Today is Monday. Mondays, for teachers, are bittersweet. Yes, we love our students and look forward to being back in the classroom...but weekends are just so lovely! Time to sleep a little, catch up on grading, watch a little Game of Thrones...

After a long Monday at school and a long evening of graduate class, I discovered a lovely LARGE and HEAVY box from my spectacular Santa (and his girlfriend!). I don't know if you can tell from the photos, but there's a TON of stuff in that box!

I opened the box, giggling all the while (I can't help it, packages are fun)to find the most amazing collection of school supplies. My Santa sent me FOLDERS and NOTEBOOK PAPER and NOTEBOOKS-- all of which will be put to good use this very week! Then he sent me:

18 GLUE STICKS. EIGHTEEN! I just assigned a project that will require many a glue-stick. The ones I have left over from last year are all gloppy and gross. I had just put glue sticks on my list of things to buy. True story.

Enough PENCILS for every single student in my classes to have one of their very own. That is around 96 pencils. Now, I won't actually give them each a pencil, because, let's face it -- they'd promptly lose it, but the pencils will go in my classroom for their use. They'll even go in the handy-dandy PENCIL BOX my Santa sent!

As if 96 pencils, 18 glue sticks, assorted folders and paper and notebooks weren't enough...my Santa also sent 48 BLUE AND BLACK PENS (do you know how many pens am English teacher goes through in a month?!) and a BOX OF CRAYONS! Now, if you think high schoolers are above coloring, then you just don't know teenagers. Colors are always appreciated!

So what do we have? Glue sticks, pencils, notebooks, notebook paper, folders, pens, and crayons. Is that everything, you ask? No indeed, it is NOT. My Santa also sent a little CALCULATOR that I can keep on my desk for adding up grades, figuring out how many calories are in this 1/4 of a chocolate bar, or loaning to students who always seem to ask their English teacher for a calculator.

Finally, my Santa also sent a REAM OF COPY PAPER! Copy paper is always useful, especially since I print papers all the time.

Santa you (and your girlfriend) have made this teacher incredibly happy. Your thoughtfulness, not only in packing this box of supplies, but in your constant communication with me, is appreciated more than you can possibly know. Thank you for taking the time to be part of this Gifts for Teachers program. My students and I thank you sincerely!