Our 4 Ringed Circus

So for quite awhile I've been on the train of believing teachers are fabulous.

My degree is in education, so it's kind of in me I guess.

And my sister is a fabulous teacher....much of this is straight from her.

Here are some proven ideas to show your teacher you really care:
And outside of the fabulous teacher appreciation week....these are ongoing things:)

Hand written notes are always in style and appreciated!
Add a $5 gcard to somewhere to sweeten the deal!

1. Meet Your Teacher

Bring them a little something to Meet Your Teacher. With a gift receipt.

Or hand written notes are always in style and appreciated!

Introduce briefly your family and why you are excited for the coming year!

Add a $5 gcard to somewhere to sweeten the deal!

2. Sonic Lovin

Ask them their favorite Sonic drink and snack at the start of school.

Take it to them on random days:) Or set up a weekly schedule.

I knock lightly, set them on the nearest desk and leave. They know now:)

Sister says a fountain drink beats all!!

In Wichita, I started a weekly Sonic program where EVERY teacher, all 30 of them, got a drink on Thursday afternoon. I incorporated about 15-20 parents to share the load...each took 6-8 drinks once every two months and dropped them at the same place for those grades. Took a bit of organization, but was VERY well received!!!! And someone took over for me when I moved....they loved it too:)

3. Homeade Goodies

If you make something yummy and homeade, put it in a

new Ziploc reusable container with a post-it on top with description.

I'm over trying to figure out if they'll like it or not. Some one in the school will eat it and teacher still feels loved...win:)

4. Cool Classroom Items

A colorful, fun something for the classroom.

During the year, items break or things get used up,

so look around or ASK what they need and get it to them!!

5. Be a good communicator

If something great happens, awesome. If something not-so-great happens, show up and figure it out quickly. Email the teacher back promptly and get a plan of action.

Do not drag your feet or think your child could never do that.

Be humble, listen and use the ever amazing question....

"If it were your child, what would you do?"

6. The mother of all gifts

The Parent-Teacher Basket

Sister says conferences are tough and tiring. I believe her:)

So here's what you do.

Go it alone or ask a few other moms to help $ wise or bring a few items.

Cool Reusable Container filled with the following:

1. Mints or Jolly Ranchers

2. Microwave popcorn

3. Fave bottled drink

4. Granola Bars

5. Something chocolate

6. Nuts of some kind

7. Smell good hand Sanitizer

8. Teacher's faves

7. Field Trip Day
If you cannot attend, which I usually cannot, take something at the end of the day. Once I took a to-go salad bc I knew she had to be starving!!!! Or a Gatorade. Something...field trips are exhausting I'm sure!!

8. Teacher of the Week

Incorporated this with principal's approval. Took pictures of every teacher and had them fill out a form with their favorites, what they wanted to be when they were a child, fave childhood trip...you get the idea. And then each week, there were 2 teachers listed along with the students as teacher of the week. They liked it and we got to KNOW them better!!

Here's the deal...teachers are the easiest group of people on the planet to love on. Just do something.

SO, what if you get a ridiculous, tired of being a teacher, ready to retire, cranky, would rather be with her baby than with yours teacher?!! Do these anyways. You DO make a difference.

My oldest had a fabulous math teacher who's quote was, "A day without math is like a day without the sun." She was serious about math:) Anywho, her attitude shifted a little that year towards me after the conference basket. She softened and it was sweet:)