It would be nice if I was able to blog in real time. Maybe one day I will get there, but I don't see that day coming anytime soon. But that's ok. I'm happy to share when I can.
So summer is here and in full swing!!! My food bill has doubled thanks to these ever growing boys being home all day. I think a few more grey hairs have sprouted in the last few weeks with trying to keep up with all the kids, work part-time and not let my house collapse. We are a third of the way in and so far SUCCESS. (Shh... don't tell anyone but I am SO READY for school to start again!)
The week before spring break Noah's school held Teacher Appreciation Week. Romans school was doing "Sensational Teachers" and then a light bulb went off for Noah's class:
Here's what I came up with:
Monday: SIGHT
Let your teachers "see" how much they mean to you!
Suggestions
Have your child draw your teacher a picture of them together.
Have them write a letter telling their teacher how awesome they are.
Give your teacher a picture of you together for them to look at remember.
Optional
Buy you teacher your favorite book to add to their classroom. You can sign your name inside.
A gift card to a book store.
Tuesday: HEAR
Let your teacher "hear" how wonderful they are!
Suggestions
Tell you teacher how much they mean to you by saying a big Thank You.
Give them a singing/talking thank you card.
Optional
A book or stuffed animal that records your child's voice.
A gift card for iTunes or music store.
Wednesday: TOUCH
Let your teachers know how much they have "touched" you heart!
Suggestions
Give your teacher a big hug today.
PARENTS can make their child's teacher a list of all the ways they have touched their child's life.
Optional
A bottle of lotion, a soft blanket or a fuzzy stuffed animal.
A gift card to a nail salon or for a massage.
Thursday: SMELL
Let your teachers stop and "smell" the roses!
Suggestions
Pick some flowers to give to your teacher.
Buy her a single red rose.
Color her a picture in smelly markers or crayons.
Optional
A candle or body spray.
A gift card to a place similar to Bath & Body
Friday: TASTE
Let you teacher enjoy a tasty treat for all their hard work!
Suggestions
Bring in a treat for your teacher, or maybe even the whole class.
Optional
A gift card to Starbucks or a local coffee shop.
A gift card to your teachers favorite restaurant.
Here's just a few suggestions to help you long the way, should you choose to try this in your child's class:
Be sure all your families know about the weeks activities, that they are to be in a certain order and focused on one at a time.
If you are emailing your families and don't get a response from some, then call them. Sometimes they dont read or simply forget the notes sent home. (I do it all the time!)
Make sure when corresponding to your parents that they are very aware that they do not have to spend any money to participate, this is very important! Also that the above are simply suggestions- they can get creative and come up with their own ideas as well!
When I shared with the PTA they decided to do the theme for the entire school!
Here's how we incorporated the same theme into the week for all the staff:
Monday: SIGHT
The PTA decorated the teachers classroom doors with "Thank you for being a 'sense'ational Teacher!"
Tuesday: HEAR
During morning announcements over the PA system, the PTA read a poem and thanked the teachers for all their hard work.
Wednesday: TOUCH
We set up a booth in the hallway labeled "Free High Fives" and had some older students take turns working the booth. As teachers walked by they offered a high five for a job well done.
Thursday: SMELL
The PTA passed out raffle tickets to each of the classrooms that morning and announced the winners of hanging flower baskets during morning announcements.
Friday: TASTE
Everyone pitched in a gave the staff a wonderful breakfast that morning!
It was so much fun to see all the different and creative ways we honored our teachers through out the week. When the "sense of the day" was smell there were flowers all through out the school! Parents carrying them in, they were in teachers hands, on their desks, everywhere! It was so beautiful!
To all my special needs Mommy's who follow my blog:
I want to encourage you to get actively involved in your child's class this coming school year. Don't assume because the class is "different" that they would not appreciate parties and such like the general ed. All parents desire to see their child in typical class room doing the things that they themselves enjoyed as a kid. Help give those families the opportunity to take pictures, a reason to socialize with the other parents and an atmosphere that doesn't feel that different after all.
Unfortunately the special ed classrooms get over looked when the school is participating in activities that could be overwhelming for our kiddos classrooms. Get in there and help your child's teacher modify and participate. Those teachers deserve so much and often it goes unseen. Don't stand by and let that happen!
3 more weeks and school will be back in session again. I cant believe it! This last year was so much fun being a room mom, I hope I get the opportunity to do it again next year! I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!