It’s That Time Again! Back to School Birthday Bags

It’s time to start getting things ready for back to school! I enjoy so much the planning and preparing for a new school year. 

So… birthday gifts/recognition for my students- this is one area I used to be TERRIBLE at! 
I was never consistent and sometimes would run out of bookmarks or whatever I was giving out that year. 

Several years ago my teaching partners and I began making BIRTHDAY BAGS! We get them assembled during the summer and they are ready to go for the year. I always try to make about 4 or 5 extra to be ready for any new students. 

You could really put anything in them that you would like, but here’s what we do…

Free homework coupon… the kids LOVE this one! (Or a bookmark if your students do not receive homework).

Candy (we normally do not give out candy- except in their birthday bags, you could replace this with something healthy if you prefer)!

Straw- this is for the bottle of flavored water they get on their birthday. Some years we use fun straws, some years regular. It depends on what we can find and whether the price is right! I have a mini-fridge in my room, so I just buy a case of flavored water at the beginning of the year and I am all set. I give them the bag and bottle of water after lunch on the day we celebrate their birthday. 

Some years we make tags for their bags with their name and birthday, but I haven’t done that the past few years. If you label the bags, then sometimes it is a hassle to have to make tags when you get new students.

I have a big wire basket in my room and I keep all of the bags in it and just pull out the bags as I need them. 

Happy Back to School!