When I taught religious education classes at our church I received many wonderful gifts over the years, but I always cherished and kept the hand-written notes. I know teachers receive many of gifts throughout the school year and with each teacher I wonder what the best gift will be to say "thank you" at the end of the year. For several years, I've worked with the students to put together a mini album. I ask each student to write a heartfelt note to the teacher and then I pair it with photos of students (and sprinkle extra recess or field trip photos throughout). I have been lucky enough to be a room parent for both of my girls classrooms every year they've been in school which afforded me the opportunity to take many photos. This year I didn't get the room parent designation, but I did chaperone all of the field trips. For this album I was able to work with the kids in the classroom (usually I ask for parent help from home). The teacher was all too happy to spend an hour away from the classroom on a couple different days. The students were eager to work on this project - even making embellishments of birds and flowers. The end result brough tears (of happiness) when Mrs. Meighan read all of the wonderful notes, poems, and songs written by each of her students.
Obviously this is the cover of last years' album. I knew this teacher loved inspirational quotes so I added them to each page. I was overjoyed to see this album displayed on a bookshelf in her new home when I visited her recently.
This is from 3rd grade. Miss MacFarlane called her students her "muffins". I don't have photographs of any of the other completed albums I've made for teachers, but they've all been received with tears of joy which makes all of the end-of-the-year-craziness worthwhile.
