Look What My Third Grade Students Gave Me! I Cried!

16 years ago

Hi Friends... Since Friday is our last day of school, we had an end of the year ice cream social in my class today. My students saved their pennies to pay for this! Here is a picture of my grrrreat students!

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At the social, my third graders presented me with a gift, and being the soft-hearted, sentimental guy I am...I cried. I have been with this group of kids (known as The Grizzlies) for two years, having moved from one grade to the next with them. I received a gift certificate to a local, country greenhouse and a beautiful birdhouse. My Grizzlies know I love recycling so this gift is extra special! It is made from recycled Diet Pepsi cans, MY FAVORITE DRINK! It was done by a local artist who is well-known in the area. The roof is made from my favorite book, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. I read this book every year to my class, my favorite book of ALL time. The author has passed away but I met him as a child.

The birdhouse also has bears on it. My students know I love bears! I think the bears are cut out from beer cans but the students don't know that. :o) There are also bear track bottle caps on the birdhouse which I think also came from beer bottles. The artist says you can place the birdhouse outside, but I think I will keep it on our covered front porch and bring it in during the winter. Or...it may remain inside! It's sooooo cool! (Everything is hammered on with little, brass nails.) I LOVE MY THIRD GRADE GRIZZLIES! Thanks for letting me share! (I hope I don't drive you crazy with my excitement and many posts!) Friday is going to be a difficult day for me as I say good-bye to a special group of third graders! Bear Hugs! Kirk
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Comments (28)

jaspersmommy
16 years ago
See, Kirk, I told you you were making an impact on our kids. What a wonderful gift, for a wonderful teacher. If you weren't they wouldn't have saved thier pennies, and it would not have been such a personal gift. You should feel proud they love you so much.

Dena
foxygrandma9
16 years ago
Kirk what a wonderful gift.You are a special teacher to them and they love you,our children need more teachers like you. Know you will cherish it forever.
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dustyknees
16 years ago
too late to drive some of us crazy.
you now have a unique birdhouse.
i agree. where the red fern grows. is a good book and so is the movie.
des_arc_ya_ya
16 years ago
Awww...what a great gift for a great teacher! (I taught 3rd grade 11 years and they are a great age!) I think that book is the ONLY one that my DS ever really read when he'd have to make a book report! LOL
craftyjanjan
16 years ago
What a beautiful gift, for an extra special person. I know you must mean a lot to them. Wish there were more teachers like you. I love that birdhouse too! Thanks for sharing!
Janet
katefisher
16 years ago
Well that is awesome. Does the artist have a webpage? I would love to check it out.

Really though that is incredibly touching. I bet they will never forget you and vice versa. Thanks for sharing.

Kate
TxMarti
16 years ago
What a thoughtful, wonderful gift from these kids. I can see that you have been a great teacher & mentor to them.
jeanr_2007
16 years ago
Special teachers stay in the heart forever. You must be one to get such a touching gift from your kids. Hope you aren't going to hang that birdhouse outside!
pattico_gw
16 years ago
That birdhouse is neat...

The picture of your class is special too...

Will you have all new ones in class next year?

I'm guessing that good looking guy in the back is you....

I wish my kids would have had teachers like you...My son had one. she was a 2nd grade teacher. With a room that you just wouldn't believe.

She had people come in and build a loft for the kids to climb up on and sit for their quiet time reading...and they could sit underneath also.

She said my son during quiet time would get so engrossed in what he was reading that he didn't read quitely. But she never hushed him because he read with such expression and feeling ...all the kids would sit and listen to him..

I read that book when I was a preteen...

I read it in bed and tucked it under my pillow. My aunt that raised me found the book there under my pillow and thought I was reading a "bad" book....She really read me the riot act when I got home from school that day.

I had to do some hard and fast explaining..My guess is , my cousin who was a couple of years older and jealous as heck...tattled...

I can't remember anymore if there were bad words in it...

Anyways...you are Blessed.

patti
Purplemoon
16 years ago
Ok, your kids made me get a bit teary too. The obvious affection and respect they have for you is so very heartwarming. That birdhouse is incredibly special and I'd sure keep it inside!! I did laugh about the beer can part.
How neat you met the author of your favorite book, just makes it that much more special.
And the man who creates these birdhouses does a terrific job. I'd like to see more of his work myself.
As for driving me crazy---you can't, its just a short walk these days.
hugs, Karen
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for the encouraging words everyone! After 22 years, I still love my job, teaching kids! I will check to see if the artist has a website and let you know. My 6 year old is planning how we can make such a bird house with orange pop cans! Patti, I hope your aunt read the book; it has such great moral messages. In answer to your questions, that's me in the back (I hate having my picture taken!) and no, I won't be moving up with my class. Our school district is restructuring boundaries; I am losing 14 of my 26 kids to other schools. So.....another reason for Friday to be extra emotional. I'll cry....but then again, I cry at Hallmark Card commercials! Kirk P.S. Karen, I'm in search of those beer cans! LOL
textilejo
16 years ago
What a wonderful gift!! I love that birdhouse.

You will be one of those teachers who when those kids get together will say hey do you remember our 3rd grade teacher, what a cool guy!!
Bright199
16 years ago
It's all been said...but.... You are a very special person. The kids will remember you always and what you taught them goes beyound what's in the books. That is a totally awsome birdhouse!! It is sooo you.
shrty411
16 years ago
Impressive Kirk, that the kids think that much of you. Around here, the teachers ( and of course not ALL of them, but you could get run over by them when school lets out!) are the first out of the building!

What a great bunch of kids, look what an impact you have made on the next generation!

Love the birdhouse! Keep it inside, don't let anything happen to it!!

Maria
nonacook
16 years ago
That is sooooo wonderful! Good teachers like you are not found as often as we would like. I know they will miss you, and you them. But now you have a chance to get another class of different children to teach, and will touch those lives.

Some day I will tell a couple of stories about the things my parents did as teachers. You remind me of them.
cindee11461
16 years ago
I still remember my 3rd grade teacher she was the best teacher I ever had and made a lasting impression on me for life. Just thought I would share that(-: I am sure you are the same for your kids. And the above statements are true there are very few teachers that are that devoted to their kids now days. Its sad but true. I am happy that you are a such a special person. Friday will be hard but think of all the good you have done with the kids and be proud of yourself!!! I love that birdhouse!!!! That is very creative!
rere
16 years ago
Kirk, What a thoughtful gift. I know you feel fortunate to have had such a great group of kids. I live in a completely different part of the country but I'd like to say Thank you for being one of the good guys and looking out for our kids. I'm sure your influence will follow them into adulthood.
Love the birdhouse!
wired
16 years ago
WOW, someone really put a lot of thought into getting you the 'perfect' gift! What a touching thought and story of your class. Seems they listened to all you teachings as well as your personal life and interests. The bird house is just adorable and a memory to cherish forever along with the children who were so thoughtful.
FYI, I think it's wonderful for a man to be emotional. My father was, my brother and DH are and that makes me love'em that much more. Seems all my emotions are expressed by tears...or what's that saying...I have something in my eye.

Thanks for sharing your class and story...Gotta go, I think I have something in my eyes :-)
goldenpond
16 years ago
Gosh my third grade grandson has been out of school since the end of May.Guess we do it different in Florida> What a great way to recycle! I LOVE your room. Id go back to third grade myself if it were in that room.Those kids will get a rude awakening next year without you.If I remember fourth grade for all three of my kids was the absolute pits , so much homework we never got to spend fun time with them .Guess thats why I ended up homeschooling after that.
Well you can still be in their life!
Calamity_J
16 years ago
WOW! Everyone has already made the same comments I was gonna, but I just gotta say I am very touched and am grateful for you sharing yourself with us!!! Jane
cece_
16 years ago
Hi Teach !!

Just wanted to ask. Did the kids commission that or did one of the parents find it by accident?

So happy --you are happy !! Teachers, parents, clergy. All so very important in our lives. My "fav" teacher died 3 weeks ago. I had her in the 11th grade. She was 85 when she died. You would not believe the outpouring of love from her 25 years of students. She brought every book we read to life with her knowledge and enthusiasm. The Scarlet Letter never had such a good Hester !!

Congrats and I know you will have bright and fun students next year, as your personality will bring out the best in them.

Cece
grittymitts
16 years ago
What a perfectly delightful & thoughtful gift! Both you & the children were blessed...them for saving to do something wonderful for another and you for the joy of having it.
(Perhaps you could put a copy of the class photo on the bottom along with the date; I'm sure it will handed down as a family treasure.

Special teachers like you touch kids lives in ways that stay with them forever. At 70, my 3rd grade teacher's name still sparkles in my mind. Like you, she was very special.

Suzi (who thinks Teachers should make big bucks)
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, my students commissioned the birdhouse to be done by artist Rik Nelson, an avid recycler. He wrote the article for the link below. I love my birdhouse! I love my kids! Kirk

Here is a link that might be useful: Birdhouses
busdriver12
16 years ago
That was so SWEET!! you are a loved teacher!! the last day of school some of mine brought me a big bag of fruit.It always makes you feel special and loved.
Purplemoon
16 years ago
Thanks for the link, Kirk. Wow, full instructions on making your own! I love the pink 'n purple one in the photo tho.

I wish that I, or my 3 kids, or my 8 grandkids, had a teacher like you. Perhaps I'd have loved school that year instead of feeling like I was in jail and kept from my animals. LOL.
Even tho you've had these kids an extra year and know them so well and adore them, just think of the fun and challenge when you see all those bright new faces come Sept. It's going to be sooo exciting getting to know all of them. So keep that in mind as you say goodbye to this group.
hugs, Karen
painterchic98
16 years ago
wow. I love that birdhouse. now I have to check out the artist...
luvstocraft
16 years ago
Those kids sure put some thought into that birdhouse to have it include the bears and the book. No doubt about it, you will always be one of their favorite teachers. Luvs
katladie
16 years ago
Your Grizzlies know you well Kirk, they will miss you as much as you miss them, I am sure you have had a permanent positive influence on their young lives. I can tell you treat people the way you would like to be treated, and that is a quality hard to find in people these days.

Sharon

Look What My Third Grade Students Gave Me! I Cried!

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