It’s not that teachers that don’t realize this are bad teachers,
it’s because they may have never been a situation to make it be in the forefront of their minds.
Food for thought:
I blog this for a very important reason…. actually reasons…. this topic has affected myself, my family, and MANY others that are in my life. It is so very important for teachers to remember this…
Parent Gifts.
Especially around this time of year, teachers are caught up in the hustle and the bustle of doing ALL the things. Yes, ALL the things to make sure their students are still learning and engaged even though there is a dress up day every other day, a special performance, parties, activities required….not only that, but the PRESSURE to have your students score well on all of the end of unit assessments, final exams, etc.
One of the MANY things on that long list of “to-do’s” is making sure that our students make gifts for home.
Potential times where gifts are made for someone at home:
Thanksgiving.
Christmas/Holiday gifts
Valentine’s Day
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day (not during school)
Writing prompts that are laminated and sent home
Among others…..
Here comes the real reason for this blog:
Some families are missing a loved one at home. I, for example, lost my mom when I was 14 (and my brother was 7). Every year around Mother’s Day, teachers have their students make gifts for their mom….and every year…. it hurts.
There was even a teacher once that had my brother’s class make their mom’s pinwheels for their mothers for Mother’s Day. Well, my mature well beyond his years little brother decided to put the pinwheel out by mom’s gravesite. (Bring out the KLEENEX!) The idea to make it for another special woman in his life was not given.
Now hear me out on this one…. I get it. There may not be a student one year that has lost a loved one. There may not be a student who has LET YOU KNOW that he/she has lost a loved one.
But, in this case….
Make an optional gift for the student to make. Or, have them make one for another special lady in their lives…a grandmother, sister, aunt, etc. This can be true for ALL times of “gift giving” in the classroom.
Another request:
Stepmoms and Stepdads…. Or, divorced families. Yep, unfortunately, more often than not you are going to have a student in your class that has a blended family.
In this case: Please, oh please, give that child the opportunity to make (2) of the particular gift.
If not, these students are forced to decide who to give their gifts to.
At Christmas, let them make one for their mom’s house and their dad’s house.
For Mother’s Day, if they have a stepmom, let them decide if they want to make (2) gifts…one for each.
And no, a gift like this is not appropriate!😂🤣😂
I can personally relate to this one as well!
I am a mom AND stepmom, and I have been divorced…so I NEVER want my son (who is sensitive already) to have to choose who he will make the gift for.
This post is not to talk AT you. It is to truly give you the perspective of all situations listed above.
Lastly, my hope…
is that you take it to heart….that is taken into consideration when the next “gift” is made or something special is sent home in your classroom. I hope that you bring this up as a topic in team meetings, etc. when this type of thing is being discussed.
None of these situations are the student’s fault. Once again, it is so very important for teachers to remember this…
And that….my followers…. was my two cents. All spoken (typed) with LOVE.
The Creative Crumb.
