If you celebrate each of your student's birthdays throughout the school year, you will likely run out of ideas before your students run out of birthdays. Here are some easy ways to help your students and their classmates commemorate those special days in very special, yet simple, ways.

Birthday rhyme time. Find a website or book that has interesting sayings, jokes or funny poems that are age-appropriate for your class. Copy the ones you like onto colorful paper, then roll the paper into a scroll and secure with a ribbon. You can store the scrolls inside a special bag, box or basket in the classroom. When it's time to celebrate a student's birthday, call them to the front of the class and have them reach into the container and choose a scroll. Make a special presentation of the scroll to the birthday child, reading what it says inside and finishing the event with class-wide applause. Or make up witty fortunes and store them inside a large Chinese take-out box. You can also vary the container to reflect the season or holiday.

It's in the bag. With a little help from parents, here is a way to manage all of your students' birthdays at once and in plenty of time before their big day. When the new school year begins, ask parents to send in small trinkets, candy, stickers or other treats - at least one for each student in class. Purchase inexpensive "loot bags" at a party store, or use a white paper lunch bag. Decorate as needed and personalize with each child's name. Once you divide all the treats among the bags, all you have to do is wait for each child's special day, then present it to them. Kids whose birthdays are in the summer months can be given their bags just before school dismisses for summer vacation.

Personalize it. Most schools require foods to be pre-packaged when they are brought in for the class. Here's an idea you can pass on to parents who want to make those pre-packaged treats more special. Wrap each packaged cookie or candy inside a square of colored plastic wrap, add a non-food trinket, such as stickers and a pencil, then secure the bundle with curling ribbon. Bring the treats to class inside a large basket or box bedecked with helium balloons. Play a few fun games, then offer children the treats as they leave to go home for the day.

Shop once, party later. If your school allows full-fledged classroom parties, consider purchasing the party supplies you will need for the entire year in bulk. Not only will you pay less, you will save time by not having to run out at the last minute to buy what you need. Each year make notes on what items you will need more of next year and what you bought too much of this year. When you make your purchase, stick to the most common party colors: red, green, orange, yellow, white and black. These basic colors will do double duty for a number of holidays and seasons - not to mention all the birthday parties your classroom will host this year. Any balloons and streamers you buy should be in solid colors only. When you do want to celebrate something specific - such as a birthday - have the class participate in making party favors or extra decorations. These personalized gifts will make the birthday child's special day even more special.

Jennifer Dobson is a preschool teacher and writer who invites you to visit www.mpmSchoolSupplies.com, her favorite place to shop for preschool teacher supplies online. The site offers a huge variety of products including classroom decorations like bulletin board border, sets, trimmers, and paper. Visit the MPM School Supplies today to save 10% off of your first purchase!