Appreciating Teachers...

I agonize over Teacher Appreciation Week every year (or at least the last three years that I have had a child in school). I have issues with buying ready-made gifts...not that there is anything wrong with them, just because I want to make my own. I am one of two homeroom mom's in Annalise's class this year. The good thing about her school is that every year, there have always been more than one homeroom mom, which helps since we organize lots of parties, and it helps cut down the expense.

So, this year for Teacher Appreciation Week, I pretty much took it over. The other mom had done lots of other stuff throughout the year, especially during the first semester since I was so sick after having Ella. So, I made teacher appreciation week my project...what was I thinking? Seriously, it is not hard for me to find one or two creative things to do...but five days worth?? Mind you, we didn't have to do 5 days worth, but how do you not do every day when it is called Teacher Appreciation WEEK!? So, here is what we did...just in case you need any ideas...

I made all the tags for each day similar...I kindof did "The Five Days of Teacher Appreciation Week" (kindof like the 12 Days of Christmas)-which was an idea I found online...

Day 1:
Have you seen those edible arrangements? I think they are so cool...but SO expensive! Seriously, it is like $80 for a bouquet of fruit!, so I made my own. Granted, it doesn't look like theirs, but it was about 20% of their cost....It was really easy. I just got a cute flowerpot and styrofoam from Hobby Lobby (on sale-of course) and some bamboo skewers and fruit from Walmart. I cut the pineapple into slices and then used a cookie cutter, used a melon baller for the cantelope and then cut the ball in half and stuck it to the pineapple with a skewer. As for the strawberries, I just pulled (NOT CUT!) the green stem off and skewered them upside down. How easy is that?! And sooo cute!





Day 2:
I sent out a note home and collected money for her teacher throughout the weeks before Teacher appreciation week. Then Holly (the other mom) and I got different giftcards that we knew she liked. (I got this idea from someone at church) I got a pizza box and some pizza scrapbook paper that was laminated and put in the box to look like a pizza. Then, I attached the giftcards to the top of the pizza...cute way to give giftcards!





Day 3:
Who doesn't love a movie night? I went to Blockbuster and got a popcorn tub and $5 gift card. Then I went and got her favorite candy and a coke. Everything you need for a movie night at home!





Day 4:
This was my favorite day. I did this for Annalise's teacher when she was in Pre-K and she really liked it. I generally don't like doing things more than once, but I loved this idea, so I reused it! I took pictures of the kiddos and printed them on shrink plastic. I cut out the pictures and punched a hole in the top of them before baking them in the oven. Then I attached jump rings and made a charm bracelet of her 1st grade class. She loved it!






Day 5:
We made a "Why We Love Mrs. Zeaman" book. I took cardstock up to the school a couple of weeks in advance and took the kids a couple at a time out in the hallway. On one page it had a picture of them with their name. They wrote (in their little first grade handwriting and spelling!) the reason the loved Mrs. Zeaman. They also drew pictures and decorated it. It turned out so cute...then I took it up to Kinko's and had it bound. (it only costs about $5). I loved it and so did she...something she can keep forever of this years class!





So, that was it...Teacher Appreciation Week 2008-2009 is done! Now I better get crackin' on next year! Did I mention I don't like to do the same things twice?!