I teach high school special education in a school with a high poverty rate. Last year for my students' birthdays, I gave each of them a new set of pencils or mechanical pencils wrapped with a small treat on top. I bought the pencil sets from the dollar store. This year I thought I would just give each of them $2 gift cards from the Dollar Store. My finances as a single parent are pretty tight, but I thought I could swing this. There is even a dollar store within walking distance from our school which helps when many kids' families have no personal vehicles. So today I found out the Dollar Store doesn't do gift cards for anything less than $5. I can't do that-- that would break me. I wanted to give them a gift card that they could spend and get something with-- not like a $2 Starbucks card where it would pay for only 1/2 of a cup of coffee. Ideas or suggestions anyone? Thanks for much!
Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for the great suggestions and kind thoughts. I checked out the other places like McDonalds, etc. and, apparently, most places do require a minimum of $5 on each gift card. As it is, I already stock up on all sorts of supplies for my kids out of pocket (bandaids, sanitizer, cups of soup for hungry teens, etc.) and I myself could qualify for food stamps if I wanted to go that route. So... I think I will go back to the drawing board and maybe do pencils again, but this time I might include a picture of the kids. What a great idea! Thanks again for all your caring thoughts and suggestions! Here is to a new school year!
do you feel comfortable giving them two dollar bills. You could wrap them creatively, I've seen some cute origamy things you can do with dollar bills. Honestly, I like the pencils you had been doing.
Hi francesm-
I would look at the 'developmental age' of each of your unique and wonderful students...and get something inexpensive...yet appropriate for each on their special day!
YOU know them...my daughter...although almost 15...is still around 4 or five developmentally...she was 'in' a DORA phase for the longest time...then 'sponge bob' (yite...lol)...and more recently the 'cars' movies.
She LOVES stickers...anything to do with the interest 'du jour'...however small.
You know these kids...and 'where' they are...
The $$ amount matters little...at least not with MY special one...
Best Luck!
michele/cat
The one thing that comes to mind is McDonald's because of the $ menu.
However, I think giving them a small gift is a better idea. There are so many things you can do, a journal and pen to encourage them to write, a book to help their reading, personal care products like a special body wash.
I think what your doing is wonderful.
I say either stick with the gift like you've done before, or fold two $1 bills into a bird and/or a ring. The ring actually looks very cool. Google it. Another idea - go to the bank and ask them for two $1 coins (they're gold color) or one $2 bill. These exist and are much more fun to recieve, as they are so unique. Granted, you might have to explain to them that this is real money and to use it wisely,
Maybe mc Donalds. They have the dollar menu and ice cream.. At Wendy's they could get two junior frosties. Does 7 eleven do gift cards.. I think they do.. Every kid loves slurpees.
You are such a kind teacher!
I see other mothers think McDonald's is food. The last thing a poor child needs is bad food that is the cause of obesity and cancer. So your idea of a dollar store gift is good. You have thought about transportation and the fact that the gift should last. In a family without much money pens, pencils, paper, are in very short supply. For the birthday card if you give one it could come from Unicef which would serve many other children as well with your donation.
And now my final sound off. In Europe teachers are paid a good salary. They go traveling and have plenty to live on. WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA that we force our teachers who are so dedicated to live nearly hand to mouth. We place our trust in these folks who work so hard with and for our children whose future is literally in their hands.
Let us give more support financially and politically to our teachers.
Thanks Mamas and Thank you Francesm for being such a wonderful influence in the lives or your students.
I'd stick to a Dollar Store gift. Much more exciting and personal for a kid to receive than a gift card or cash. You could even get a $1 frame and frame a personal statement about what you love about each kid, or a nice memory you have of them.
I'm also a high school teacher, recently transfered to a less high poverty school than I've always worked at. I think that's so great of you to be so generous with your students. As a gen ed teacher I have too many students to do anything quite so personal.
I really encourage you to keep up the pencils, etc. from the dollar store. I think that's a perfectly great gift -or a frame and a note.
I really want to congratulate you for making this gesture to your students. That's just great.
-And thanks for the thought from the person bemoaning how little we're paid as teachers in this country. Thanks for the moral support.
