The last two years I have started a new tradition that not only benefits my current students, but future ones as well. I put up a Giving Wreath on my classroom door, it has tags that have an item and its price. I put items from $5.00-$50.00 of items that would benefit the classroom. The parents and students enjoy choosing an item and buying it for the class in lieu of a present for myself. I find this gives parents a sense of relieve when they see the suggestion as then they dont have to rack their brains for a gift for the teacher. By no means are parents obligated to purchase anything from the wreath its nearly a suggestion if they wish.
You are lucky indeed! There are those of us who work in Title one schools that could never put up a wraeth like you describe. Our students come from such broken and poor home lives it would be an affront to them. I love your idea though and think that it fosters a thoughtfulness among children and their parents when the season can be filled with commercialism and self-centeredness.
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