I hadn't planned to this year, but my mom called me today and says, "How many boys and girls do you have?" and tells me she's at Target and sees some cute things to stuff goody bags with. In past years, I made a much bigger deal out of the holidays (usually we'd have a celebration w/a video, do an art project and the kids would take home goody bags with a pencil, stickers, candy and small knicknacks) but with all the stress of rigorous instruction and everything having to be tied into the Common Core standards, my flame for fun has cooled a bit. Anyway, I digress and need to get off the :soapboxo you guys give gifts to your kids for Christmas and other holidays?
Scholastic book for each student (Winter according to Humphrey), a pack of hot chocolate mix, a Little Debbie gingerbread boy, holiday pencil and eraser all in a goodie bag.
This is my first year with an actual class at Christmas, and so I finally have the opportunity of doing what I always wanted to do - which mixes the educational with the spirit of giving and get a book for every kid in the class. Thanks to the wonderful advice in the other gift thread, I'm going to tell each kid they can choose a book $5 or less in one of the upcoming scholastic book orders - completely their choice. Promoting literacy but still making it exciting! (I'm considering putting that little note inside a simple card, with the card having a quick note about something I think is wonderful about that kid from the eventual 2.5 weeks I've known them, but we'll see if I can put that together this week )
I've posted this elsewhere but here's what I'm giving: no homework pass, small gift card to Toys R Us, a Goosebumps book, and a package of smores. I put them in cute, individualized bags and they are now underneath the classroom Christmas tree. We are having an all day movie and pajama day, a classroom party and treats. I'm bringing in a cake. Needless to say, a ton of stuff! I love my class this year. Target has great stuff.
WOW! All of those sound awesome. I don't think our principal would allow a no-homework pass, but I could see giving out extra computer time passes and maybe going to the library and getting (gently) used books from the little store they have downstairs and including those in the goody bags.
I have 70 kids (3classes) all for an equal amount of time, so I'm changing what I normally do. I bought all a Little Debbie Christmas Tree cake and a Dr. Pepper. That was almost $50. for my homeroom I'll bring sausage balls and juice for our Christmas breakfast.
I got each of them "Winter According to Humphrey," a robot bookmark, and I'm going to write a message in each book.
The passes are definitely a good idea! And cheap. My kids are great with homework but they can forget.
Christy, you're so thoughtful to do that! Most teachers would be intimidated at the idea of giving something to do many kids, but you found a way to make it work. It may seem small, but the thing I have forgotten is that many kids get nothing for Christmas, so our seemingly "little" gifts go such a long way to make them feel cared about
I always give my kids an "Oops" pass or two for the grading period--as in, "Oops, I forgot, but I'll bring it tomorrow." I've never thought of using them as prizes/gifts though! My kids do get a "Half Homework Pass" for their birthday and for an AR prize--basically, they still have to do it but can cross off half the problems. They think this is a huge deal!
OOOOO, I LOVE that one! That way the child still has to do the assignment, but it gives them extra time. I'm so going to use this in the goody bags. :thumb:
Yep, it also takes care of "I know I did it, but I left it on the counter!" (Even when you know that's not really the case... )
Half homework pass sounds like a good idea! I've given out a get out of jail free card. I gave the idea to a fellow teacher but apparently it inspired misbehavior lol.
I am giving my students personalized pencils from Atlas with their names on them and some small type of treat
The Debbie Cakes and Dr. Peppers went over like gangbusters! I was immediately hugged over and over with lots of "Thank you!" and "You rock!". and a few "I love you!" They liked them. lol
I give a gift to one of my music ensembles that is ending this week. I give them a little gift bag that has: a small activity book, holiday stickers, holiday stamp, some candy, and I'm also giving them a picture of the group. I probably spent a little more than I wanted, but it was less than $2 a student.
One of the easiest, cheapest and most useful things I could come up with were booklights from the dollar store. The kids especially liked the ones where you push a button and the light extends out like a robots arm. I also bought extra batteries in bulk to replace the ones that inevitably died in the weeks after the holidays. Knowing that these kids were actually reading at home was worth the $30.00.... Merry Christmas to Everyone, Steve
Yikes, do some of you have really small classes? Or loads of money? Not that it's any of my business, but it seems like some of you are spending a good chunk of money on your students. To each their own! I got each of my students a Scholastic book with my bonus points. I made a list of the $1 and $2 books, and they could choose 1. I also buy a candy cane. The total cost is about $3. I figure that whatever I buy them will end up lost in the excitement of all of the "fun" gifts they get from family, friends, and Santa, so it isn't really worth it IMO.
My students asked me yesterday how much I had spent for all of the makings of our gingerbread houses. I haven't added it up; I picked things up a bit at a time. Thinking about it, I probably spent somewhere between $40 and $50 total--less than $2 per student.
I love that book light idea! For my first graders, I am making these snowman play dough jars: http://blog.theconnectionweshare.com/craft-activities-ideas-for-kids/snowman-gifts-in-a-jar-ideas/ I just finished making 6 batches of homemade play dough tonight. I'm going to make it peppermint scented and add some glitter, too. Last year I did gingerbread-scented because we had done a gingerbread man play.
I'm making them ornaments. I have a Silhouette Cameo and am cutting vinyl shapes/their names out with it and putting it on the clear ornaments. I was going to glitter/paint the inside, but that just didn't happen. Right now I'm cutting out 30 vinyl stencils so they can etch drinking glasses to give to their dads/grandfathers, so that's also a gift of time and sanity. And I got them supplies to make their mothers sugar scrub mason jars for Christmas. Ho, ho, ho. Just call me Santa. I'm off to bed to recover for my night of crafting so my kids can craft....
I got them a $1 Scholastic book, a couple erasers, and a pack of 3 personalized pencils from For Teachers Only. It was about $3 per kid, and I have 20 kids. It's a lot I guess, but I work in a low-income area, and I want to give the kids something special. Other than the book, it's all special stuff they use in the classroom anyway.
Its a great occassion when you can present cute gifts to your beloved kids like Christmas tree, cake, sweets and personality development books.
I have a Jehovah's Witness and a non-Christian in my class, so I'm not doing any Christmas/Holiday presents. However, I do have a book for each that will be hidden throughout the room in plain sight, and we'll have a 'book hunt'. Reading the book will be their homework for the winter break. I also have a non-holiday pencil, pencil grip and notepad for each so they can write a brief review of their books for homework too.
Wow guys! Thanks for all the great suggestions and sharing the types of things you give out. My students were very happy with their goody bags (we ended up filling them with candy, pencils, a few stickers and a yoyo or spinning top). I cant wait to use some of your suggestions for our next holiday
