Fun Back to School Gift Ideas for Your Colleagues Under $5

This post has Amazon affiliate links included in some of the items highlighted below.  

So, my countdown is on. I have 5 days left until have to report back to school, and like you, I've been in and out of my classroom getting it ready.  I didn't see many of my colleagues all summer, so I was pleased as punch to see those sweet faces when I went in last week.

I am one of those lucky ones who works with a group of truly fabulous teammates.  I love all five of them so much, and I like to show them that at the beginning of the year.  However, my summer shopping problem hobby has taken a toll on my available funds.  I bet you're in the same boat, right???  So I wanted to round up a few adorable gift ideas for you to gift to your teammates that will make them smile without making your debit card cry.

Lisa Storms

Grab a cute tumbler from the Dollar Tree or Target dollar spot, and fill it with Crystal light packets.  Super simple and inexpensive.  I used this idea a few years ago, and it was a hit!  Your tag could say "We're going to have a tea-lightful year together!"

Jacolyn Murphy

I love these little coffee packets, or you could use K-Cups if your school has a Keurig machine.  Buy a box and split them up between your teammates, stick them in a cute bag or mug...you're done!  I'd probably throw a few chocolates in there, too, because coffee and chocolate #nobrainer!

Adventures in Mommyhood

What teacher doesn't love a new pack of pens or markers? I'd probably go with a pack of Mr. Sketch, myself.  (PSA- Mr. Sketch are $5 on Amazon.  Go get a pack.  They're the BEST for making anchor charts, but I'm sure you already know that.)

This year, my own teammates are each getting a pack of these cute smiley stickers and Post-It's from me.  Stickers form from Target, and I split up a box of Post-It notes.  Perfect and so easy!  You can grab the tags, which are editable and free, here in my TPT store.  

So you're not feeling creative and are lacking time?  I've got you.  Purchase $5 TPT gift cards for each of your teammates.  Super easy!  Click, buy, and print.  You're done!  Teaching in the Tongass has a really cute (and free!) printable gift card template that you might like.  

I hope you grab a cute idea or two.  Do you give gifts to your teammates?  Do you have any new and adorable ideas for me?

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5 Tips to Get Your Family Ready for Back to School

You guys, it's August. It's Back to School month. Cue the moans and groans! Going back to work was never that big of a deal until I became a mom.  Going back to school is hard on families! My husband teaches, too, and also coaches high school football, so it's kind of a double whammy for us.  Our summer routine gets all shaken up! I've learned a few things over the years that have made the transition easier.

I like to cook, but I don't like to cook when I'm dead tired and sweaty from being in my classroom all day.  I try to keep my freezer stocked with a few easy things to pull out in the morning and stick in the oven when I get home.  No prep.  Baked pastas are super easy.  I made stuffed shells for a friend with a new baby last week.  It was easy to double the recipe and add a few pans to my freezer for when school starts.  My other favorites to stock are hamburger patties, homemade chicken strips, enchiladas, and lasagna.  Confession- I hate Crock Pot meals #ithinktheyregross #itsfine, but there are tons of prep and freeze ideas for the Crock Pot on Pinterest.  You can grab more freeze and go meals on my Yummy Eats Pinterest board.   If neither of those options are your cup of tea, get a few Stouffer's frozen lasagnas and call it a day.  A tired mama who doesn't have to prep and cook dinner is a way less grouchy mama.

My kids have been going to be a little late all summer, just like yours, right?  Start pushing their bedtime up little by little so it's not such a shock and fight once you're on a a regular school schedule.  Move it up 10-15 minutes each week until you're back at the normal school year bedtime.  Get back into a solid bedtime routine again.  All kids (and parents!) benefit from regular bedtime schedules.  

I try to ease my kids back into their daycare schedule by taking them a few days each week while I work in my room.  Next week, they'll go twice, and then three days the following week.  It's hard for your little ones to adjust to much less Mommy time than they've gotten used to.  It also gives you some guilt free time to get your room ready.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you this twice, but go to Target and stock your pantry.  Get the stuff that you're not going to feel like running out to get once school starts.  Maybe it's just me, but I despise going to the store after work.  My feet always hurt, and my kids are grouchy.  Recipe for disaster.  On my list: dry and frozen foods, diapers, wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, bottled water, baggies, trash bags...you get it.  Just keep it under control, ladies.

Remember, your job is just that, a job.  Don't waste your last few weeks of summer obsessing over your classroom and curriculum.  Limit the time that you spend in your room.  Get that stuff done, you'll be glad that you did, but also enjoy the time at home with your kids.  It's such precious thing to be able to spend our summers with our kids. 

Have a great August, my friends!  Let me know your best piece of advice for transitioning your families back into the school routine.  

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10 Things I've Learned From a Decade in Public Education

This past June, I wrapped up my tenth year of teaching. It seems like a long time, but really, it's not.  I've been so blessed to spend all ten years in the same building, although I've jumped grades and rooms many times. Over the past decade, I've learned a lot...so much from my colleagues, so much from my students, and so, so much from my own mistakes. So after ten years, here are my ten takeaways. 

My first few years, we had a supply closet in our building, and it was glorious!  It felt like a shopping trip every time you went it.  It had so many fun things, like magenta construction paper and Wiki sticks.  I am so blessed to work in a district with a supply warehouse.  When I need something, I can usually get it from the warehouse.  This has saved me so much money.  If you have warehouse, use it.  Don't spend all of your hard earned money on Crayolas when you can get Rose Arts through the district.  Save that money for wine (see #8).  

Curriculum, administrators, expectations, lunch menus...it's all a-changin'! Don't get too comfortable, because chances are, it's going to change.  Embrace the change, and...

Don't get worked up every time something changes.  Try to see look at things with a positive attitude.   If you get yourself all bunched up over every little thing, then you're going to have a tough time.  You'll hate your job.  There are  definitely going to be times that you need to question, voice an opinion, or just not like what's being done.  Just try not be be like that all of the time.  It'll get you a reputation.  

We just got AC in our building four years ago, and it is the best!  Not all of the primary buildings in my district have AC, and I feel for them.  Ours is kind of wacky and comes on and off at odd times, but I'll take that wackiness any day over no AC.  I'll never forget those soggy bra, popsicle filled Septembers and Mays.  

I'm not being mean here.  What I'm saying is, choose your words carefully.  No one really likes that person that is spouting off about every little blessed thing.  You all know that person.  I do, too.  Don't be her or him.  It's important to have an opinion, and it's equally important to voice your opinion eloquently.  People will listen to you if you know when to listen, yourself.  So when you're tempted to just say one more thing, shut your mouth.  

Your grade level team can be such a source of inspiration, friendship, and joy.  I am so blessed to be a part of a wonderful 2nd grade team.  I love those girls!  We don't all work the same way and do the same things, but we definitely can lean on each other and learn from each other.  I truly believe that your team is your greatest resource.  

You can never have enough.  When you think you have enough, your kids will prove you wrong.  I'm not sure what exactly they do with all of the glue sticks, but I do know that we always need more.  One of my teammates was completely convinced that someone was stealing them out of her classroom this year.  Haha!  No one was taking them, but it was really tempting to prank her. 

Cue to #1, thank goodness for that warehouse and their seemingly endless supply of glue sticks...although, even the warehouse is out come May and June.  

So, I don't have super thick skin.  I just don't.  Parents can get to me pretty easily.  I hate the feeling of being disliked, which is definitely something I need to get over.  Nothing can ruin my day like an angry email or request to *gasp* call home.  I have had so, so, so many wonderful families over the past ten years, but it's the tough ones that I tend to remember most clearly.  I hope that in the next decade, I can learn to brush off the tough ones a little more easily.  What's your best strategy for this???

Remember that. It's your job to teach.  At the end of the day, if you've done a solid job teaching, then you're doing well.  A cute, Pinterest-y classroom and fabulous friends are a total bonus, but they aren't necessary to being a good teacher.   Be a good teacher first, and let the other stuff fall into place over time.  

I love my job.  There is no other job that I think that I'd more than this one.  I feel so incredibly blessed to go to a building that I love and teach the kids that I love with the friends that I love for a principal that I love.  What a joy!

Those of you in public education, what is your biggest take away?  

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My Best Back to School Tip

 Hey Friends!  

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I'm so glad to have you here.  Today I'm linking up with Pop Into Primary and Hanging Around in Primary to share my best Back to School tip.  

 

It's hard to pick just one thing, but I've narrowed it down to something that I come back to time and again.  

New Student Bags

We have a somewhat transient population at my school, so it's nothing for me to get anywhere between 4 and 8 new students throughout the school year.  You know how that can be, a little stressful and definitely a whole lot of work.   Sometimes I know a few days in advance, but many times I only find out the day before my new student arrives.  

To make things easier, I make up new student bags in the beginning of the year.  I use gallon sized Ziploc bags.  I include everything that my students have in their pencil boxes and important forms for parents.  

That means...

• 3 pencils
• an eraser
• a glue stick
• crayons
• scissors
• a highlighter
• an Expo marker
• colored pencils
• markers
• a lunch stick
• folders for each subject
• take home folder
• math and literacy notebooks
• my parent handbook
• letter about Remind 101 (linked to freebie in my TPT store)
• a magnet with my contact information on it

This all seems very simple, but it's really a life saver when I get a new student at the last minute.  I don't have to race around gathering supplies.  It takes me a few minutes to make a name label for his or her locker.  My students have numbers, so the rest is easy.  I keep many things like book boxes numbered from year to year.

Sorry for the lack of authentic photos here today.  I don't have any of my bags here at home, and we're not allowed into our building until August 17th.  I'm dying to get in!!!  Everyone's room set-up photos are making me jealous. 

 Thanks to Katie and Christina for hosting the Linky Party.  Pop over to their blogs to check out some of the other teachers that have linked up.  There are so many fantastic ideas!

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