Our Parent's group distributes papers to all the teachers asking them to fill out their Teacher's Wish List. We ask them to think of things they can use for the classroom, just their classrooms. We collect the Wish Lists and place them in a colorful decorated notebook and leave it on the counter in the front office. We advertise in the newsletter that the Wish List is at the office and if parents are interested they can take alook at it. It is then up to the parents if they want to purchase the items listed. If they want to purchase them, they cross it out in the book. We have had teachers that have asked for gift certificates, and we have left it up to the parents to decide if they want to get them or not. Most of the gift certificates they ask for are for bookstores or teacher's supply stores.
We have had great success with this project for many years, with no complaints. We once tried the ornament and it was very time cosuming getting the ornaments ready; the same thing with the snowflakes. We love the book, because it does the job, and is very simple.
We are some what new to our present school district so I don't know the teachers salaries, however we came from a school where the starting salary was $24,000 a year (I'm not even sure my family could live on that in the Philadelphia area where we live). Anyway, I'm pointing this out because sometimes holiday "gifts" help supplement a pathetic teacher salary. If it's gift certificates they want to use personally, maybe that's what they need.
P.S. The school that started at $24k also capped off at $45k...and that was with a masters degree.
Personally, as a parent and a PTA Officer/Chairmen, I always heard teachers comment on how they would prefer items for the classroom, instead of personal items for themselves - when receiving gifts over the holiday or teacher appreciation.
I liked to go to Walmart, get a small goody bag and toss items in it like very stong magnets, large clips to hold papers in that they take home to grade, scotch tape refills, highlighters, sticky notes,.
Remember, they have lots of mugs already, so stay away from the coffee mugs!
I went back and found the "Grocery List" of ideas we gathered a while back. This list can be a starting point for the teachers to see, and create a wish list for the holiday gifts. Keep in mind, class age appropriate items. Sometimes it just takes a list like this to be provided to the teachers to look at then return with their wish list. They may get creative and add a few items too.
Boxes of Tissues
#2 Pencils
Pens (Black & Blue),
Highlighters
3-Page Hole Punch
Electric Pencil Sharpeners
3x5 Index Cards
Stapler
Scissors
Transparencies
Magic Markers
Correction Tape
Drawing/Colored Pencils
12" Rulers
Construction Paper - Large - , Small -
3-Ring Binders
Expo Dry Erase Markers -
Hanging File Folders -
Scotch Tape -
Paper, (plain, lined, reamed)
Calculators
Academic year desk calendar,
2 rolls clear contact paper;
Post-It-Notes;
Binder dividers;
Folders;
Liquid hand soap;
Clip board,
Hall’s Cherry Cough drops;
Paper Clips;
Large Magnetic Clips
Model clay
Feathers
Wiggly Eyes
Felt
Wallpaper Book
Magazines
Ziploc Bags (gallon size)
Wipies
Popsicle Sticks
Sharpie Pens (Fine, Med., Bullet Size)
Small Stationary (for writing notes home)
Colored Pens
Magnets - work great on chalkboard to hold things
Metal clips w/magnets to hang items along the chalk board.
Plastic Bins (for papers to fit in)
Calendar stickers
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A lot of this stuff falls between the cracks. And, to be fair, I understand the teacher's viewpoint as well. Each teacher works to painstakenly build up a set of learning tools and resources. And heaven knows they invest way too much of their own underpaid funds. When it comes time to move on, where do you draw the line? Various sources donated books along the way - one here, one there. But then someone like me will donate a set of six for the reading club. Is there a difference? Does it all become part of her personal resources? Special equipment like the 60 CD jukebox player or the mini refrigerator? Frankly, the school doesn't want to officially acknowledge these things exist. If they take responsibility, they own them - meaning they are responsible for repairs, possibly expected to replace them if they wear out or get one for everyone to be equitable - things they never planned to supply to begin with. So who really owns it? The school? The grade? The teacher?
It's no different in an office. I have reference books on my shelf that I've collected on the way. Which ones are mine personally or my agency's if I leave. There's a great space heater sitting under my desk. Technically, the agency doesn't allow these, but somewhere along the line, years ago, someone bought it. Who does it belong to when I leave?
As I said, I understand some of it; but I still find it a bit bothersome.
Why couldn't the school inventory these things? At the very minimum put a blank address label on the back and then stamp the school's name on it. My children are in a small school and our family has also donated larger ticket items. I would be very offended if a faculty member decided to take the donated item when he/she was leaving. Couldn't it be written into school policy or even into the PTO's policy that all donated items remain the property of the school? There must be a way to change this. It seems to me, if a teacher goes to parents asking for $$ for a specific item, then it should be made clear to the teacher that the item is being donated to the school for his/her use, not to the individual.
