Its an age-old question, with all the notices received from school, what do parents need to keep and where/how do they keep it? One of my student's parents was a keeper. She was rumored to have a file that held every single paper that came home from the teacher every year. I was warned by a colleague: make sure that you never send anything home that's not 100% perfect. She'll pull it out if there's ever a question. For the record, I never had a problem and none of the papers I sent home ever … [Read more...]
Classroom Idea: Pencil Lost & Found
January 6, 2011 by 1 Comment
Teachers: need a solution for the child who is always losing his pencil? Parents: want to work with your child to make a useful gift for a teacher? Try this cure for the I need a pencil whisper or whine: a Pencil Lost & Found. Image by velostricken via Flickr Very simply, collect an empty coffee can (a glass, wide-lipped jar works well, too) and decorate it colorfully. Label it "Pencil Lost and Found." Place a few pencils in the can. Whenever a pencil is found without its owner, place … [Read more...]
Should schools and PTOs be encouraging children to eat fast food?
October 21, 2010 by 12 Comments
Image by Downing Street via Flickr Last week, I heard of an elementary school fundraiser entitled McTeachers. It seemed that teachers would be working the registers at a local McDonald's and "a percentage of all sales" would go directly to the school. (Note the word "a", and not a number. We have no idea if this was 50% or .25%). In a time when Jamie Oliver is hosting a top television show teaching families to eat healthy and changing our schools to serve non-processed foods, and schools and … [Read more...]
Make a teacher's wish come true
September 14, 2010 by 6 Comments
Its not every teacher who can decorate her classroom or provide a shelf full of new books. Its not every teacher who can offer her students fresh playground balls and construction paper in every color and a white board and a comfortable (clean and new) carpet for circle time, or bean bags in the class library. It should be. But its not. Its not because funding for our schools is low. Which translates into very little money provided for teachers to enhance their classrooms, something … [Read more...]
Welcome your families Back-to-School with a Volunteer Coffee
September 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
It is so hard. So. So. So hard to enter a new school as a parent. You're filled with anxiety for your child that you're trying to hide and you just want to understand what you can do to volunteer at the school and how and what things mean. Or, maybe, you are at a school where lunch ordering is computerized (or Scholastic book orders or volunteer sign ups) and you have no idea where to start or how to sign up. Perhaps you want to call the guidance counselor with a question, but you don't even … [Read more...]
Ask the Teacher: Back to School Gifting
August 27, 2010 by 21 Comments
Dear Just Precious, I hear my daughter's teacher is wonderful, and I want to make sure she knows that we're excited to be in her class this year. I read that parents give gifts to their teachers on the first day. What should I give? What is the appropriate amount to spend? I swear. Parents stress out over gifting... its not worth it. Really. Because, in a word, nothing. Give them nothing monetary on the first day of school. Give them a well-rested, well-fed, happy/nervous/curious/shy child … [Read more...]
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