New Teacher Welcome Kit

As we count down the days to the beginning of the school year, some of you may be serving as mentors for new or first year teachers.  I have served as a mentor for the last few years and am very excited about my protege for this year as she served as a paraprofessional on our Team last year and is going to be a fabulous teacher!!  I have put together a kit to welcome her to her official position as a full-time teacher.  I have seen different versions of a new teacher welcome kit online, but like the version I put together because the items are cute and useful.  (Some have items that are cute-sy, but that serve no real purpose.)  I think this is a great way to welcome a protege or colleague to our profession!

Here is the text of the sheet I put in the kit:

✮ ★ Welcome to Teacherhood, _________ !! ✮ ★

Here is your “Just-in-Case” kit (not that you will need any of it)!  In your kit, you will find...

~ “all smiles” stickers because, as you know, there are students who will cause you to be all smiles.

~ hand sanitizer and hand wipes because schools are wicked germ-ey.

~ a red sox PEZ because you may need to pop a few here and there.

~ some chocolate bars because...well do I really need to explain this one?

~ a cup o’ noodles because one day you are going to forget your lunch and miss your carefree college years.

~ animal crackers because a snack at the end of the day is always necessary (and it is a bit of a zoo here sometimes).

~ a first aid kit because some students think “gaping wound” is synonymous with “little scratch”.

~ extra pencils and pens because you are going to need them when you lend all of yours to the kids.

~ body fragrance because teenagers + P.E. = enough said. 

~ Hairspray and deodorant even though you always look and smell fabulous.

~ Colgate wisps and Scope to avoid the dreaded teacher coffee breath.

~ a mini sewing kit to save you or a student from a “wardrobe malfunction”.

~ highlighters because it is important to remember the high points of every day.

~ a nail kit because sometimes your regular manicure won’t come soon enough.

~ a lint remover because you won’t be able to see dog hair on your clothes when you are getting ready at the crack of dawn. 

~ a personal pack of kleenex because the kids will blow (literally) through a box in one class period.

 ~ Off! insect wipes because someday a student (or colleague!) is really going to “bug” you.

~ note tabs and a tupperware box because teachers need to stay super organized.

~ a Tide to go stick because our lunch ends up lasting about 11 minutes.

~ sparkly nail polish because some days are going to need a little more sparkle.

~ and finally, a few squawkers because every day is a party around here!

Here are some pics of my kit: