Holiday Guide-Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind GIVEAWAY!

With holiday shopping already in full-swing, I’m hoping you might like to conduct a Q&A with the Disney nominated Teacher of the Year, Phillip Done. He would love to provide your readers with a list of the perfect holiday teacher gifts – along with hilarious stories of gifts gone very bad.

Done is the author of the September 2009 best-seller, Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood (Hachette Book Group).

Angle: What teachers will never share outside of the staff room: their funniest teacher gifts / What not to get the teacher and how to surprise them with gifts they’ll love.

Q&A with Phillip Done:

What are the most memorable teacher gifts from your staff room?

·         A pair of earrings from a child who said they reminded him of his teacher.   They were hoop earrings with marijuana leaves in them.

·         A set of high ball glasses

·         A Barbie doll with a crocheted dress that fits over a toilet paper roll

·         A box of chocolates. One third was gone. The other third was half-eaten. Apparently the child put them back until he found the filling he liked.

·         A porcelain mask of Elvis

·         An Emergency Survival Kit including: Red Bull, teacher’s favorite candy, and quick microwavable meals

·         My aide received one earring. When she asked about the other one, the student said he gave it to the librarian.

What are some of the funniest teacher gifts you’ve ever received at the holidays?

·         A used roll of duct tape.

·         An avocado wrapped in aluminum foil.

·         A mug that said “Happy St. Patrick’s Day.”

·         A wall calendar that was about to expire

·         Santa boxer shorts. From the kid’s mother.

The Five Absolute BEST Gifts for Any Teacher:

1. Gift cards: You can never go wrong!
2. Movie passes
3. Food: Dinner, homemade treats, chocolate
4. Books for the classroom
5. The Best Gift of All: a note of appreciation from a parent or student

Done’s education advice has appeared in national magazines such as Reader’s Digest, Real Simple, Instructor, and Parent and Child.

Phillip is the author of Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood. He is a 25 year veteran of third grade in the CA public school system – and recipient of a CA Teacher of the Year. He was also honored as a nominee for the Disney Teacher of the Year. 

Done will offer tips on what teachers would really like for the holidays – frugal ideas that show appreciation and thought.

Q&A with Phillip Done:

What are your most memorable teacher gifts?

1.      I had a student who wrapped up his lunch money. He had skipped lunch that day.

2.      One year a child gave me a plate with crumbs on it. There had been cookies on it, but the kid ate them on the way to school.

3.      My aide received one earring. When she asked about the other one, the student said he gave it to the librarian.

4.      Once I received a box of chocolates and shared them with my students. Soon the kids were all spitting them out. When I looked at the box, I realized they were full of cognac.

5.      I received a box of See’s chocolates one year from a girl named Petra. At home, I put it in the freezer. A few months later, I opened the freezer and took out the box. Inside was a tie.

Three Holiday Secrets Teachers Won’t Ever Tell

1.      We love our students, but we don’t want bags and mugs with your child’s picture on it.

2.      We love plants, but don’t have your child paint the pot.

3.      We like to look nice, but please don’t buy us ties or jewelry. Children wait for us to put them on.

Done’s education advice has appeared in national magazines such as Reader’s Digest, Real Simple, Instructor, and Parent and Child. Please click here to view his September 24^th appearance on Good Morning Texas. The September 2009 release of his latest book – Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind received national praise. 

-Courtesy of Phillip Done & Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind

Win It!

  

I'm so happy to announce that the publisher has offered up 3 copies of Close Encounters of the 3rd Grade Kind to 3 readers!

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