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Monday, September 19, 2011

Management Monday: Students' Birthdays!

Kids love their birthday!  It's only the most important day of the year for them.  I try to acknowledge birthdays without feeding into the chaos too much. Here's what I do for my kiddos on their special day:

1. Birthday Banana!
Kids eat a lot of junk on their birthday.  I like to think this helps to balance it out!  It's kind of goofy, yes, but the kids actually like it.

2. Birthday Shirt
I put this shirt on the back of the student's chair for the day.  Every year someone accidentally thinks it's theirs to keep and I get to send a polite note to the student to please return my shirt.  Hey--no management strategy is perfect! :D

3. A Card from the Teacher
I give each student the card shown above along with a Free Book Pass inside! 
 The kids love this and I find these cards stuffed in students' desks all year long.  (I like to think it's because they value the card from me so much they don't want to throw it away.  We all know how loving and sentimental 3rd graders are.) :D

4. A Birthday Balloon
Students get to pick up one of these babies too!  They really do love funky straws.

So after typing all of this out, I feel like I give students a lot. But hey--they're special!  What do you do for student birthdays??
Written (with love!) by Janis at 5:00 PM
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17 comments:

  1. ...on the brink of something beautifulSeptember 19, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    i am seriously in love with your blog! i even had to blog about it!! :)
    if you wanna see the post, you can read it here:
    http://getthewordsout.blogspot.com/2011/09/5-loves-on-monday_19.html

    -kellie

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    I love your birthday banana idea. Would you share your template?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mrs. ExnerSeptember 20, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Ok, so I don't give bananas but I give a birthday balloon, the same birthday card that you have, a sticker that matches the card and a birthday pencil.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JanisSeptember 21, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Thanks so much for the shout out!

    Anonymous--the template is a JPEG so I'll have to make a general version! If you send me your email and name, I'll send you a personalized copy!

    Mrs. Exner--Great minds think alike. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 3, 2012 at 5:43 PM

      Love your ideas! Would you please send me a copy of the banana jpeg? Thanks!

      lflaten@wcsks.com

      Mrs. Flaten

      Delete
  5. JulieSeptember 24, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Janis -
    I wanted to give you a shout out and award you the Versatile Blogger award!! I know you already received it but you do ROCK! I appreciate your willingness to share and help. I finally got my class web site up and running and I modeled it after yours. It turned out pretty nice so far. I have a lot to learn.
    Thanks!
    Julie

    Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  6. JanisSeptember 25, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    Julie, I'd love to check out your site! Mind sharing the link??

    PS--Thanks for the wonderful comment/shoutout/award! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    I love your ideas for your students' birthdays! I have a stuffed animal that they get to have with them for the day. I feel it is important to show them how important and special they are. :)

    Would I be able to get a copy of your bananna card that you use? I like the different idea.

    dwyerc@knights.ucf.edu

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Peace Love KindergartenJuly 25, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a copy of your monkey tag for the bananas. It would be perfect for my AMAZING monkeys!
    hdderamus@gmail.com

    THANKS! This is soooo perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ms. K. JohnsonJuly 29, 2012 at 6:54 AM

    I too would LOVE a copy of the birthday banana jpg. Everyone is doing the balloon pixie stick thing at my school, and I just like being different! LOL The birthday banana is genius! Plus our district is really pushing health and nutrition so it's a perfect fit! Thank you! Love your blog!
    Kristin
    krissi772@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. cathyJuly 30, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    I would love to do the B-day banana this year, so I would love to have a copy of this. Thanks for sharing your work with us!

    Cathy

    simpsonscott@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownAugust 6, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    I would like a copy of the birthday banana. It's such a neat idea! Thanks
    Yolanda
    landanunez@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousAugust 21, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Hi Janis,
    If you have some time, can you please send me a copy of your birthday banana template? I am looking for ways to jazz up my birthday celebrations and this is adorable! Thanks for the idea!
    Amanda
    ajohnson709@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousOctober 10, 2012 at 7:36 PM

    Hi Janis,

    Your blog is great and so are your TPT items! I, too would love a template for your birthday banana! Is it something you are able to share?

    Thank you!
    Darlene
    sneakers@me.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousOctober 11, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    I would love a copy of the birthday banana template! Thank you, kindly! (acasey@hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  15. TiffanyJuly 9, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    I know this is an old post, but I just recently found your blog and love your ideas!! Is it still possible to get the template for the birthday banana? Such a cute idea! Thank you!

    eatcleanworkdirty@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. johnnyAugust 27, 2017 at 12:04 PM

    This content is written very well. Your use of formatting when making your points makes your observations very clear and easy to understand. Thank you.
    Ceramics for kitchen

    ReplyDelete

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