Hi, y’all! Today seems like a great day to tackle an item from the to-do list we compiled last week. (See “Feeling the Pinch” for details and to make additions!) In fact, let’s make Wednesday our official to-do-list day every week!
Each Wednesday I’ll post a topic from our list with the promise of a surprise giveaway drawing to be held the following week. To enter the weekly drawing, simply take a minute or two to share your ideas before the end of the following Sunday. Here we go!
Today’s topic is holiday gifts for your students. Do you give your kiddos holiday gifts? If so, what ideas do you have for purchased or handmade gifts that are affordable on a teacher’s budget?
Thanks for sharing!
Diane
Congratulations to our winner, Beth M.!
I purchase $1 books from Scholastic and give them to the students as presents. Because we are a poor district, I like to give books so I know they have at least one book in their home to read.
I like to buy my students new school supplies. Most of the supplies from the beginning of the year are lost by Christmas. I try to plan ahead and purchase these at the beginning of school during all the wonderful sales.
I give my student a box of crayons and a book from Scholastic.
i was just thinking about this . Was just looking at scholastic book order and they have a Ginger bread book i thought be cute to give with maybe a jar gift of Gingerbread or a ginger Bread cutter .
Or was just also looking at snow man soup from DLTK web site . i love art supplies from home . If i am good i get them in aug when back to school sale and can fill a box for a buck .
I make an ornament for my kids with their picture on it.
We have points left from last year’s book orders from Scholastic. We use these to purchase books for the classes.
I, too, give books….reading is so very important! I usually add in a handmade ornament with their names and dates on it and also we hang stockings in the classroom….these are filled with things like pencils, crayons, bubbles, stickers, candy, ect.
I also purchase books from Scholastic and we make ornaments for the tree then send them home when we go out for Christmas break. We make one with the child’s picture in it so the parent has that to treasure. Everything on our tree is homemade by the kids. We also get the class coloring books and crayons to go with the books.
I buy gifts for all my students. I buy $1.00 books from Scholastic and my littlest ones get a coloring book and crayons that I purchase in September at 25 cents a box at the sales. For my 4 year kids I purchased matchbox cars for the boys. Walmart has the best prices on those, and for the girls this year I have a lot of girly girls I purchase lip gloss and those fancy little pens.
For my Parents who volunteer in the classroom with the kids I make cookie mix jars. Those are given from the kids.
I give each child an inexpensive book (from Scholastic or from Borders with a 30% off coupon) and a small gift bag with 3 or 4 “treasures” (from the dollar store)
Scholastic sure is popular!! We give them books from saved up points as well. I make an ornament for them with their picture on it from a recycled cd about snowflakes and being unique. I usually get them a candycane and make up a homework packet that has an m & m graph with a small pack of m&m;s with directions for the parents, a laminated sheet with a dry erase marker to practice writing their names over the holidays.
I like to give my students a little gift bag with some inexpensive goodies. For example, I would include a candy cane, pencil, pencil top or other little cute eraser, a homework pass, etc. I sometimes will include little party favors also – it just depends what’s on sale at the time. I may check my Scholastic points now that everyone has spoken of that. I may be able to get everyone a free book. Great idea, teachers!
Yep – me, too! Scholastic! We also make an ornament for the tree that goes home the last day before break and they get goodie bags at the party. =)
I found books at walgreens(bambi, aladdin, peter pan, 101 dalmatians) using a store coupon and I believe there were a little less than a dollar a piece. I printed happy holidays labels with my name and the year to put on the inside cover of the books. I am hoping they will have a similar deal this year. I also buy christmas novelty items stamps, erasers, mini notebooks, tatoos). 2 years ago I ordered these novelties from oriental trading after Christmas when items were as much as 80% off. That’s what I’ve been using for the last 2 classes I have had and I think I have enough for another year. This way you save a ton of money & time.
Hi Diane,
Can we do parent gifts from the kids next?? I think we all struggle with those ideas too.
Thanks for your wonderful blog.
Darlene
I give my students a book and a box of colored pencils-something most of them don’t have. I got them for 25 cents a box after the back to school sales. They love them. Sometimes I make them a special ornament.
WOW Scholastic sure is popular! I also use Scholastic books for a gift throughout the year. I gave them out for Halloween, pencils for Thanksgiving, Scholastic books for Christmas–I also got my kiddos the Scholastic make a book kit. Usually we give them crayons, a notebook, glue and such that we bought at the back to school sales. I loved reading that so many of us give such special gifts to our students.
I’m wondering what I’ll do this year myself, since I have a Jehovah’s Witness student. Any ideas?
Last year was my first year of teaching math intervention. I gave my students a set of games that we played together bound into a little book. I purchased 5 x 8 inch playing cards and used them for the front and back covers. I included some fun dice and playing cards to play the games as well as some fun game markers.
I buy each student a book. I also give them notebooks & pencils. I try to encourage reading & writing.
I give my preschoolers a snack-sized baggie of red or green playdough. I make up a big batch of peppermint dough at home and divide it up. I buy old cookie cutters for a few cents apiece at a thrift store and include one for each child with the playdough. I also give them a box of crayons or colored pencils, purchased very inexpensively at the Back to School sales. Then I make up blank coloring books and bind them with my comb binder. It’s a great way to use up unmatched or leftover paper and ends of plastic combs. Many of the children bring back one of the pages from these books in January to show me their artwork! One year, I bought a classroom pack of watercolor paints when they were on sale. I included a blank pad of paper and a brush for each with the paints, and they liked these for holiday art too!
I make each of my students a bag of trail mix that cots me about ($25).
I give my students a book from Scholastic. I also make them an ornament for their tree. Sometimes we make them in class and put them on our tree. The day of our Christmas party I send them home. They love the ornaments we make with their pictures on them.
I also purchase books from Scholastic. One year I gave mini reading lights that went with the books. I was able to pick these up at Menards at the after Thanksgiving sale for a buck or two. For the parents we do a Christmas cookie bag that we fill with cookies chosen and prepared by the children. I pull the recipes off the Santa Workshop website. We take pictures during the preparation which makes a cute little card.
Scholastic it is! Those dollar books are a life saver! (and bonus points help too) Reading is my favorite past time so I like to pass it on to the kids. Our students receive so much so we stop at just the book and a candy cane. I gave one of my Jehovah Witness children a book too, just not a Christmas story. His parents seemed ok with it.
I also give each child a book from Scholastic, along with an ornament with their name and date written in paint, and a coupon from me that is good for another free book ($2.95 or less) from any future Scholastic book order that year. (I usually have enough bonus points to cover most of those orders.)
I would also love a blog on gifts the students can make for their parents.
I too give books from Scholastic. The children love having their own books. I also include a craft kit of some sort that I get from Michaels’ when they have their big clearance sale at the end of summer.
Scholastic seems to be the winner. Great books for a grat price. I love books and like to pass them on whenever I get the chance.
For all those knitters or crocheters out there, make a simple Christmas stocking and stuff it with a candy cane and other treats that the kids will love. My class learns to knit after Christmas. We are always looking for donations of yarn for the project. Another idea is finding stuffed animals, etc. on sale after Christmas for next year.
I make a coupon book for the students. I include things like no shoes in the classroom, read a picture book to the class, sit in the teacher’s chair, etc. I usually attach a pencil or bookmark to it.