Teacher Tool Gift Exchange- The It's Worth It Box

Wow!  The 2nd Annual Spring Blogger Meet-Up did NOT disappoint once again.  What an amazingly well executed meet-up by Holly Ehle and Brittany Banister.  Well done ladies! I will talk more about the awesome time we had in another post.  Today I want to share with you the teacher tool that I received during our exchange.  For more great tools visit Second Grade Sugar and Spice where there is an great linky happening.

The tool I received seriously made me tear up.  It could have been my rampant hormones since I just gave birth only a month ago, but I have a feeling it had more to do with this sweet gift.

She honestly slept like this the ENTIRE weekend at the meet-up.

We started the exchange with a fun left and right story written by Amanda Pauley from Mrs. Pauley's Kindergarten. It was hysterical because she wrote a part about taking a wrong turn and getting lost and it just so happened that DeeDee Wills and Deanna Jump got lost on their way.  They got so lost they needed a police escort.  We were all cracking up!

When I first opened my bag I have to admit I was a little confused.  This was the first thing I saw...

How perfect is this quote.  I am a busy lady with being a teacher, wife, and mom of three.  I do need to start living this quote.

Is this not a beautiful box?  Still wondering what it has to do with a teacher tool?  I was still wondering too.  Then I opened it up and read this poem...

When I say that I had to choke back tears I am not exaggerating.  We have all felt this way a time or twenty right?!  This tear jerker poem was written by Christina DeCarbo from Sugar and Spice.  Can I tell you that her blog name is PERFECT for her.  She is the sweetest little thing with the cutest voice. I absolutely adored meeting her and receiving this great teacher tool from her.  

When I got home I knew exactly what items I was going to put in my box first.  This year I got a handmade necklace from one of my sweet kiddos.  We have all gotten them, but this one was different...

               

Can you see what it says?  Miss-is-Hemphill! Oh my word is that NOT the cutest thing you have ever seen?!  This brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.  I just adore that I have impacted their lives so much that they are thinking of me when they are at home doing crafts.  I love my job!

This next item was delivered to me via one of our ENL teachers who goes from school to school.  This student is in 5th grade now, which is located at our middle school.  I taught her when she was a 2nd grader.  This melted my heart and makes all of the bad days SO worth it!

I look forward to filling this box with more sweet sentiments and treasures from students.  This is going to be the perfect pick me up for those days that I just need a reminder of why I love my job.  

Inside the box I also found Energizer Tap Lights.  Christina uses these during her Guided Reading groups. She uses them to have students show their thinking or they can light them up when they are ready to discuss their ideas with the group.  I really think my students are going to have a ball with these.  

My teacher tool was simply a Target gift card.  It was a bookmark too.  Isn't is cute? 

Thanks for the picture Em!

Em Hutchison from Curious Firsties received my gift.  Head over to her blog to see the essentials she bought with her card.  I am constantly shopping in the Dollar Spot or frankly anywhere in that store for things in my classroom.  I love to find things to use for fluency trackers, math manipulatives, or fun and engaging ways to keep my kiddos interested.  I have found witch fingers and laser lights to follow along with reading, white gloves to use for questioning strategies, erasers to use with ten frames, and fun glasses to wear to keep their little eyes focused.  It can also be used to spruce up your work attire.  Or lets face it a beverage other than coke for a rough week.

Here we all are sporting our new teacher tools.  What a wonderful group of 1st grade teachers!

I almost can't wait to get back into the classroom to start using my tap lights and maybe collect a few more things for my "It's Worth It" box.  I think I will try and enjoy my 3 more weeks of maternity leave though.

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