The Classroom Gift Exchange

I took part in a gift exchange when I was between eight and ten years old. My Mom picked out a gift for me to give- a jigsaw puzzle with 1,000 pieces. The person who received the gift didn’t want it and nobody else did either. I’m not sure if that’s the reason, but I’ve never liked jigsaw puzzles much and I’ve always been pretty insecure when it comes to giving gifts. Does the person really like what I’ve chosen?

I used several different gift exchanges in my classroom over the years. Sometimes the gifts were toys and sometimes we exchanged books. There were years when each child brought in an item labeled whether it was for a boy or a girl, and other times, each student picked a name of a classmate out of a container so they knew who to buy a gift for. As the gifts came in, they were placed under our class Christmas tree until the day when we would open them and have our class party.

The biggest challenge a teacher faces in this situation, and it applies throughout the school year, is to ensure that kids show appreciation and give thanks to the giver, regardless of whether they like the gift and/or the classmate. There also needs to be guidelines for spending so families aren’t feeling additional financial pressure during the holiday season.

Tales From My Classroom…

One year, when I was a special education teacher, I worked with a classroom teacher who held a different type of gift exchange. When it was time to open the gifts, each child had the option of choosing an unopened gift from the pile or they could choose a gift that someone else had chosen and already opened. A note to parents had explained all of this beforehand and it had been explained in class. Still,  tears and angry phone calls were the result, and I decided right then that I would never do this type of gift exchange.

I learned from other teachers to always have a few extra gifts wrapped and ready to go just in case. The kids who forgot to bring in a gift to give were just as appreciative as those who received those gifts.

I loved just sitting back after everything was opened and watching the kids play or read their new books. I appreciated the thoughtfulness they demonstrated (some more than others) and the opportunity for my students to just be kids. That was the way I wanted to end the day and that was the way I wanted to begin Christmas vacation.

Why do you think children should or should not participate in class gift exchanges?

What type of gift exchange works best, and what limits or rules should be followed?

Have you ever participated in a school gift exchange, and how did it go?

Is This Going To Be Homework?

I made a promise to myself when I became a classroom teacher that I would never give homework on the first day of school. That promise lasted many years until a new math program we were using required homework to be given right from day one. So much for promises.

Homework is one aspect of school that seems to have undergone a transformation over the years. When kids were growing up a few decades ago, time spent on homework competed only with time spent playing with friends indoors or outdoors. There were not that many organized activities, and those that were offered seemed to take place on the weekends or the occasional weeknight. Currently, kids are often scheduled   for different sports and hobbies throughout the week, with homework sometimes taking a back seat. The image of a child sitting at the kitchen table while doing homework, getting help when needed, and then having it checked by mom or dad, while not uncommon, isn’t the norm for many families for a variety of reasons.

Changes in family structure also led me to change how I assigned homework. Custody arrangements have become so complicated, with children switching homes on weekends, certain days of the week, and sometimes from morning to evening that, as a teacher, you have to adjust your expectations. One aspect of homework that has not changed too much are the excuses used by students who haven’t completed the assignments. The homework was lost, forgotten, and even eaten by…you know.

Tales From My Classroom…

My favorite excuse given by students over the years was that they didn’t have time to finish the homework. I would ask what time they got home, what time they ate dinner, etc. and, almost without fail, there were big gaps in time when the homework could have been completed.

The rule in my room was simple. Do the homework. No excuses. About once a year, though, a student would bring in a note from a parent as to why homework wasn’t done. I’d accept that excuse…once.

I always felt bad if a parent would contact me and explain how their child was doing homework for 2-3 hours a night. Usually, it was a misunderstanding of the assigned work or some other factor, and I would assure the parent that my elementary students would never have that much homework.

It was interesting when a child turned in a homework assignment that had obviously been completed by an adult.

Recognizing that there are changes in family structure, scheduling, and other factors, what homework policies should be established in our schools?

What should be the goals of assigning homework?

Gifts For The Students

I love to buy gifts for people anyway, so giving gifts to my students was a very enjoyable task for me. It actually began on the first day of school when I presented each student with a book and continued throughout the year with holiday pencils, special treats, and other assorted “goodies”.

My favorite gift to give was always books. Scholastic Book Club, the company that many of us ordered from when we were kids, always had special offers in their monthly flyer which I took advantage of to buy class sets of books. These sets stayed in my desk until a holiday or special occasion and I would then give copies to my students.

This time of year, I would first put together a gift bag for each child with pencils engraved with their name, maybe a candy cane and Hershey kisses wrapped in red or green, a book of course, and another item or two. Then, on the day we celebrated Christmas in class, I would have two or three items I had purchased for the room. It may be games that the kids could use during indoor recess, or it may have been something as unexciting as a new electric pencil sharpener (which they actually loved). Regardless, they loved opening presents, as I do, and were quite appreciative!

Tales From My Classroom…

One year we had a visit from The Zucchini Brothers, two gentlemen who were both storytellers and musicians. At the end of the performance, my kids wanted to purchase their CD for our classroom, but I think I had one dollar in my wallet. The next thing I know, kids were pulling money out of their pockets until we had enough to make the purchase.

Each year we had a grab bag of some kind for Christmas and I always bought a couple of extra items (toys or books, depending on the type of grab bag we were doing that year) to have in case a student forgot or a parent called to say they couldn’t participate because of finances.

One thing I was always terrible at was remembering to give something to a child on their birthday. Some years, I even had placed a birthday pencil, book, and a treat or two in a special bag, and then forgot to give it out.

What are examples of gifts that teachers can give students?

Should teachers give gifts to students for birthdays or holidays? Why or why not?

Holiday Projects and Parent Volunteers

Teachers have a balancing act this time of year, making sure their students continue to work hard in math and reading, complete homework assignments, and study for that Friday spelling test, but also doing holiday projects- hopefully with parent volunteers.

Not even close to being the “artistic type”, one of my favorite traditions this time of year was to visit my local AC Moore store. There, I would wander the aisles looking for ideas and the materials I would need for Christmas projects. Most years, I would corner a salesperson to help me plan these projects and make sure I had everything I would need- especially the knowledge of how to complete the ornament or attach the photo. It was an expensive visit, but was always worth it.

My students’ parents also played a key role in these projects. I guess they really played two roles. The first was in supplying many of the items we needed in class to complete the projects. Bags of candy and “icing”, hand tools, and newspaper all came in from home. The second role parents played was coming into school to provide “hands on” instruction, guidance, and modeling for students. Without my parent volunteers, my projects wouldn’t have been possible- and they added to a wonderful holiday atmosphere in our classroom!

Tales From My Classroom…

Gingerbread houses were one of my favorite activities- not because they came out well, as many collapsed under the weight of all of that candy, but because of how much fun they were to make. Not only did many of us sample the “construction materials”, but there were always one or two kids that didn’t like getting messy- thank goodness for parents!

Glass ornaments were my favorite activity. They looked great (if they survived) and were simple. Just pour a little paint in and swirl it around, add another color or two, and set it out to dry and drain. Every year, though, at least several kids poured in too much paint and their ornament never made it home.

Even with coupons and my teacher discount, AC Moore made a lot of money off of me. On the other hand, considering my limitations, they made me look at least average.

Using photos of the kids in ornaments was always a good idea because they were great family memories. The photos I enjoyed most were of each student by our classroom tree wearing reindeer ears. Blackmail material for when they get older!

What holiday projects do you remember from your classroom days?

Holiday Gifts For The Teacher

Ok, I admit it. I like getting gifts and that includes the many gifts I received from students during my teaching years. I think it started when I was growing up, when I’d sit down with the big toy catalogues and make up my list. As to whether I still put together a “wish list”…no comment.

Unless there is a district wide or school wide policy, classroom teachers make a decision this time of year regarding a number of holiday customs and practices. One of them is whether to do some type of gift exchange between students, but also whether they will accept gifts from the children in their class. Most kids really seem to enjoy giving a gift to their teacher- they often choose the gift themselves and base it on what they know their teacher likes. For example, I received a number of “moose themed” items over the years because I like moose. I also received a hand made Harry Potter wand for the same reason. Other gifts are more generic in nature, such as mugs, candles, and gift certificates, while still others are more extreme- some are quite expensive while others much less so. All are appreciated, regardless of monetary value.

Most important are the lessons to be taught here. Opening gifts in front of your students is a wonderful opportunity to show thanks, humility, and appreciation for the time spent together each day and the gift they were kind enough to present to you. It was also a time to model how you appreciated the opportunity to be their teacher whether there was a gift…or not.

Tales From My Classroom…

There is nothing I enjoy more this time of year than being reminded of former students when I hang Christmas ornaments or display other items that were gifts from kids. Some still have their names on them and, by the way, some of my former students are approaching forty years old.

One little girl came up to me after we returned to school in early January with a present of a chalk board eraser that had “A+ Teacher” on it. She was embarrassed because it was after Christmas and because of the gift itself. I still have it and I saw it as an opportunity- see paragraph 3 above.

One 5th grade student gave me a Christmas tie. It was made by her Mom and I wore it every year on the last day of school before Christmas. That “little girl” has a child of her own now, is a teacher, and joined me for breakfast several months ago.

Student Attendance

I have to be honest when it comes to attendance. I took it personally when students of mine were absent from school. I know thats silly, but it’s true. I wanted every student in class every school day, although I have to admit- there were some years when I had a particularly difficult child and if he/she was out, it did make for an easier day.

If a school wants to improve in areas such as graduation rates, test scores, and their overall academic program, one of the first places to look is student attendance. Many schools have policies in place determining required days in class, and follow up with students and their families if absences become a concern. How about students who are in school, but late on a consistent basis? For some families, kids, even at a young age, are responsible for getting themselves up, dressed, fed, and on their way to school. Is this fair? Most of us would say no, but that’s the way it is.

One thing schools can do is make sure parents see value in their children attending school. Half days, days when kids know they’re having a substitute teacher, or if parents get the impression that missed work doesn’t have to be made up all suggest that missing school is not a big deal. How about the opposite problem? There are always kids who come to school every day, whether they are healthy or sick, even if they have a fever or some type of stomach bug. Now, that’s a problem, too.

 

Tales From My Classroom…

I remember one third grade student telling me that she was absent from school the day before because Mom took her shopping.

There were quite a few students over the years who missed a week or more of school when their family went on vacation. Usually Mom or Dad would contact me well in advance so I could get work together, but every once in a while I would find out the day before they were leaving.

In September, one of my fifth grade girls was absent on the first Friday and the following Tuesday. The other students and the office confirmed that this was typical. It seems that Mom left for work before the bus came and it was up to her to get herself ready for school. I decided to be “charming” (not an easy task)- encouraging her and complimenting her  while I built a positive relationship with her.

In our parent/student handbook, it was clearly stated that students were expected to be in school each day except for sickness, etc. and vacations should be scheduled when school was out. After a school board meeting, a board member came up to apologize to me because his family was going to be in Florida for a week when school was in session.

My Favorite Teacher

I was an Adjunct Professor at an area college teaching classes on education, one of which included many students who were about to begin their first student-teaching experience. On the first or second night of class, I asked each to write down the names of their former teachers, beginning with kindergarten, and most had no trouble. I’m sixty now, and I don’t have a good memory, but I have no trouble remembering the names of my teachers, especially those from elementary school.

I share that because I truly believe teachers have a tremendous influence on children that lasts much longer than the year that student and teacher spend together. We tend to remember the book the teacher read aloud, the special project done in class, funny jokes that were told, or the way math was used to solve “real life” problems. Many of us became educators because of that one favorite teacher!

Tales From My Classroom…

I’ve always tried to use a “character’s voice” when I read aloud to my students. I wanted them to feel like they were part of the story. I think that’s because Mrs. West, my fourth grade teacher, read that way. I still remember how perfect she sounded reading “The Three Billy Goat’s Gruff”.

Think about positive memories you have about a particular teacher. It can be about their personality, how they interacted with students, what you learned from them, etc.

Why was that person so special? 

What did they do that causes you to still remember and admire them?

Race In School

 

I’ve always felt that being a good role model was an extremely important part of teaching. This is sometimes very difficult for teachers because we all have different backgrounds and experiences, as well as different viewpoints and personalities.

Regardless of your age, issues regarding race, specifically between black and white children, may have played a role in your upbringing, whether at home or in school. With our first African American president well into his second term, the many conflicts between young, male African Americans and law enforcement, and other incidents of racial unrest, race continues to play a large role in society. For our use here, I want to concentrate on the relationships between black and white students in our schools.

Tales From My Classroom…

There were very few African American students in the schools where I taught. When we filled out the BEDS forms each year (school data), those of us who worked in the office could easily name each of the African American students in our entire school.

I went in to say good night to my oldest when he was in kindergarten. He was holding two of his toy soldiers and smacking them together as if they were fighting. I asked what he was doing and he said they didn’t like each other because one was black and the other was white, and that’s what they talked about in school. I’m pretty sure he misinterpreted the message from the teacher.

When I was in high school, there seemed to be a great divide between black and white students. Based on color, kids sat at different tables in the lunch room and rumor had it that the players on our basketball team didn’t pass the ball to teammates of a different race.

Every once in a while, perhaps once a year, one of my elementary students would come up to me to say that a classmate had used “the N word”. Sometimes it was handled privately, and sometimes it became a class discussion.

What experiences have you or your children had with students of a different race? Friends? Enemies? Did race play a part?

What role, if any, should schools play in addressing issues regarding race?

Breakfast In School

Most school districts I’m familiar with serve breakfast in school, the theory being that children are much more likely to succeed in school if they start off the day with breakfast. For many students, though, this doesn’t happen. It makes sense, so offering breakfast in school really shouldn’t be an issue, should it?

To me, though, schools serving breakfast is definitely an issue because it lends itself to the notion that schools exist to not only educate children, but to raise them as well. I understand that, for a variety of reasons, kids often leave home in the morning without having had a healthy breakfast. This may be because of parent’s work schedules, financial difficulties, or whatever. Regardless of the reasons, should schools be responsible for taking over what used to be the responsibility of parents?

Now, assuming kids will have the option of eating breakfast in school, what are the concerns? Well, here are questions to consider. What are the other students doing while their classmates are eating? If they’re working on schoolwork and starting their school day, are the “breakfast kids” going to have to make up the work they’re missing? Where do the kids eat breakfast? In the cafeteria? Who’s supervising them? Does your school district have to pay additional people to supervise breakfast? If you use teacher assistants or aides to supervise, what tasks are those adults not doing because of this supervisory assignment? If kids eat breakfast in the classroom, do the other kids just sit and watch them eat? If the lesson calls for writing or reading with a partner, for example, is this even possible for the student who has a fork in one hand and a carton of milk in the other?

Although all of this is manageable, and these questions may seem minor, they certainly are realistic issues that classroom teachers have to address each day. Whose responsibility should it be to make sure each child begins their day with a healthy breakfast?

Tales From My Classroom…

I remember having students eating breakfast in the cafeteria and staying there as long as possible so they wouldn’t have to start their work. Luckily, those who were supervising in the cafeteria would send them down to class!

Because students arrived at different times, kids began breakfast at different times. Theoretically, as soon as a child arrived at school, they either went to their classroom or to breakfast. There was always one child, though, who would come down to the room and start the day with us before remembering that they were supposed to eat breakfast first.

Once in a while, a student would run late and there wouldn’t be time for him/her to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. I would then have them get their meal and bring it down to the room to eat. It made quite a few of us hungry!

Who should be responsible for providing breakfast for children and WHY? 

Trees, Candles, and Religion In School

 

Close to Home

 

Religion is one of those topics that is difficult to discuss, sort of like politics. In public schools, any display of items related to religion can lead to strong reactions and even lawsuits. Something that may appear to some as simple or traditional, such as including “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, which I wrote about in an earlier post, or the topic of prayer in school may also result in controversy.

This time of year, perhaps more so than any other, is more of a challenge in schools when it comes to religious observations and participation. Policies concerning Christmas trees in classrooms, Menorahs displayed or lit with candles, and other decorations connected with religious holidays vary from district to district. My favorite is the so called “holiday concert” which, in my experience, means Christmas carols and a token Hanukkah song thrown in to “keep the peace”. By the way, I attended many of these concerts as a teacher or parent and loved every single one! As for Kwanzaa, I have to admit that I never had even one student who observed that holiday.

Tales From My Classroom…

A parent stopped in to see my principal because I did a Hanukkah presentation for his daughter’s class. He seemed to feel that I was spreading Judaism. My response? I encouraged her to suggest he visit my classroom where I had my Christmas tree and lights set up.

During a building project, I was on a tour of a nearby elementary school to gather design ideas when the Principal, who was showing me around, became mortified upon seeing a manger scene on a classroom door.

My December read aloud book for many years was “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, by Barbara Robinson. It’s the story of the Herdman children, who were  troublemakers in school and community, and their participation in the church Christmas pageant. As my students listened to the book, there were many discussions about religion and the story of Jesus. I was always a little overmatched on this topic since I grew up in a Jewish home.

Over the years, I did many Hanukkah presentations in different classrooms, showing a Menorah and saying a Hanukkah blessing while lighting the candles. My wife, who was brought up in a Catholic home, was also asked to do Hanukkah presentations at her school, which we always found pretty funny (by the way, she did a nice job).

Should holiday displays and customs be allowed in public schools?

If so, what limits should there be, if any, on decorations? How about participation in holiday traditions?