week, police officer's appreciation week, administrative assistant's week, government employee employee appreciation or any other appreciation day/week/month/year that pops up.

These teachers aren't just my kids' teachers. Some of them are my friends and while I respect your right to disagree, you clearly don't understand how much I appreciate my friends and that is something I don't take lightly.

__________________
I want to keep ALL of my paycheck and eliminate the pyramid scheme known as Social Security (there is no lockbox ). Do you want the same thing? www.fairtax.org

jaded, I love your ideas and know the teachers will appreciate anything you do for them.

I agree with others that appreciation for teachers does not have to be any particular week or enforced by anyone. And honestly, note or no note, those who want to show appreciation will, those who don't want to, will not regardless of whether a note is sent home or not. If you have the desire to show a teacher(or anyone else for that matter)appreciation on the first day of school, at Christmas time, the last day of school or during Teacher Appreciation Week, then do it! The teachers I know and work with appreciate anything done for them at any time of the year.

You're damn right I participate in appreciation for fire/police/EMS! I also participate in administrative worker's appreciation week/day and nurses' appreciation week....those are the ones that I am familiar with and know of.

Because again--these people generally are underpaid (with the exception of the nurses), do the jobs that no one else is willing to do (ESPECIALLY the nurses! How many butts have you wiped today?), and in the instance of fire/police/EMS literally put their lives on the line so that you and I can live in a safe community, and are often subjected to ungrateful patients, clients and victims (when was the last time you had a battered wife cuss you out because you are arresting her abusive husband??).

Since I know a lot of the fire/police/EMS here in town--it's real easy for me to bake cookies/brownies or have pizza delivered on a frequent basis. I even do it when it's not their "special" week....Oh and since our 911 dispatchers here are not sworn officers (technically not police officers), I include them for anything I do--because without them the officers wouldn't know where to go!

Quite frankly--I'm thankful to live where I do, and that there are people here that protect and serve, took care of my son on Thanksgiving day when he had to be admitted to the hospital, and field my phone calls, seal and stamp my outgoing mail, print my files, pull my faxes, etc.! Without those people my life would not be the same...

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Wow Round of applause, everybody.

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I bow to marilynk's greatness and humbleness.

__________________
I want to keep ALL of my paycheck and eliminate the pyramid scheme known as Social Security (there is no lockbox ). Do you want the same thing? www.fairtax.org

I have two choices w/ your response and CJS' response:
1) you're either being sarcastic...
2) you're being sincere...

I'm leaning toward toward #1 on both--so if I'm incorrect in assuming that the two of you (or either of you) is being sarcastic, I do apologize.

Deerekid--you asked, I replied. I wouldn't care if no one knew what I have done to show my appreciation to these people.

The majority of people who work in service oriented industries, or public service oriented industries do so because they want to--and because they enjoy it. And it really means a lot to me when they volunteer to work on holidays. What could have been a horrible Thanksgiving for our family was made to be ok by the nurses, techs and Drs. who cared for and cared about our DS. It means a lot to me knowing their our officers, Paramedics/EMTs, Firefighters who VOLUNTEER to work on holidays, who volunteer to work special events, who ask to work in the DARE program or as School Resource Officers, who want to bike patrol ( DARE, SRO and bike patrol all require specialized training, but no raises or "bumps" in pay). It means a lot to me that our two admin. asst. in our office ask if there's anything they can help us with, or who do the little things that make our jobs easier.
These are the kind of people that I hope my children grow up to be. These are the real heroes--not the sports figures, or actors, or scandal artists/media whores...

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

[quote=marilynk;2989335]. I wouldn't care if no one knew what I have done to show my appreciation to these people. QUOTE]


marilynk...I especially like this...I try to make my donations/contributions annonymous. I don't think it's anybody else's business what or who I give to. Sometimes people make snide remarks to me about me not giving to this or that...not knowing that I have already done so. I just smile to myself.

I normally go all out for Teacher Appreciation week, but this year my kids (2nd grade DD and 3rd grade DS) not only switch classes and each have 3 teachers, not including their 'specials' classes, but 2 of those teachers are new and I don't know the first thing about them. One of them started last week (sons homeroom teacher hurt her shoulder and need surgery, so she's out for the rest of the year) so I don't even remember her name half the time.

My DD's HR teacher resigned because her 3 yr old DD was ill and she had to miss a lot of school. The teacher has been there since they came back from Spring Break, but I've never met her. She did send a note home to introduce herself, but the other one didn't.

Maybe I'll just send them a flower or some and do a flower and note for the rest of the teachers. I do send lots of stuff in throughout the year, but I just do that when I come across good sales, clearance stuff etc. It makes me sick that the teachers not only get paid so little, but then have to spend their own money to buy supplies. I don't know if all schools are like this, but our teachers even have to buy their own paper for the photocopier! Just think about all the money that they spend just for that, since most every thing they do is on something they've copied. It's pathetic.

Marilynk,
I think you are / have done a wonderful job in appreciating the ones that keep us safe and help guide our children.
My Grandfather served on the police force for 32 years
My son- in -law just quit the sheriff's department and went back to being a EMT
Before that he worked on the Fire Department where him and my oldest DD worked together, met, fell in loved and married last year.
My Oldest DD is a Volunteer Firefighter on leave right from having my grandson.
My Aunt has been the head nurse at the hospital she's worked for the last 31 years.
My Niece is a Special Ed teacher in Northern Alabama
I saw/ grew up knowing what these people gave and what they got back. I for one appreciate people like yourself that are willing to give and never complain about giving. You probably will never know truly how much it means to the ones you are giving too.

Keep the good work up ! You never know when that person you made feel appreciated could change your life.

__________________
MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

[quote=lisacb;2989035].

Then we have a teacher wishlist that we are supposed to bring supplies from: scissors, rubber cement, .........duct tape..................,


I always suspected duct tape was on their wish list!!!!!!!!

What I have always found so interesting about people's take on Teacher Appreciation, Secretary's Day, and all that jazz, is that these are the same people who never leave a tip for their paper carrier.

My son was a paper carrier from age 8 to 16. 365 days a year, Out there on Christmas morning delivering papers instead of opening his presents. Rain, Snow, 30 degrees below zero. And less than 25% of his customers left him a tip on Christmas. He ALWAYS delivered the paper on time, EXACTLY where they wanted it.

And I would bet that many of you who are championing for Teacher's Appreciation Day have never left a tip for your paper carrier, and said "It's his/her job. I don't tip people for doing their job."

Is Teacher Appreciation Day a "tip" for the teacher?

I have nothing against any of these Appreciation Days for any profession. It's just interesting to hear the different takes on it.

jaded- I think you have a wonderful idea. The teachers in your school are lucky to have you as a parent of one of their students.

marilynk-Your original post echoed almost verbatim a conversation I had with my daughter's teacher a few days ago. This is my first year having my kids in public schools (I previously homeschooled), so I had no idea all the things that go on all year. I have participated as often as possible, sent things in, etc,, but I am one of the lucky ones in that I am currently not working, thus I have the time and energy to put into helping out. I had room mom dropped in my lap mid-year when the original room mom moved away and no one would volunteer to replace her. I really didn't want to do that my first year in the school as I don't know how things work yet. Anyway, my 1st grade daughter's teacher was talking to me about the lack of participation, both financial and volunteering, that she was having from the parents this year. I had already seen this when I send out a memo about an event, and no one emails or calls to volunteer. It is disheartening to have a classroom of 20 kids, and only about 4 or 5 parents do all the "sending in" and "coming in". Really, usually only 1 or 2 respond. I realize in the current economy that people aren't always financially able to support the school, but they aren't even sending in permission slips and such.

The teacher was frustrated, as I have been, and I think teacher appreciation week can help just a little bit to help remedy that feeling. It is no accident that it occurs so late in the year. Right now the schools are in the final month before summer. Standardized testing has just finished, and everyone starts acting like school is already out. Teachers are still trying to teach, and lots of activity happens in the final weeks of the year. For instance, did you know that they need EXTRA help now because they are packing up for summer and going through all their classroom papers? Field day, end of year parties, etc....teachers have a lot to deal with besides teaching our kids to read, write, do math, know how to read a map, and countless other things. I will be there as often as possible, and will try to recruit my fellow class parents to do the same.