Back to School

It's that time of year again.....Back to School in McKinney, TX! Find out what McKinney ISD is requiring for your kids to go back to school! We have the scoop!

Be sure to check out our TUTORING PAGE if you are considering Tutoring for your child.

For extra-curricular activities such as Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Dance, Art, Music etc see our Classes section.

Are you in need of school supplies? Find out programs to help the needy with School Supplies!

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SCHOOL SUPPLY INFO:

ALLEN ISD: Allen ISD School Supply List.

FRISCO ISD: Check out the Frisco ISD School Supply Lists

MCKINNEY ISD: Check out the McKinney ISD School Supply List.

PLANO ISD: Get the Plano ISD School Supplies List & PISD Dress Code

AFTER SCHOOL CARE:  If you are in need of an AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, this is the page you'll need for McKinney Kids After School Programs.

BACK-to-SCHOOL TEACHER GIFTS:

See below for some Back to School Teacher gift ideas that we found for you. Some you can make, some you can buy.

10 Teacher Gifts to Buy to Start the School Year

Here are some ideas of Teacher Gifts that you can purchase. Since you don't know your teacher yet and the year hasn't started, practical gift ideas to get the year started are the best.

1.Construction Paper or Colored Copy Paper - stock up on colored paper for the teacher. You know they'll use it! With school getting ready to start, many school supplies are on sale.

2. Custom Note Pad - If your child is just beginning to write, this teacher gift is very special. Have your child write out "From the Desk of" at the top of a sheet of paper and the teacher's name at the bottom. Then ask him to draw something simple like the sun or a flower next to the teacher's name. Use a black felt-tip pen and a plain sheet of white paper. Then take the masterpiece to a copy shop and have it made into note pads! If it doesn't all fit on two lines, just make copies and cut and paste in place. We had ours reduced so that the pads were smaller and less expensive. The copy shop can help you with this. The teachers loved it!

Variation: As an early-childhood educator, my all-time favorite gift was a notepad from a student. Her mother had encouraged her to draw a picture of herself and me, then took the drawing to a local copy shop and had it reduced in size and placed in the corner of a 5x7 notepad. Along the bottom, the pad was inscribed with "A note from Mrs. Murphy ..." I've already told the mom that I hope her son (who is in my class this year) will draw me another picture for a new notepad!

3. Personalized Stamp

As a kindergarten teacher I have received so many gifts over the years. The most useful would have to be the stamp with my name on it. I use it to stamp everything possible. Custom stamps can be purchased at Staples and other office supply stores.

4. Phone Cards

I have bought packs of pre-paid phone cards from a large warehouse/discount store. Each phone card can be put into a card your child makes or along with a drawing from your child. Teachers have commented that this is a unique and thoughtful gift.

5. Seed-Planting Kit

The best gift we ever gave a teacher was a seed-planting kit. It had everything in it from the pot to the seeds that the teachers needed to grow a plant. This way they could either keep it at home or use it as a great learning experience if it is kept in the classroom. The teachers loved it!

4. Special Reminders

We came up with a list of items to give the teacher that had a special meaning. The kids and I had a great time thinking these up, and their teachers said they had never gotten a more thoughtful gift:

Sponge - to soak up the overflow when your brain is too full

Candle - to light a small mind

Modeling Clay - for being a great model

Smarties Candy - to help stay smart

Highlighter Pen - for being a big highlight of my life

Glue - for holding everything together

Bubbles - to keep a bubbly personality

Cup - when yours is overflowing

Marbles - to replace those lost from time to time

Crayon - to color your day

Hanger - to hang in there -- summer vacation is almost here!

5. Thank-You Notes

We gave the teacher a box of thank-you notes, a package of stamps, and return-address labels. Real handy for quick notes for gifts. If you're crafty you & the kids can even make these! Take it one step further and put them in a pretty basket or decorate your own container and embellish with ribbon, paint etc. Get creative! And comb the clearance aisles at your local craft stores - they oftentimes have very interesting containers that can be re-purposed for things like this.

6. Tickets & Subscriptions

Tickets to a minor league ball game -- the teachers loved it! Or give a subscription to a magazine that either caters to a teacher's interest (the outdoors, fashion, the news, etc.) or can be helpful in the classroom (a crafts magazine).

7. Gift card to local teacher supply store

For years we gave this gift and it was so appreciated by the teacher. So many expenses end up coming out of their pocket so this is a great way to help their budget!

8. Tissues

Little noses always run! Keep tissues handy for the teacher.

9. Prizes

If your teacher has the "prize box" like ours have had, go to your local party store or visit orientaltrading.com & stock up on trinkets the teacher can use in their prize box.

10. Stickers

Many teachers use stickers for good behavior, the bulletin board or prize box. If your teacher does, stock her up on stickers! Again, visit orientaltrading.com or check your local teacher supply store.

If you have others ideas you have given or received (if you are a teacher or former teacher), please feel free to email us. We'd love to include your ideas!