Paying It forward

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Another doodlekisses member recently shared a link to a paying it forward idea that really touched my heart.  The thought was really designed as a challenge for professional photographers to find a person/family who couldn't afford a quality picture and photograph, print. and frame it for someone who would otherwise not have one.   I teach in a school where the majority of students are from low income families so I usually try to give them useful beanies or gloves for gifts.  I know that many teachers have used pictures for the children to make an ornament or  family gift, but for some reason I never did.  This challenge for professionals made me realize that while my photography skills are far from professional, my students' families might treasure a large framed picture as a memory of their child as an elementary student because they cannot afford to purchase the professional school pictures.  I photographed my students and their siblings in front of a decorated area at our school, printed and framed them to take home next week.  Like I said, I don't have professional skills at all, but I  found it such fun to bring Christmas gear, take lots of pictures, let the students choose their favorites.  We all laughed at the 'bloopers' - closed eyes, blurry movement, shadows etc.  And they were awed by the simple 'fixes' the computer can do - cropping, retouching, adding more color.  Here are two of my students' end result:

Please share here the things you are or might do to pay it forward this holiday season.

[shelly]

Oh, Nancy... these look great!  I too work in a school which sounds very similar to yours.  We adopt many families in our own school and go shopping for the things on their Santa wish lists.  Tags hang in our faculty room and everyone picks a few.  We deliver the packages to their houses.  The true joy is seeing the tears of happiness in the PARENTS' eyes when we unload the gifts and place them under the tree.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My school does get together to provide Thanksgiving meals for several families, but they don't do Christmas this way.  I love that you have wish lists and tags in the faculty room. We have so many in need and such a small staff, perhaps that is why no one has ever proposed it.

Years ago, our family used to secretly 'adopt' one of my husband's student's families for Christmas and we would come up with things for everyone in that household. We would put the presents on the porch, ring the bell and run and hide. When the vacation was over, my husband would assign the students to write about their Christmas.  Our pleasure always came when when we read that secret student's account of their surprise gifts.

[shelly]

Nancy - something that I do for my class is... all through the year I video tape different occasions starting with the first days of school, parties, special events, field days, field trips, etc.  My husband does video to dvd transfers and photo montages, so I compile all of the footage all year and put it to music and I give each student a dvd of our times together in the year.  They love it and they love seeing how much they changed from September to June... brings tears to my eyes each year. (Good thing is... many are on free lunch, but just about everyone has a dvd player in their home)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Shelly what a wonderful thing to do.  What a lot of work too.  I know how much work something like that is for a sports team and how much I appreciated it because it is not something I could do myself. The memories are captured forever. To do this for your students must make you the most sought after teacher ever.