Appreciation

I have been so grateful for the teachers my children have had this year. All three of them have been lucky enough to come away from this year with more knowledge of academics, the world, and most of all, that there are people who care about them.

In a world of constant bad news from the education system, we have really had a positive experience overall. But this year we really were at peace with the classes our children were in. We do feel that particularly in Wally's case, we were led through answers to our prayers to the spot he spent second grade. I start praying that my kids will be placed in classes that will help them thrive, in about November. I am thinking ahead to the next school year, even then.

We had some big decisions to make when it came to Wally's education this time last year.

We prayed, and then still not feeling completely at ease, moved forward with what we thought was right for him, keeping in mind that Heavenly Father would let us know through the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, if what we were doing was in fact not right.

And boy, did I learn a lesson. We were halted in our plan, two days before the school year started. I felt sick, ill. We knew that the decision we had thought may work, was not the best thing for Wally at all.

We had an understanding principal on our side, and Wally ended up in Mrs. Pawelko's class. She welcomed him, even at the eleventh hour, with open arms. And in her classroom he has thrived. She saw him for who he is. I will admit, that when it comes to academics, she even saw him more clearly than I did. I don't know if she will ever see this post, but... Thank you so much Mrs. Pawelko!

I understand that this life will never be perfect. And some school years, that may mean teachers, classes, or circumstances beyond our control, will make school less than ideal. But I was able to breath a sigh of relief so often this past school year, in not only Wally's case, but Will and Georgia's too, that I want to celebrate that. And be grateful.

Thank you Ms. Tillman, Mrs. Holme, and Mrs. Vepely, for all you have done!

So we sent a token of our appreciation to our teachers. I mixed it up all over the place this year, and sent different things to almost all the teachers.  We did lotions, notebooks, cookies, stationary, and jams.

I want to start planning now for next year's teacher gifting occasions.

So I want to know, what have you done in the past, or this year, to show your teachers love? What are your ABC's and 123's  of gifting?