As the school year draws to a close, the teachers in your children’s lives can use your help to get through the final stretch of the year.
Disclosure: I am working as a consultant on the Office Depot REAL Change #TeachersChangeLives campaign and am compensated for my involvement that includes this post. All opinions are my own.
Here are 5 ways you can help your child’s teacher as they count down days until summer vacation.
Offer to volunteer. Even if you haven’t been able to help in the classroom, there are always plenty of things that can be done at home. Offer to put together the last Scholastic Book Order (LINK) packets to send home, collate memory book pages, and let your teacher know you’re available to help with last minute coloring and cutting for end of the year projects that can be done at night in front of the television.
Pitch in to help with end of the year plans. Each school handles end of the year parties differently but if it is the teacher’s responsibility, offer to shoulder some of the burden. Collect money, volunteer to make a grocery run for supplies, or help with some reconnaissance to determine what your teacher would love as an end of the year gift.
Send an email from asking if there are any supplies that the classroom needs to have replenished. Classroom cabinets always spill with the abundant donations from the start of the school year but by this point of the year, items like hand soap, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and tissues start to run low. If your teacher doesn’t use a wish list, sending an occasional email asking if you can send in a box of tissue from home or pick up a bottle of soap when you’re running errands will be most appreciated. In our kids’ classrooms, Little Miss Techie came home last week reporting her room is out of wide ruled paper and antibacterial wipes while Captain Computer’s room faces a tissue shortage!
Encourage teachers to set up a page on AdoptaClassroom.org to help fund the purchase of resources and materials for next year. This national site allows individuals to adopt a classroom by entering in a teacher’s name, school, or location. It can be a great way to provide some seed money for a large purchase like an iPad for instructional purposes, new rug for whole class instruction, or even the everyday essentials. Donations made through AdoptaClassroom.org can be a great way for family members to support your child’s education by giving to their teacher plus they’ll get a nice tax deduction since gifts are tax deductible.
Send in a pick me up. A handwritten note (link to butterfly note post), freshly picked flowers from your home garden, or a favorite sweet procured quickly in the grocery store checkout line with an end of the year countdown are thoughtful and fun.
Finally, don’t forget that tomorrow- Tuesday, May 7- is Teacher Appreciation Day and if you’re in need of a quick gift, check out my 7 Teacher Appreciation Gifts for Around $5 that features items easily procured at Office Depot!
