What projects really WOW teachers?

[spedabstbit]

I just finished a doing a workshop for a group of young ladies, where 3 out of 5 were beginning their student-teaching and will graduate in May. One was really impressed by the little valentine packets we made (individual pack of heart candies, with a valentine topper). She thought it would be great to give as little valentine gifts for her students, and what she really loved was the fact that we made them with the Stampin'Around wheels. She wants a collection of wheels and inks to make bulletin board boarders for her classroom! Jumbo wheels are ideal, but regular-size can be used in double rows to create a similar effect! No more having to store those rolls of bulletin-board boarder!!

So anyway, here's my question. Next week I do a workshop for an assistant-principal of an intermediate (5th-6th grade) school. Some of the teachers will stay for an afterschool workshop, and I need to know what else really WOWs teachers. Any suggestions?

[luv2stmp4evr]

I have been a teacher for 5 years now and I have seen many things on this website that WOW! me. I have gotten lots of ideas out of the gallery for cheap gifts. (Gifts for my students and fellow teachers). I especially like the stamped goody bags, treat bag toppers, pixi stick holders, popcorn wrappers. Some ideas that I have gotten that I plan on making for some of my fellow teacher friends are the post it note holders. I am going to try the 5 X 7 acrylic frame ones, as well as the card stock ones that close with either velcro or ribbon. I also like the RSVP pens. These are all simple things to make with a lot of WOW to them. And as we all know about teacher's budgets.....we like to be cost effective. Just my two cents....! Good Luck! Oh another thing that I like to make in abundance are thank you notes for my teacher friends. These are great to keep in your desk to give whenever someone else gives you a gift (one of your students/fellow teacher/parent). We always need them (especially Christmas ones).

[Mom-of-one]

The survival kits are a HIT ...everytime!

[spedabstbit]

These look good! Any more ideas out there?

[hooahwife]

I taught 5th grade and the journal jar was one of my team's favorite items. I think the teachers may really enjoy making one of those. I chose 3 words to put on each strip to go in the journal jar. The students would then make up a story including those 3 words. Examples:
1. tent, mud, pencil
2. duck, wagon, boomerang
(Adding one weird item really gets them thinking!)

Other "WOWs"
- notecards. We are always writing notes to go home or to a student and that personal touch goes a long way.
- magnets (I used these for my lunch order)
- name tags for seating chart/ job chart
- definitely little gift bags/boxes for special days or just as a "hi" to a child
- bookmarks - corner bookmarks and the normal vertical ones. I gave each child a special bookmark at the beginning of the year to kick off our reading program.

Additionally to maybe find customers, we had a homework calendar that was stamped each morning if the child had all of their homework done. I started with the 2 teacher sets from SU, but my students loved getting different ones and it was a real incentive because everyone wanted the "new" stamp on their calendar. Just an idea.

Hope these help... and if I didn't make sense on a part just pm me!

[jvines]

I teach second grade and stamp with a couple of really good teacher friends. We like the tic tac toe boards for our students. The notepad and RSVP pens are great also. Thank You cards are wonderful to have on hand. I try to keep some postcards in my desk to just send home little Good Job notes to my kids or for other teachers. You know, basicly we like anything that looks great and is easy. The Journal Jar, maybe a treat jar, notebook covers are also things that can be made personal for the teacher, the notebook especially because we always have to go to meeting and take notes- just makes you feel special to have something made just for you.
:lol: Janet