Another great idea we do is "teacher's boxes". We bought big tubs from Walmart and each season we let the teachers give us a "wish-list" where they can tell us what they'd like us to fill the tub with. Usually it's a bunch of different toys to keep the kids quiet and happy during free time on those horrible stuck inside days( marbles, puzzles, coloring books, i spy stuff......ect) - and during the spring they're always looking for jump ropes, frisbees, soccer balls, sidewalk chalk, pom poms ect.....for their class to take outside with them on outside days. This way these items belong only to the class- and they aren't shared school wide and are always available. The teacher's LOVE filling out their wish lists!
Hi! I will take credit for that one... My silly little idea! I presented that idea at the PTO conference in NJ last spring. I'm glad it has worked for you too... anyone else want more info, I'd be more than happy to share.
The C.A.F.E. (Coffee In Appreciation oF Educators) has been a HUGE hit at our school. We surprise the staff (entire school staff) with a coffee cart 6 times a year. We come to their classrooms or meet them in the halls and offer a selection of coffee, tea, oj, baked goods along with a note of thanks for all they do.
We have a new principal this year and when I met with her to ask if we could continue with this, she said it was one of the things that teachers and staff have repeatedly asked her to allow in the building. We love our staff and we love to show them our thanks whenever possible. It has been a real pleasure to give them this treat and watch their reactions... it is amazing the power that a small cup of java and a mini-muffin have... who knew?!
I can't take credit for this- got it from a PTO Today conference. We did a CAFE (Coffee in Appreciation For Educators) cart. It was a cart set up with donated baked goods and mini-quiches and coffee/tea. We staffed it with a couple of volunteer parents and went around school for the fifteen minutes before school started and fifteen minutes during attendance/announcements. The teachers LOVED it and it didn't cut into teaching time. We plan on doing it again several times this year.
We offered this to our teachers this past year. We did not have a good response. They were worried about the condition their vehicles would be in when it was finished. (I know~it doesn't make sense to me. We are not Edward Scissorhands, darn it!) So, we ixnayed the car wash and did a BBQ at lunchtime instead. If you are interested in the carwash, you may want to speak w/your principal first.
Last yr. we had a star theme. We did the walk of fame. One day I cut out star shapes of card stock wrote around the edge and glued a votive/tealight candle in the center. I used a metalic marker for the writing. I thought they looked really nice. "Teachers shed the light on learning, light up education and enlighten all of us." We also did a teacher luncheon where parents volunteer to cover the class room and all the teachers get to have lunch at the same time. I think they enjoyed that. I read about it on another website. It isn't to often that teachers get time to be together as a whole. I was surprised that it worked out as well as it did for us, but it did.
A group at our school did something unique one year. They filled balloon with flour just to the point that they felt like the "stress balls" you find in some magazines. They attached a neat little saying to them, and put them in our boxes. I think they did it in conjunction with our state testing, but would be a cute idea anytime. Another thing the Student Council did one year was pass around Payday candy bars (just the snack size) that said "We think you deserve an extra Payday!" My student council members this year are buying lanyards for all the teachers as a special "treat"... several have asked for them from the office and the school doesn't want to purchase them... so, we are going to! We also try to recognize teachers on their birthdays with a special card or some little treat in their box.
Hope this helps,
Ang
