Running moms ragged with Teacher Appreciation right before Mother’s Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's birthday is right before Christmas and I hate being run ragged buying gifts and planning a party and sending Evites when I should be binge-watching Hallmark specials and eating decorated sugar cookies and dreaming about all of the expensive gifts I'll get to unwrap.

Every damn year.

Now this is a rant I can get behind. Damned kid birthdays cutting into mulled wine and sappy romcom time is totally not cool.

Haha I love this!

[Anonymous]

Teacher here.

I've loved our school's take on the week; Each grade level's room parents took on a day (Monday 4&5, Tue 3rd&2nd, Wed 1st Grade, Thurs Kin, Fri PK). There is a table in the teacher's lounge that has been grab and go for treats/appreciation gifts. This also coincided with grade level classroom presentations, so many parents were already in the building.

No pressure for parents to participate. Our PTA used it as a community building activity and it was well planned out, with donations from a few local businesses. They provided amazing continental breakfasts, had coffee and snacks delivered, goodie bags, and cards from their children each day. Morale has definitely been boosted as this is a tough time of year for most of us.

The great thing is that para-professionals, service providers, and other support staff (behavior techs etc) that also work with children were able to enjoy the treats gifts.

Our teaching staff is diverse in gender and age; we have teachers who are also mothers of small children, fathers, grandparents, beloved aunts/uncles, etc. I think caring about one another is a good thing.

We also have family appreciation day at our school (parent appreciation day). The term family is intentional as many of our students have non-traditional care structures. Children make cards for their family and the school provides a few school branded items for families to keep. This also coincides with a schoolwide assembly and is the kickoff for Family Fun Day. Some schools have "Grandparents Day" which is similar in concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

I've loved our school's take on the week; Each grade level's room parents took on a day (Monday 4&5, Tue 3rd&2nd, Wed 1st Grade, Thurs Kin, Fri PK). There is a table in the teacher's lounge that has been grab and go for treats/appreciation gifts. This also coincided with grade level classroom presentations, so many parents were already in the building.

No pressure for parents to participate. Our PTA used it as a community building activity and it was well planned out, with donations from a few local businesses. They provided amazing continental breakfasts, had coffee and snacks delivered, goodie bags, and cards from their children each day. Morale has definitely been boosted as this is a tough time of year for most of us.

The great thing is that para-professionals, service providers, and other support staff (behavior techs etc) that also work with children were able to enjoy the treats gifts.

Our teaching staff is diverse in gender and age; we have teachers who are also mothers of small children, fathers, grandparents, beloved aunts/uncles, etc. I think caring about one another is a good thing.

We also have family appreciation day at our school (parent appreciation day). The term family is intentional as many of our students have non-traditional care structures. Children make cards for their family and the school provides a few school branded items for families to keep. This also coincides with a schoolwide assembly and is the kickoff for Family Fun Day. Some schools have "Grandparents Day" which is similar in concept.

Calling businesses to solicit donations is the worst. Your whole week sounds like a lot of work and I’m sure many of the parents felt pressured into doing it. Glad you enjoyed it, but I think it is poor taste for you to minimize the effort that went into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

I've loved our school's take on the week; Each grade level's room parents took on a day (Monday 4&5, Tue 3rd&2nd, Wed 1st Grade, Thurs Kin, Fri PK). There is a table in the teacher's lounge that has been grab and go for treats/appreciation gifts. This also coincided with grade level classroom presentations, so many parents were already in the building.

No pressure for parents to participate. Our PTA used it as a community building activity and it was well planned out, with donations from a few local businesses. They provided amazing continental breakfasts, had coffee and snacks delivered, goodie bags, and cards from their children each day. Morale has definitely been boosted as this is a tough time of year for most of us.

The great thing is that para-professionals, service providers, and other support staff (behavior techs etc) that also work with children were able to enjoy the treats gifts.

Our teaching staff is diverse in gender and age; we have teachers who are also mothers of small children, fathers, grandparents, beloved aunts/uncles, etc. I think caring about one another is a good thing.

We also have family appreciation day at our school (parent appreciation day). The term family is intentional as many of our students have non-traditional care structures. Children make cards for their family and the school provides a few school branded items for families to keep. This also coincides with a schoolwide assembly and is the kickoff for Family Fun Day. Some schools have "Grandparents Day" which is similar in concept.

Calling businesses to solicit donations is the worst. Your whole week sounds like a lot of work and I’m sure many of the parents felt pressured into doing it. Glad you enjoyed it, but I think it is poor taste for you to minimize the effort that went into it.

That's not on the teacher. Some parent put it together. Parents feeling pressure should grow up. No is a complete sentence.

NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since this thread is hot and popping, I have to ask the room: what is the point of contributing to a "class gift" via Venmo to the room parent? The teacher will have no idea who did or didn't contribute, so you're not really showing any "appreciation" from your kid specifically.

I'll probably have my kids make handmade cards this year, but if I did want to give $, I'd make sure it came directly from my child to the teacher, which is what I do at the holidays. It seems like an utter waste of money to give it to a group gift and (to be blunt) not get any credit for it.

The point of it is the teacher, not what you or your child get back (or not).

[/not a teacher]

[Anonymous]

It is not hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since this thread is hot and popping, I have to ask the room: what is the point of contributing to a "class gift" via Venmo to the room parent? The teacher will have no idea who did or didn't contribute, so you're not really showing any "appreciation" from your kid specifically.

I'll probably have my kids make handmade cards this year, but if I did want to give $, I'd make sure it came directly from my child to the teacher, which is what I do at the holidays. It seems like an utter waste of money to give it to a group gift and (to be blunt) not get any credit for it.

The point of it is the teacher, not what you or your child get back (or not).

[/not a teacher]

its so the poor kids or those with lazy parents dont stand out because they cant participate in something like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is about to graduate high school and from the time he entered Kindergarten, I saw what a ridiculous event that was. I spent years on the PTA board of his elementary school, and noticed so many teachers who didn't really want food (they were on diets, or were wary of home-made), and found awkward displays of gratitude, well... awkward. They'd rather have well-behaved students, receive short emails of thanks from a couple of parents, and perhaps a little gift card if you're so inclined. No food or gifts or big shows.

You've been entirely had. Stop doing whatever it is you're doing.

Thank you. I'm a former teacher and former PTA board member and current mom. I wish we could just do away with the whole thing. As a teacher, all I wanted was a nice note copied to my principal. I didn't want any gift cards, or fattening lunches, or a yogurt truck, or anything else. Just a nice note. As a mom, this week is just too much. I ignore it. I wish PTA people would stop doing this. To be honest, it feels like out and out bribery - a couple of SAHMs, almost always white and upper middle class, lavishing a bunch of gifts on teachers and then expecting us to give them and their children special treatment.

Nice slam on SAHM, race and income level there.

You do realize that a lot of PTAs are full of white SAHMs with not-always-upper-but-decent income because they are the ones, being SAH, who have time for school volunteering? If you can figure how to get others to volunteer more, please, have at it. What do you suggest? We'll wait to hear your plans!

I think the vast majority of people are suggesting cards made by kids and a group gift card (which is what we do). NOT sending multiple emails upset that not enough people have signed up for your poorly thought out “personal coffee delivery service” like our PTA decided to offer this year.

We are well off and I will donate up to 100 dollars per teacher but only to group cards because it’s just weird otherwise to me. I don’t care if you want to do something different but that is what I have bandwidth for this year and frankly most years. I think the teachers truly personal cards (which I make my kids write) more than anything else. I do really appreciate and admire my kids teachers and have told them individually as well as praising them to the administration.

[Anonymous]

I hate the most when you want me to join your stu*** kids birthday! I just want the day off, not go to your kids barfdaay

[Anonymous]

As a mom and teacher I HATE THIS WEEK. So stupid and I hate all most of the stuff we get as teachers anyway. And yes, I am always very thankful to the parents because it is the thought that counts.
My kids FCPS school MOVED TEACHER APPRECIATION to MARCH. It has been the best thing ever!!!!!
I think all schools should adopt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a mom and teacher I HATE THIS WEEK. So stupid and I hate all most of the stuff we get as teachers anyway. And yes, I am always very thankful to the parents because it is the thought that counts.
My kids FCPS school MOVED TEACHER APPRECIATION to MARCH. It has been the best thing ever!!!!!
I think all schools should adopt it.

If it was moved to March and it was a *day,* not a *week,* I’d be behind it. If we only take a day to honor MLK, presidents, veterans, and laborers, pretty sure teachers could make do with a day, too.

[Anonymous]

PP here, As a mom and a teacher I love this week. Especially after dealing with some of your minions and highly inflated attitudes.

There will always be someone who loves and hates everything.

Thanks to all who jump the extra mile and participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here, As a mom and a teacher I love this week. Especially after dealing with some of your minions and highly inflated attitudes.

There will always be someone who loves and hates everything.

Thanks to all who jump the extra mile and participate.

No need to thank me; we can spot teachers who sneer at their students a mile a way. You get nothing, and the good teachers get $100 gift cards and handwritten notes from us.

[Anonymous]

Week! Our school is doing Teacher Appreciation for a whole month!!! The emails never end! Smoothies, coffees, lunches, flowers, desserts, snacks, sign up, cards, etc. Sign up Genius blah blah blah

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is about to graduate high school and from the time he entered Kindergarten, I saw what a ridiculous event that was. I spent years on the PTA board of his elementary school, and noticed so many teachers who didn't really want food (they were on diets, or were wary of home-made), and found awkward displays of gratitude, well... awkward. They'd rather have well-behaved students, receive short emails of thanks from a couple of parents, and perhaps a little gift card if you're so inclined. No food or gifts or big shows.

You've been entirely had. Stop doing whatever it is you're doing.

x100000

Those kids who been acting up all freaking year? Control their arses at HOME!