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Great Frugal Gifts for Teachers

Honor your favorite teachers with thoughtful gifts without going broke. Don’t forget the bus driver, the nurse and anyone else who has taken care of your child this year. The gifts don’t have to be large, and they don’t have to be expensive. Just put a little creativity and thought into each one, and you’ll create a lasting impression, as well as brighten up the day for a special person in your child’s life. Group Present This year, organize a group present. You can do this formally, through the home room moms for a class, or informally, such as asking … Continue reading →

How Do You Thank Priceless Teachers?

A couple weeks before school let out for summer break I received a note asking for money in order to buy my first grader’s teacher a thank you present. I love that the room moms take up a collection, as it takes the pressure off busy parents, and allows the teacher to score a gift worth more than a couple of bucks. I am all for pitching in for the class gift, and sent in money right away. In addition, my daughter drew her teacher a lovely card and we shipped in a couple lei from Hawaii. Honestly, my daughter’s … Continue reading →

Impress Your Teachers

For better or for worse I’m around a lot of teachers this time of the year (and throughout the coming year). This is the time when most teachers are preparing their courses. They sit and create outlines. They type up their syllabi. They consult the required textbooks for the course they are about to teach. In all of this preparation (something that most take very seriously) there is an underlying anxiety that is manifested from horror stories and past experiences of teaching. This anxiety is expressed normally as a joke to lessen the sense of unease these teachers feel as … Continue reading →

Be Careful about Your Comments

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Have you ever had one comment that someone said stick with you and affect your emotions and thoughts about yourself for years? If so I am sure that the comment was likely negative. In many cases the person that makes the comment does not even know that it hurt you. We never know when and how we are going to greatly impact someone with the words that we say. Therefore we must choose them carefully. Teachers are no different. The words that you use in your classroom leave a lasting impression on your students. Be careful about the words that … Continue reading →

What Impression Do You Want to Give Your Students?

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The first time that you and your students meet you will both begin to make judgments on one another. Just as you begin to pick out the trouble makers and class clowns, the students will begin determining what type of teacher you are. When teaching you create your classroom environment and your image among the students. You set your own image with the way that you dress, the way that you speak and the way that you move. With these things you can create most any image that you desire among the children. However if you are not being true … Continue reading →

The Appearance of Your Classroom

Although in many cases, it probably should not, appearance means a lot. As the saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” However, the cover does make the first impression. For this reason, I think that the appearance of a classroom is very important. This is not to say that my classroom always has a wonderful appearance. Things can become scattered throughout the day and books and such are out of place. However, I do try to give it an upbeat and positive mood. When a parent or student walks into your classroom for the first time, the … Continue reading →

Why Not Let Teachers Design Schools?

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How much does the learning environment affect the learning? Personally I feel that it affects it a lot. It just so happens that quite a few teachers in England agree with me also. Recently an online survey was given to teachers in England to examine their teaching environments. One third of the surveyed teachers revealed that the environment they were teaching in prevented them from doing their job efficiently. One of the complaints included narrow hallways, which lead to crowding, punching, and fighting. Others commented on inadequate desks, tables, and chairs. My favorite comment came from one teacher who stated, … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Empower Your Child with Special Needs

Kids with disabilities can accomplish amazing things when we believe in them. Here are five ways you can empower your son or daughter: 1. Expect your child to be responsible. In a recent blog I shared the story of Ben Underwood, a teenager who is totally blind. I was impressed that he told his mother, “But mom, I’m blind,” and she replied, “You’re going to do chores just like everybody else.” And in an interview for CBS, his mother said, “Why should he get a break? I don’t get any.” Ben has gone on to live an active, full life, and … Continue reading →

A Child’s Self Esteem and the Frugal Life

My daughter came home the other day from a doll playdate. The girls all brought their 18-inch dolls, you know the American Girl Doll kind. My daughter does have a real American Girl Doll, given to her on her birthday after more than four years on her wish list and some creative saving. She is fond of that doll, and has never once complained about the fact that it is her only one (it is not unusual for her peers to have three or four of these dolls as well as all of the accessories). She did complain though that … Continue reading →

The Proposal

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Last time I talked about some tips for good presentations. Today I want to talk about weight falling off of your shoulders. Many students are now done for the semester. Some of you are still studying for finals. Still others are prepping for summer school. Whatever you status in academics please know this: a time for a break will come. Keep studying, prepping, reading, writing, or painting. Just recently I walked through what amounts to the final gateway between me and a degree: my dissertation proposal defense. The situation is really quite simple. I tell a number of smart people … Continue reading →