When you stock up on your children's school supplies during back-to-school sales, buy some extra notebooks, pencils, crayons and other supplies to give to the teacher to help out. Find out if the teacher has a wish list of items that are always appreciated, such as paint and markers. On the first day of school, tuck the classroom supplies into a fabric bag with a teacher-related design and bring it to the teacher.
Creativity in children is sparked by providing a variety of art supplies so the students can produce art in different media. Fill a bag with art products such as paper, paint, markers, colored pencils, glue and glitter. In a separate bag provide household items to use for crafts, such as coffee filters, clothespins, paper plates, egg cartons and unwanted CDs. Include instructions for some crafts using these items, such as a butterfly from a painted coffee filter clipped by a clothespin with a magnet glued on the back.
Perhaps you would like to provide some needed supplies for a teacher, but you aren't sure what he needs, or you would rather let him decide what to buy. In a small gift bag, tuck in a box of crayons, a package of pencils and a bookmark bearing a positive message for a teacher. Stick a gift card to a local store into the box of crayons, letting it peek out a bit so it won't be missed.
Instead of buying a teacher classroom supplies for her students, buy her something nice for herself. Include a pretty coffee cup, some gourmet flavored coffee, bath salts and a CD with relaxing music. If she enjoys puzzles, give her a book of brain teasers, a puzzle magazine and a package of pencils. Mariely Sanchez, a fourth-grade teacher in Miami, suggests a goodie bag with symbolic items, such as a pencil to help write the future.