Gifts for Children/Adults

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I'm on a search for lightweight gifts. Today, I picked up about thirty Disney pencils that say USA on the pencils.
At Whole Foods, I spoke with the check out clerk and he told me that I would probably be able to get some stickers from Whole Foods. I need to speak with the store lead. But, now I make it a point to talk to people about the trip especially when I'm out and about around town. Many grocery stores, coffee houses, book stores have a community outreach program and freebies from various companies that they can dole out.
I used to work at REI, before I became a teacher and I'm going to call some of my friends who still work there.
I also have oodles of bonus points from Scholastic. If I were to order some books what grade level book would be appropriate??? Any Suggestions???

[Anonymous]

What a great idea about donations! All you have to do is ask and see what happens.

Gosh, maybe you could even walk into one of those swirlly whirrly cutesy scrapbooking stores and tell them your deal and see if they fork over any of their gazzillion of stickers. I might try that.

Who knows, maybe some teacher supply stores might be willing to donate some. A few packages.

Asking is easy. Try that. Go for the FREE route. People like to help teachers. They feel guilty that they don't pay us enough. Play on that. (Please laugh here.)

I have started getting cutsey gifts from my students. Oragami that I can fold up and the like. Some girl already started to make cranes. Next week I'm going to start asking the school to make cranes for Hiroshima.

Nicole

[Anonymous]

You might want to check with your local used book store for the coffee-table books Clay mentioned. I've gotten to know the owner of our local store and I'm sure she would give me books for free if I explained what it was for. I have donated many of my own books to them and the owner has pleaded with me on many occasions to take books in exchange. Even if you can't get them for free, the prices should be reasonable, and they usually have a wide selection of those type of books.

Hi Nicole, I like the sticker idea a lot and will let you know if I have any success.

Ana

[clay dube]

Some teachers have received grants from their school's booster club or their PTSA to a) purchase a book or two to be donated, or b) to purchase items in East Asia for use in lessons later. It's worth asking.

[Anonymous]

Today (5/1) I went to Barnes & Noble to look for gift books, and I scored! This entire week, all books are 25% off for teachers. I bought a photographic book about California and a second book about Los Angeles. Both are hardbound, but not excessively heavy. There are more of each, so if anyone thinks we should pick up more copies, you may do so, or let me know and I'll go back.

Los Angeles Then & Now - $18.95 minus discount; total $13.48
Califonria: A Photographic Tour - $7.98 minus discount; total $5.98.

I also bought China, A Photographic Journey for me, $9.73.

Courtney Lockwood

[Anonymous]

I had an idea of gifts for the kids, and turned it into an "extra credit" project for my seniors. They can submit up to 5 different photos of themselves. On the back, they will write: "My name is ____________ and I am a Senior at West High School in Torrance, California, 2006". My kids get a benefit, and I am sure the Chinese and Japanese kids will enjoy the photos.

[Anonymous]

I had a similar idea for my seniors, who are in desperate need of extra credit. I was thinking that I could have them write chap books - similar to mini children's books in a way - documenting their daily lives. There is a way to do them as foldables where if they are copied correctly they are very easily reproduced and the kids could make multiple copies of their books (so I would have plenty to pass out). They could include photos of themselves, their friends, where they live, their school, their favorite hang-out spots, activities, etc. I would have to be certain to scan for appropriateness, but I think it would be an activity the kids would enjoy and appreciate. Plus, it would be a great way for another student to visualize (and read about) what life is like for a kid growing up in Los Angeles.

I'm working on putting a lesson plan together as well as the template for the foldable book (I think it fits on legal size paper or the next size up). Please let me know if you're interested, or if you think I should post it for people.

-Kyle

[Anonymous]

I remember one of the alums spoke about bringing bookmarks her students had made. I was thinking I could have my students make bookmarks of notable places in LA, California, or their native country.

I was thinking that I could incorporate the gift into a literature lesson where the students could illustrate and include a quote about a scene, character, or place relevant to a book we're reading and then include either a picture of them or the school (with the information) on the back. That way I'm connecting the assignment to our literature curriculum in some (stretch) way and still producing student-made gifts to bring on the trip.

Is anyone else having a hard time justifying doing these gift-making activities with their kids? How are you explaining it to administration, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Great ideas, Kyle (as usual).

I had three thoughts about getting students involved in this activity, but I like your chap-book idea.

1) I think I'll give some blank bookmarks to the art teacher to offer to students who "doodle" constantly. I think they would like an outlet for their drawing that won't be graded.

2) I thought I could have students select a favorite quote or poem to put on a bookmark, and then illustrate it. We study maxims in American lit, so they could look for a maxim to illustrate. It's interesting when you study maxims (Ben Franklin, Emerson), the students know of maxims from their own cultures. Your idea of a character/scene from literature would work, too.

3) Perhaps my students could write (American) Haiku or tanka for the bookmark.

All of these ideas are useful as end-of-the year projects for my seniors who begin to lose interest in school.
Now I want to bring a digital camera to school to take photos for mounting on the bookmarks.
Courtney Lockwood[Edit by="clockwood on May 4, 7:38:53 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I'm going to have my students start making things this next week after they complete their testing. We aren't allowed to teach them anything new, and they can only do crosswords for so long. We need quiet activities like oragami.... to keep them busy while others complete their tests.
This explanation worked for my principal.
-Julia

[Anonymous]

I tried Borders and Barnes and Noble and had no luck yesterday. Last Sunday I even tried the Crown Book Outlet in Culver City. The 29th I will try the Book Warehouse at Camarillo.
Any other ideas?

[Anonymous]

I visited my local used book store and looked under their travel section. I found a softbound coffee-table type book on Yosemite. It was in perfect condition and only about $6. I'm sure the store owner would have donated it had I explained the reason but I like supporting our local family-owned businesses. The book is lightweight and very attractive.

[Anonymous]

Taking Kyle's idea, I have invited my students to make a brochure of themselves as an extra-credit assignment (and Heaven knows, most of them need lots of extra credit.) I made a sample (Writing Project theory -- you make a sample of everything before you assign it.) and passed it out. Several of the kids are very excited. I told them they could put their e-mail address on it to elicit a "pen-pal" if they wished. Next Friday is the due date for the first draft; I will check over it and they can then correct and submit the final copy -- or disk -- for me to use. These I'll use as give-aways at the local high schools we are visiting.

Since my students also have to demonstrate technological ability for their senior portfolio (ESLR), they can use this piece. So, it is multi-purpose!
Courtney Lockwood

[Anonymous]

I have located 2 used bookstores in the area, and will drop by this Saturday.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they would donate the books, but I just found out my local used book store is going out of business in two months. Not enough people buying books anymore.

[Author]

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