Each year, for the majority of the time I taught fifth grade, I started the year with some sort of welcome back to school gift for my students. Depending on my finances each year, these gifts may have contained anything from a pencil and bookmarks, to candy, erasers, pens, and mini highlighters. One year I even put mini decorative tape rolls that I had found at Walmart in their gift bags. (Never, never again! Even if I win the lottery!).
Did you just shake your head to clear your ears? Welcome back gifts for students? Gifts for going back to school? Yes, you heard me right. I promise, there's nothing wrong with your ears. I give small welcome back gifts to my students. Why? Well, first, it's fun. I love watching their faces as they open the bags. Even a few Hershey's kisses, pencil, and bookmark will make those 10 year old faces light up! Second, it gives me the chance to provide them with a few school supplies that they may not have otherwise had (a glittery mechanical pencil, neon eraser, mini pink highlighter, small pencil sharpener) are the fun extras that sometimes Mom and Dad can't afford to upgrade to when filling the ever growing supply lists each August. Third, it provides an extra chance for some classroom bonding as they open their bags, and share their treasures with their new classmates. And finally, it provides the chance to teach a quick lesson Someone inevitably gets something they don't want - type of candy, the wrong color pencil, a pink cap eraser instead of a purple one. This provides the perfect opportunity to teach students how to say thank you even when you don't want or need the gift, and how to quietly give it or trade it to someone else who does, without making a scene.
So, what types of things can you put in a welcome back bag that your students will like, but won't break the bank? Here are a few things I've used in the past (please note, I'm leaving out those little miniature tape dispensers. We had colored tape EVERYWHERE within the first week of school, despite my warnings against wasting it.)
- colorful character pencils
- mechanical pencils (our Walmart carries a glittery pack of 24 by Bic that my kids have loved for years for around $4 a pack)
- cap erasers
- mini highlighters - you can often find 4 or 5 of these in a pack in the dollar aisle or at the Dollar Tree
- mini memo pads - again, you can usually find multi packs for a dollar at Walmart, Target, and the Dollar Trees
- bookmarks - store bought or color your own (find free color your own bookmarks here!)
- mini bottles of water
- suckers
- Starbursts
- Hershey's Kisses
- inexpensive, brightly colored scissors
- small boxes of crayons
- lifesavers
- a few colorful Band-aids
- personal sizes packs of Kleenex (again, I've seen 8 to a pack at the Dollar Tree
- snacks such as packages of cheese crackers, small cookies, etc
- mini bottles of bubbles
- small party favors like chinese finger traps, bracelets, etc.
- stickers
- etc., etc., etc.
Please note on any food items. Make sure it's okay to share snacks or candy BEFORE doing so, as many schools have banned treats altogether. If given the go ahead, stop by the nurse's office first to check for potential allergies before putting any type of food treats in your gift bags.
Thinking about giving your students a welcome back gift? A quick search on Pinterest will bring up hundreds of ideas!
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