Holiday gift for teacher question

[Neera]

It's our first year at school so don't know how it works. Do you give or not give to the class teacher?

[LuckyMommaToo]

Are you public or private? But short answer, yes, I've always acknowledged my kids' teachers at holiday time. Oftentimes a room parents will collect money from the parents and get one gift card from the whole class. Otherwise I get a gift card to Barnes & Noble for $10-$25.

-e

[Imakcerka]

We do a nice ornament.  If I let the kids pick it out it's gaudy... very gaudy.  So I do a gift card on the side.

[karne]

Gift certificate to the local, indy, book store/cafe.  It always seems to be appreciated.

[Neera]

Thanks.

[~cassie]

I haven't decided what I am going to do yet but I am leaning towards a gift card to the coffee shop and a letter written to them expressing my thanks as my kids have awesome teachers this year.

[mumm]

We do thanksgiving gifts instead of in december.  You never know if/what the person celebrates, plus they can re-gift whatever you give them if they don't like it.  Usually we do thankful baskets- things we are thankful for.  This year it was nutella, biscoff, (homemade) cookies, wine, a heifer scarf and gift cards for coffee/sandwhich shop and a bookstore. The kids write a letter/do a drawing of why they are thankful for that teacher.   I only did this for the main teacher in each class.  We'll give gift cards to the aides in the classroom before december break.

Our state has rules on the value amount gifts can have when the gift is for the teacher vs for the classroom.  This gift is over the $50 limit but I figure the giftcard for books is toward the classroom, not the teacher.

[pianojazzgirl]

I wish I was able to give such a lovely gift - that sounds fantastic mumm!

I usually give a few chocolates and some sort of fancy locally made jam or soap or something.

[Neera]

So, this is my next question, do u give the item in the presence of other parents? I don't know -- I don't want to hide but don't want the whole line of parents to see either. The only time we see the teacher is during pick up and drop off or u need to call for a pvt. meeting.
 

Originally Posted by mumm 

We do thanksgiving gifts instead of in december.  You never know if/what the person celebrates, plus they can re-gift whatever you give them if they don't like it.  Usually we do thankful baskets- things we are thankful for.  This year it was nutella, biscoff, (homemade) cookies, wine, a heifer scarf and gift cards for coffee/sandwhich shop and a bookstore. The kids write a letter/do a drawing of why they are thankful for that teacher.   I only did this for the main teacher in each class.  We'll give gift cards to the aides in the classroom before december break.

Our state has rules on the value amount gifts can have when the gift is for the teacher vs for the classroom.  This gift is over the $50 limit but I figure the giftcard for books is toward the classroom, not the teacher.

[amcal]

I send the gifts in with the kids - typically on the last day before Christmas break.  There are usually several gifts on her desk so, the gift just gets put with the rest of them.

[mumm]

The kids give it to the teachers.  I don't have anything to do with it.  Sometimes it takes several attempts if my (very shy) kids feel too "wierd" giving the teacher a present.  I know that when I taught I hated having to take several trips out to my car/bike to carry all the stuff on the last day of the semester.  Yeah, I know..... tough problem to have!

We also typically have a " class celebration" before december break and that is when most parents bring gifts.  My gift pales in comparison to those fancy wrapped, pricey gifts but I still hope the teachers appreciate the thought and the gratitude it represents.

[Neera]

Thanks. I didn't think of that. I guess she is still q. young for it. And it made me remember taking stuff for a teacher. But, it embarassed me. I didn't like talking to teachers and it forced me to talk to them. But that was me.

[mumm]

Originally Posted by Neera 

Thanks. I didn't think of that. I guess she is still q. young for it. And it made me remember taking stuff for a teacher. But, it embarassed me. I didn't like talking to teachers and it forced me to talk to them. But that was me.

I can understand that, both as a shy/intoverted person and as the parent of shy kids.  I once found that my daughter had thrown away the gift certificates we got for her teachers.  I always confirm that they have actually given the gift to the teacher or placed it on their desks. 

[mkksmom]

When I was a teacher, I never expected anything. I got a lot of candles and body wash, none of which I use, but it didn't ever matter. It was so nice to be acknowledged and I could always find someone to take and use them. My favorite gifts were handmade cards that the kids made and letters from parents. I still have those years later. If you are looking for something more-- and I always do something handmade (Like an ornament or a bracelet with glass beads), a handmade card from my dd plus a gift card to Target. Teachers spend so much of the money they make on the kids. When I got Target cards, I could use it for household stuff and use that money I would have spent on whatever I wanted. I loved that. Honestly, most of the time, I spent it on my classroom. Other gift cards were nice and very much appreciated, but I haven't taught in 7 years and I still have unused gift certificates for a manicure, a restaurant, and a local convenience store. But a store like Target is somewhere that people are bound to shop. Nicer than giving cash-- just seems wrong to give them cash, but it is just as useful. I will send the gift in with my dd, even though I will be there for their winter party that day.

[Neera]

Thanks for the tip.

 

Originally Posted by mkksmom 

When I was a teacher, I never expected anything. I got a lot of candles and body wash, none of which I use, but it didn't ever matter. It was so nice to be acknowledged and I could always find someone to take and use them. My favorite gifts were handmade cards that the kids made and letters from parents. I still have those years later. If you are looking for something more-- and I always do something handmade (Like an ornament or a bracelet with glass beads), a handmade card from my dd plus a gift card to Target. Teachers spend so much of the money they make on the kids. When I got Target cards, I could use it for household stuff and use that money I would have spent on whatever I wanted. I loved that. Honestly, most of the time, I spent it on my classroom. Other gift cards were nice and very much appreciated, but I haven't taught in 7 years and I still have unused gift certificates for a manicure, a restaurant, and a local convenience store. But a store like Target is somewhere that people are bound to shop. Nicer than giving cash-- just seems wrong to give them cash, but it is just as useful. I will send the gift in with my dd, even though I will be there for their winter party that day.

[Emmeline II]

Ds likes to give his teacher chocolates so we do a little box of godiva at the holidays. It's easier for me to do gift cards at the end of the year (bookstore/target/walmart) when there aren't so many other expenses.

[annethcz]

I teach, and I'd guess that I get gifts from maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the class, depending on the year.  Here, a mug with hot chocolate or sugary coffee mix seems to be really popular.  I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't drink that kind of stuff.  My favorites have been gift cards to coffe shops, bookstores, and to the gas station in town.  I also really appreciated it when I was given home-canned food from the garden of a family I knew was really struggling financially. 

As for who gives me the gifts, it seems to be split evenly between students handing me the gifts vs. parents giving them to me at drop-off in the morning.