Teacher’s Survival Kit
To Welcome Teachers to a New School Year
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When I was hired as a director for the first time, it was in a rush, at the last minute. Most of the teachers were as new as I was, the atmosphere was tense, and there was not even time to blink before the children started coming. It was crazy, to say the least.
After that experience, every year I want to start the way I like it: prepared in advance and welcoming my teachers, old and new, so they feel welcome and know that I appreciate and support them.
I think it is extremely important to start a new school year without tension, prepared, and excited because it sets the tone for how the whole school year is going to be. Believe it, I saw it first-hand that first year, and it was not pretty!
After that experience, I decided to make a habit of giving each of my teachers a “Survival Kit” as a welcoming present, and every year I try to make it a little different and use different types of containers. Of course, I use some of the same things every year, because they are most items in every classroom, but I always include different items as well.
A survival kit is something that parents can do as well. If you know your child’s teacher already, then you might already know what they like or not, what they use in the classroom, or what they need. But even if it is your child’s first time in that school or with that teacher, there are plenty of items you can use in your survival kit that will work for almost any teacher.
Suggestions of Items to Include
- Pretty containers (buckets, boxes, or baskets)
- Hand Lotion – to smooth hands that get washed a lot of times every day.
- Hand Sanitizer – to kill all those germs.
- Lysol Wipes – because teachers have to disinfect everything constantly.
- Tissues – to clean children’s noses (and your occasional desperation tears).
- Note Pads – to send a quick note to a parent.
- Pain Relief – for those end-of-the-day headaches.
- Vitamin C – is a necessity to protect teachers from those many germs.
- Band-Aids – the ultimate cure for boo-boos.
- Granola Bar – for a boost of energy at the end of the school day.
- Teacher’s Supply – glue, binder clips, sticky notes, dry erase markers, pencils, pencil sharpener, erasers, Sharpie markers, highlighters, and stickers.
- Good Job! Stamps – just because I found it this year.
- Survival Kit Label (FREE printable found at the end of the post)
How to Put It Together
- Get a container (try to have different ones for each teacher, in their favorite colors if you can).
- Fill it up with the items previously mentioned, making sure that each teacher gets most of the items in their favorite colors.
- Use cellophane paper to cover the container and keep the items from falling out.
- Finish with a pretty bow and a “Survival Kit” label.
I am including the FREE labels I created for you. They come in two sheets with 6 labels each, all in different colors. To get your printable, just click the link below.
Now, it doesn’t matter what you do at the beginning of the school year if you do not continue to be a good leader or a supportive parent for your teachers. There has to be a partnership between the director, teachers, and parents based on respect, understanding, and support.
The secret to a good learning environment is not just having a great curriculum and good teachers. You also need teachers who are happy on the job and who go the extra mile to teach their children and support their learning, but it also makes a big difference when parents listen to their teachers and give them the support and help they need.
To accomplish this, I feel that it is my responsibility as a director to be there for them, both teachers and parents, not only to supervise and make sure that everything goes according to the rules and regulations but also to be available to support and help them in any way needed.
Teachers need to know that I value their opinions and that I listen and respect their ideas if they are for the benefit of the children in their care, and parents need to know that I will take care of their fears, complaints, requests, or anything else they might need, to the best of my abilities.
In my opinion, any school, or any business for that matter, will not run smoothly and efficiently if there is no teamwork, and just because somebody has a position of authority doesn’t mean that they are better than anybody.
That is the reason why, in regard to my teachers, I always try to have a little present for them on every occasion that comes my way, but also to show them not only the best way to do better when a little improvement is needed, but to recognize (and tell them) when they are doing a good job.
I’m sure this is going to be a good year. It will certainly be better than the last one (at least I hope). I wish you the best for you and your children, and I hope this is the beginning of a better future.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
