The Gifts and the Givers
Posted by Hope Spencer on 10 Dec 2009 | Posted in: Holiday and Seasonal, Inspiration and Motivation
Ah, December! There is nothing like it. Everywhere you look, there are colorful displays and wonderful sights and smells. Isn’t it fun to bring all that seasonal goodness into your classroom? Kids can make red-and-green chains; cotton ball–topped stockings; and all kinds of wreaths, stars, and ornaments.
When I think of December in the classroom, I can’t help but think of the gifts my students brought me over the years. There’s something truly endearing about a child extending a hand-wrapped gift to you. So many of those gifts stand out in my mind, but let me tell you about just a few of them.
During my first year of teaching, a student I’ll call “Jeff” proudly brought me a newspaper-wrapped gift. When I opened it, I was surprised to find a lovely white gold cuff bracelet. I thanked him, but I had a funny feeling about the gift. At lunchtime, I gave his mother a call. The bracelet was hers, and she was as surprised as I was that it was given as a gift to me. After school, we explained to Jeff that, while it meant so much to me that he wanted to give such a lovely gift, the bracelet belonged to his mother. He said he thought it was okay to give me this elegant bracelet because his mother hardly ever wore it. He and his mother had a talk later, I’m sure.
When I was teaching third grade, “Ryan” brought me a brown lunch sack. Inside I found a juice can that Ryan had carefully painted and then stamped with colorful sponge images. From then on, I kept that can on my desk the whole time I was teaching. Now it’s on the desk in my craft room. To think that Ryan would spend an evening making something for me touched me more than I can explain.
The other gift that pops into my mind came from a child in one of my second-grade classes. She brought me a sweet teddy bear from her own collection. Imagine her making a sacrifice like that! That bear is currently displayed on a bookcase in my cubicle at The Mailbox® office.
Have you noticed that I love to talk about my students? I have so many memories. Of course, you know what I mean! I’ll bet you have great student stories to share too. How about if I stop talking and give you a chance to tell your story? I can’t wait to read it!
Enjoy your students today!
Hope
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I am a toddler teacher. When a day care parent gives a gift card for a gift, I usually write what I purchased with it in the Thank you note. I buy ingredients to do holiday baking or bunny juice, Nestles Quick for making ice cream with the kiddos.
Ice Cream in a bag.
Large zip lock for ice and rock salt
Small zip lock for 1 cup whole milk, 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar, a squirt of bunny juice, choc, strawberry or just plain vanilla–put this bag inside the larger one. Have the children squish and slosh it taking turns. Forms soft ice milk, put in small cup with a spoon. ***spoon out of the bag or rinse the bag so it does not taste salty.
During my second year as a 4th grade teacher, I taught a sweet little boy from a very troubled family. Things were not going well in his home, and he was the last child I might have expected to give me a Christmas gift. Still, he arrived on the last day of school before winter break, clutching a glass ball wrapped in a kleenex. He presented it to me with a shy smile and watched his teacher accept his gift with tears rolling down her face. Unforgettable!
Last year at Christmas, one of my students gave me a large bag of those creamsaver candies. This seemed an impersonal gift, especially considering I’ve known the family for a few years, but I said thank you and just kinda giggled to myself. Later, her mom told me about how that shopping trip went. Apparently, the little girl told her mom, “Mom, I know EXACTLY what Miss Walker would love!!” and went straight to the bag of candy. It made me feel special to know she had given it thought and had come to the conclusion that a giant bag of candy is what I most desired. Not sure what her process was, but there was definitely consideration, and from five-year-olds, that’s what counts.