(I am adding a great gift idea that was too big for my 100+gift idea list - but ya'll can print it and add it to your Teacher Appreciation Ideas - procedure binder!

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Teacher Appreciation GIFTS from: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When I was POT Volunteer Coordinator, I had the job of planning and providing the teacher appreciation job on our elementary school. One day at the local $1 store, I found a bunch of cute "school" tins that looked just like a school building! I purchased green cellophane from a florist's supply place, and purchased red geraniums from our local K-Mart for-Martnts each. I cut the cellophane in squares, used it as you would use tissue in a gift bag, and put the plant in the middle of the tissue inside of the school tin. I bought a bag of yellow pencils and used them as picks, also paint brushes, and rulers! These were so pretty sitting around our school's library where we had the luncheon.

Our teachers loved a salad luncheon with all kinds of donated salads, fresh muffins, fruit, and a dessert of some kind. We turned the lights down some, and played relaxing music on the CD player DC give it a restaurant atmosphere. The principal and some parent volunteers took playground duty so the teachers could all relax together!

I purchased some long wooden meat skewers and cut-out heart shapes to make name tags for each arrangement! I used "dot" letters with a fine point black marker to spell each teacher's name, and poked one in each arrangement. This way, I knew who didn't get one by the ones that were left. The teachers LOVED them and the library was beautiful with three on each table as the centerpiece, and extras sitting around the bookshelves.

I also purchased from the $1 store, little ceramic apple bonbon type dishes and filled them with candy and wrapped them in cellophane and ribbons for the "para's" in the building so they would have something special too! I cut out small apples from the die-cut machine, and put the para's names on each one so I could tell who wasn't there that day! Everyone loved them! The "para's" really appreciated not being left out! I made the principal, secretary, nurse, and the other music, etc. teachers arrangements too!

Many of the teachers still have their tins on their desks,even though its been almost 6 years now, and they said that day that they'd never felt SO appreciated!!! The gifts cost me $ 2.25 per teacher, and $ 1.50 per para! Good luck! Anything you do is most appreciated!
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Now ya'll share an idea too!

I know I've sent the popular list of "100 Plus - Gift ideas for teachers and volunteers" out to so many of you. Here a few ideas that you might want to add to that list you rec'd.

Scissors : "You're a CUT above the rest, and it's been a SHEAR pleasure having you for a teacher this year!!"

cool grater at Linens & Things that has a catch-all at the bottom complete with lid:  "There's no GRATER teacher than you anywhere!!" 

"Whisk Magic" kitchen tongs: "TONGS for being such a great teacher .... I WHISK everyone were as nice as you!!"

stainless steel strainers that when held one way can be put over an opened can to drain the liquid, or reversed to strain the liquid off a can of opened tuna:  "I can't reSTRAIN myself from telling you what a great teacher you are!!" 

collect some great oven mits and potholders - there is a wonderful new silicon material out in them that withstands temps of 500 degrees. Put a beautiful stemmed rose in the center, tape down the thumb to "hold it" and attach a card that reads: "I have to adMITT, you're a great teacher!!"

There is a wonderful makeup cloth remocver called "Wonder Cloth" available at Linens and Things or www.wondercloth.com, which is truly amazing. Neither mascara, lipstick nor make-up stains the wondercloth. It washes up like new after each removal. Give one to a terrific teacher with a message like: "It's no wonder you're a great teacher. You MAKE-UP such fun ways to learn and REMOVE all my fears. I'm so glad you were woven into the CLOTH of my life!!

a great gal (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) has shared these addition with me, and a few more too - which I've added to the list.

Have fun with your great teacher gifts is year, and feel free to add your new ideas to this post so that others can uses them too - since that sharing of ideas is what this forum is all about!

Let's share more ideas.
Diane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)