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Lunch time!

A group of friends and I share a tradition of taking our kids' teachers lunch during teacher appreciation week. We tally up the amount of lunches we need, notify our teachers and then gather in the morning to assemble the lunches. One friend makes delicious chicken salad, another brings croissants for the sandwiches, one brings fruit, another makes wonderful pasta salad and another awesome brownies. I take care of the packaging. Last year I made these sacks. This year I made oilcloth lunch sacks.

I first made a pattern out of cardboard measuring 15 x 12. Cut a 2 1/2 inch square out of each bottom corner.

Take two pieces of oilcloth right sides together and draw around your template. Cut out. I used small clothes pins to hold the pieces together.

I used pinking shears to cut across the top (very optional- I thought it gave the edge a finished look)

Sew down each side and across the bottom. I used a stitch length of 5 and 1/4 inch seams on the entire bag. My machine handled the oilcloth beautifully, but If you have any troubles, Sew Mama Sew has a wonderful article on sewing with oilcloth.

Fold in bottom of bag bringing bottom seam and side seam together

Pin bag bottom to bag side with clips

Sew across on each side

Turn bag right side out and fold in top of bag about 1/2" and then top stitch

Measure about 2 1/2 inches from middle side seam on all four corners, finger press, clip with clothes pins

Top-stitch closely to the corner fold on each of the four sides

Finished!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Appreciation 7 days a week

This year for teacher appreciation week we will be giving each teacher a "days of the week" pill box filled with little treats and sayings. I found the pill boxes at the dollar store.

You may download the sayings if you like -

teacher-appreciation-sayings

(I didn't use the "We are lucky to have you for a teacher" saying. It would go nicely with a lottery ticket!)

Fabric covered tacks fill one of the compartments to tell them they are sharp!

I used Jessica Jones' fabulous instructions to make the fabric covered thumbtacks

Some purchased colorful clips fill the next compartment

Next up marble magnets

These are simple to make with glass gems (floral department at the craft store), E600 craft adhesive, a 3/4 inch hole punch, 3/4 inch magnets and decorative scrapbook paper, wrapping paper and or magazine scraps. First punch out a circle and glue it to the back of the glass gem. I removed air bubbles by moving paper in a circular motion to distribute glue evenly and then pressing hard. Allow to set. Next glue the magnet to the back of your papered gem. I found it necessary to sort my glass gems to find the largest ones with no scratches or imperfections. If your glass gems are smaller try using a 1/2 inch hole punch and 1/2 inch magnets.

A measuring tape tells our teacher that they really measure up

Change for the soda machine fills another compartment

Small little post-it notes (the kind for marking a page) just fit to say, "Just a note to let you know we think you are a wonderful teacher!"

Some mints to say thank you

Wrapped all up with a little gift tag that reads:

A daily gift for all you do,
Teaching my child each day through.
Making a difference without taking a rest,
As a teacher, you're one of the best!

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Hopefully our teachers will feel appreciated each day!

More Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Please check the "Teacher Appreciation Ideas" in the right sidebar. You will find pages with  gift and packaging ideas along with loads of sayings to pair with small treats!

National Teacher Appreciation week is the first full week in May.  National Teacher  Day is May 6, 2008.

Here are some ideas that can be done for the entire teaching staff at school.

  • Place a large poster in the Teacher's lounge that says, "We think you are 'souper'!" and serve a soup lunch. We do this for our teachers on a day that there are no classes but they are required to be at school--- like for parent teacher conferences or an in-service day. We place little notes in the box ahead of time inviting them to the special lunch. Parents are asked to send a crock pot of soup so the cost for this is very little.
  • Late fall or winter place a basket of hot cocoa mixes, instant flavored coffees and spiced cider packets in a basket with a sign that says, "You warm our hearts!"
  • You can ask parents to donate homemade breakfast goodies and invite the teachers to "A breakfast of champions!"
  • Supply the teacher's lounge with cupcakes decorated with lots of pretty frosting and post a sign that says, "Our teachers are the icing on the cake!" or make cakes and have the sign read, "Our teachers take the cake!"
  • Place a pack of gum in each teacher's mailbox and say, "You've chewed through 1/2 the year. Keep up the good work."
  • Place a Power bar in each teacher's mailbox and a note saying, "We hope this energizes your day."
  • Place some store bought tins of flavored popcorn, homemade caramel corn, or packages of microwave popcorn in the teacher's lounge with a note that says, "Have a popin good day!"
  • Have the student council or a group of parents wash the teacher's cars or only car windows. A few days before let teachers know you are planning to do this by putting a note in their mailbox that says, "Thanks for making everything 'clear' We are treating you to a free car wash!
  • Make a sign that says, "Our teachers are the sweetest." Have parents bring in sweet treats or provide a chocolate fountain and fresh fruit.
  • Hire a few massage therapists that will come to the teachers lounge and do chair massages. Usually massage students are willing to do this for a reasonable rate. Let teachers know about this special treat by sending them a note that says, "You deserve a pat on the back!"
  • During parent teacher conferences we put boxes of of conversation hearts in each teacher's mailbox. We included a note that said, "Hoping your 'heart to heart' conversations are sweet!"
  • Conversation hearts or any other heart candy could be placed in the teacher's mailboxes with notes saying, "Thanks for putting your heart into teaching."
  • At Easter put candy filled plastic eggs in the teacher's mailboxes with a note telling them they are 'Eggstra' special teachers.
  • Put a lottery ticket in each teacher's mailbox with a note saying, "We are lucky to have such great teachers!"

Other ideas can be found here

Back to School

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I can't believe summer vacation is over. My kids headed back to school today(well two out of three ain't bad). I sent them each with a little hand lotion or hand soap  (on sale now at Bath & Body) for their new teachers and a note that said, "If I can give you a 'hand' this year, please don't hesitate to call me," and then included my home and cell number.

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I just think this is a great way to start the year and open the lines of communication. This is our first year to have a man teacher. I was going to fill a work glove with candy for him, but I decided that since he has a sink in his room he would still probably appreciate some hand soap.

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Thankful beyond words!

Our final gift for Teacher Appreciation Week

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I want my blog to be a fun, creative and beautiful place. I need this little spot here in blog world. Sometimes it is a counter balance to a stress filled life. Our oldest son is on the Autistic Spectrum and often our days are long and trying. Our hearts and minds have been opened, stretched and blessed by our son. We have been challenged in what seems to be beyond our limits most days, but yet somehow (truly the grace of God and support from friends, family and our schools) despite all of our parenting inadequacies this child is confident and believes he has something to offer to all of us. He can finally see value in his disability. We could have never done this alone!
I put this all out there for you to in some way give words to the deep appreciation we feel for our son's amazing and supportive teachers and school staff. Last year was unimaginable---difficult beyond words. This year because of a phenomenal special ed teacher, an awesome autism consultant (and her special para professional) and our son's extremely capable and caring para professional--- our son has bloomed.

Max Moms

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