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Question for the teachers out there....

yennyfire

yennyfire

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This is my son's first year of public school (he was at a small private preschool for two years prior to kindergarten). I've always given his two teachers nice gifts, based on their likes, which I've always known. I also gave smaller gifts to the music teacher, the Judaics teacher and the three main staff at the school. So, it's that time of year. I do not have a clue as to what his kindergarten teacher likes and I couldn't even begin to tell you the name of his science teacher, music teacher, etc. I want to acknowledge these lovely people for all of their hard work (and I adore his primary teacher and her assistant). As a teacher, what are some of your favorite gifts? If it's an Am Ex gift card, please say so...part of me thinks that's my best bet so that each person can get something that they like, versus a gift certificate to a specific shop or something even more personal, when I have no idea what each person enjoys....

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
 
I think that something useful, like some nice stationary or something that they can actually USE is a nice thought. My favorite things to get are little lotions/body sprays/pretty stationary/small necklaces or bracelets/etc. Anything is fine, it's really the thought that counts.
 
Thanks for your thoughts Tuckins. I really want to do something nice for his teachers to let them know how much I appreciate them and the time (and money) they put into their classrooms and students...
 
I love handwritten cards from my students. I save them all in a "happy folder" to be pulled out and reread in times of desperation.
I teach older people so I usually get gift cards to Starbucks or bookstores. I love those, as well, as I don't usually treat myself to Starbucks.

Really, though, any gift is wonderful. You're so sweet to ask!

P.S. My mom works in a private Jewish school and she has more dreidels than she could ever use! They're pretty, some of them gorgeous, but it's funny.
 
think the best ones are giftcards to bookstores....some teachers like to give back to the classroom.... amex gift card etc.... maybe you can buy the teacher (primary teacher) a copy of your son's favorite book and help him to write something nice in it??
 
All those lotions end up souring in my cupboard and land in the trash or are regifted. A gift card would be my choice, I'd buy classroom supplies with it.
 
Timely thread, I was just wondering these things myself! Last year London gave her teacher a picture frame that had teacher themes around it (apples, rulers, math problems etc) and I had her draw a picture to put inside it. (I was going to put the class picture in it but it wasn't back yet) And then for Teacher Appreciation day she gave her a big magnet that had a vintage pic of a teacher at a desk looking..un amused I guess, and it said "You can't scare me, I teach".

And then I read in a magazine or a newspaper right after that, the worst things to give a teacher..picture frames, magnets, and the lotion/body wash baskets she gave her preschool teachers the year before. :rolleyes: Figures.

I thought about a pretty ornament this year. Heck I don't know. I better get to figuring it out tho. A $10 gift card to Target just seems so lame, and even that's an hour drive from here. I saw on Etsy galvanized buckets decoupaged w/fabric that we could make into a gift basket of classroom items, if I knew what was needed..maybe that's dumb too. If I could afford it I'd give her a massage gift certificate. Hm..could ask some of the mom's I know and we could chip in for that? Maybe that's weird coming from the students? And it's hard too b/c I know she has a few other teachers besides her "main" teacher.
 
Aw, Packrat, don't feel bad about your gifts. Any gift is going to give her teachers the warm fuzzies, it really will. I think the best part is the card from the student.

I think the perfect gift for teachers and is something small, consumable, and indulgent, such as a really decadent box of chocolates or candies or something like that.

My mom's school has parents who are interested pool their money, and then they give each teacher a $100 Visa gift card. That's a nice gift!

The best gift I ever got was a beautiful journal that my student's mother MADE from scratch--she made the paper, the yarn for the stitching, everything. It is so amazing.
 
A cute teacher gift is personalized notepad saying "From the Desk of Mrs./Ms./Miss Teacher's Name" with a little image on it. Gave those to MIL for her last birthday, as she teaches primary school, and she loves them!
 
I am in Georgia. We are NOT allowed to accept gifts of any type. This is strictly enforced in our school. My head of school even sends home a reminder every year at this time to the parents.

As a teacher, and to avoid violation of policy, I prefer a giftcard from a local bookstore in order to purchase a new book for the classroom.

If I were allowed to accept personal gifts, I would like a Starbucks giftcard in the amount of ten dollars. One size fits all.

My daughter is in high school. I usually run into Starbucks and buy about ten of the $10 cards for her to hand out. Ten dollars is plenty. Anymore than that makes the recipient feel uncomfortable. It shows cheeriness and appreciation, but doesn't seem to ask for special treatment of your child. My dentist even sends little thank you cards with one of them in it if you refer a new patient.

Wait a few days though. They change the packaging to Seasonal ones, but sometimes they aren't out before Thanksgiving.
 
Packrat -- I'm sure L's teachers loved the things she gave them last year. Like we said, any gift is much appreciated. I also love handwritten cards from the children. I've taught 1st and 2nd grades, and I love seeing the child's/children's writing and pictures. They're really cute and very meaningful, especially if it comes from the child herself.
 
Packrat, I've given at least 2 of those items in the past. It gets hard finding creative, thoughtful gifts each and every year. We had the same teachers for 3 years (i.e. my son had them, then my daughter for the next two years) and even though I know both of them really well, finding gifts 3 years in a row was really, really hard.

Haven, too funny about the dreidels! I have quite the collection myself and I'm not even a teacher...

Thanks for all of the suggestions/input. I'm in Georgia too, so I guess I need to find out if it's acceptable to give gifts. Either way, I'll help my son make a nice card for his teachers...of course, handwriting is such a struggle for him that it will be quite the challenge...we'd better get started immediately, lol!
 
a $10 starbucks giftcard is also what i would suggest. that is my constant gift of choice to give my kids' daycare workers, ballet teachers, etc.

i'm also a teacher but a high school one so i rarely get anything. if i could have anything it would be a starbucks giftcard. you can't go wrong.

the lotions thing is nice too but it's definitely a personal thing. it's hard to know what scents they like or if they're allergic. personal gifts are so hit and miss. i find them actually more miss.
 
I'll never forget the one year I received one of those small, one gallon Christmas tree-shaped Rosemary bushes from my homeroom students. The parents had gotten together, and the tree was decorated with gift cards to various places. It was truly one of the most fun gifts I had received from anyone, not just students. I know that takes some advanced planning and communication, though.

It is very sweet of you to think of your child's teacher! I think everyone loves a gift card! The bookstore gift card is a great idea, or also a Target card. I know teachers do a lot of shopping for their classrooms at good old Tarjay.
 
When DD was in elementary school the homeroom moms would organize the gift to the teacher. Often it was whatever dollar amount a family could contribute and would go towards a gift card and something the teacher could use in the classroom (books usually for the classroom library).
 
Speaking as the daughter and daughter-in-law of teachers, I would advocate NOT getting a gift that is "teacher" themed. Do you have any idea how many "world's best teacher" mugs someone has after 10+ years of teaching? I would also stay away from teacher frames, trinkets, stationary, etc. My mom doesn't want to decorate her house with a million apple or schoolhouse trinkets anymore than I as a lawyer want to decorate my house with the scales of justice.

Of course it is the thought that counts, but if your goal is to thank them for their hard work with a gift that they can actually use, I would either try to find out what their personal interests are or stick to a gift card.
 
I love the idea of a tree decorated with a bunch of gift cards. I believe that the class does something for the teachers using the $$ that was donated at the beginning of the year (on a purely voluntary basis). I'll have to email one of the room mom's to find out. If the class isn't doing anything, and it's allowed, I'd love to see about putting a joint class gift together.

Great ideas everyone, thanks!
 
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