Teacher gifts....

[2boysandadog]

How much do you spend on a Christmas (or holiday or whatever) gift for your child's teacher? I was just planning to give her something small that I made, but I keep hearing other parents say they are giving their child's teacher gift cards for $25, expensive (name brand) crystal vases, stuff like that. Just wanting some reassurance that I won't be the only one w/ a "cheap" gift. We have a large number of people to buy for over the holidays and a limited budget. I take a lot of stuff up to the school all year so I'm hoping she remembers that and not that we give her a cheap Christmas gift. What do you think? Am I being neurotic or is it a big deal?

[shelbean91]

As a future teacher, I think I would love a homemade gift as much or more than the other things. Gift cards are nice, but how many crystal vases can one person use? If you want to buy something for the classroom, I think books for a class library are nice. I think homemade gifts are the best.

[jessemoon]

As a former teacher (high-school), I though it was really sweet when my kids or their parents gave me a card, homemade chocolates, a picture frame, a sweet poem, heck, a candy-cane...anything really. Teachers don't expect gifts from families IMExperience. Any gift is a special treat and a reminder that teachers really are appreciated. That sentiment alone is enough. It is really kind and sweet, but I certainly didn't compare my gifts in regards to price.

When I left teaching to have ds, my kids and their parents threw me a baby shower and gave me everything from a beautiful hand-made diaper-bag to a package of $1 store washcloths. I loved every single gift and was truly grateful for their kindess and generosity. Trust me...the thought really is what counts.

Your dc's teacher will be happy to know he/she is appreciated. Don't worry about the money.

[momsgotmilk4two]

Last year I gave ds's 3 teachers $5 glass holiday candy dishes and homemade pumpkin bread because it was all we could afford. I still talk to those teachers and they are very sweet to both ds and I so I don't think they think of me as the "cheap gift giver" Seriously, don't worry about it. I'm sure anything is appreciated as a token of the hard work that they do

[StillForest]

I'm going to subscribe to this thread since I was just getting ready to post the very same question.

[lauren]

Consumer Reports magazine, for what it's worth, surveyed members and found that most respondents think that $10 is an appropriate amount to gift a teacher. I let my children decide if the teacher is getting a gift (last year my son really disliked his teacher, and I thought she was a bit of a dud too, so we didn't get her anything, because it didn't feel "real.") Sometimes the parents organize to get a whole class gift (one year the teacher asked for a mini-fridge and everyone who wanted to pitched in $5). My dd wants to give her teacher a coffee mug filled with chocolates this year; my ds wants to give his very science oriented teacher a gift certificate for a bookstore ($10).

[alegna]

As a former teacher I have to say I LOVED the homemade goodies. Cookies, breads, cupcakes you name it. But I will say that many other teachers were the watch what you eat, never let a rouge calorie past your lips type :LOL

-Angela

[zealsmom]

I've been on the receiving end of lots of teacher gifts over the years. They have ranged from dough ornaments made by the children to classroom libraries to handknitted scarves to (literally) 24k gold earrings. The best gift I ever got was a long handwritten note from parents telling me how appreciated I was and how much I meant to the children. I've gotten a few of these and they have meant the most. I still have the gold earrings (and almost every other gift I ever received from students) but the heartfelt notes are the ones that tug at my heartstrings.

It's always nice if you can get the whole class to go in on one gift though. One of my classes made me a quilt. One all did pictures of themselves and me and had it framed. My teaching partner next door got a beautiful tray made from tiles each child had done. One year, all the parents gave me a large gift certificate to add to our classroom library with book labels that said (donated by the students of....). There are lots of options.

But I still say, write a letter. Means the most.

[stillnominivan]

The "class mom" for each of my kid's rooms, has collected ten bucks from each family for a big gift.
I will have my babies each make their teachers a card and send in cookies as well. I want them to have something to bring in.
My good friend who has been teaching for 7 years, has a huge collection of "#1 teacher!" mugs. She gets at least two a year. She begs of us, please no more!!

[LovemyBoo]

We got ds's teacher a bag of school supplies. Stickers, glue, pencils, post-its, that sort of thing. I probably spent between $10 and $15 on it. Baked goods always seem iffy to me, I don't know her allergies or what she likes or doesn't like, and I don't want to get her anything she can't use. Teachers in our school usually end up buying supplies out of pocket so I figure at least the stuff will get used.

Ds is making little wooden star ornaments for family so he'll make a couple for his teacher as well.

[iamama]

My sister used to bring me her teacher gifts like candle holders and knickknacky stuff like that...So I'd say stick with the gift cards and personalized cards. Everyone needs to hear they are truley appreciated.

[TiredX2]

Between all her classes, DD has SEVEN teachers so we cut severely back this year. Each got a card & a votive candle (Yankee "Christmas Cookie" scent that DD picked out) in a plain glass holder. I figured that *anyone* can use a candle, wouldn't just lay around and if they hated it, hey I'm only out $2

[philomom]

I do homemade soaps that the kids "help" make. Then we put them in a lovely little basket and gift them. No calories and not too much expense.

[mamaduck]

We've done something different each year -- always under $10. This year we did a $3 candle set and a pair of socks for each teacher that my kids tie-dyed.

Last year we gave really beautiful hair clips.

The year before we gave tie dyed t-shirts we made, and we donated a little bit of cash to a charity on their behalf.

[mirlee]

In the past we have gotten little boxes of truffles from Godiva to give out . Last year we made candy that was completely loved by everyone. This year we are doing chocolate covered pretzels with notes.

[sarasprings]

My husband got a $50 gift cert. to a restaurant last year. That was way over the top.

I worked in a relatively poor neighborhood for 5 years and I always felt guilty getting anything that wasn't homemade because the families just didn't have very much money. I've gotten some great homemade gifts -- made by parents and children. I think my favorite (and this is easy and under $5 to make if you can get the supplies locally) was a pair of beeswax sheet candles. My husband gets a few class books each year, which is nice.

I think it's insane that something like this can be a Joneses thing, but in some places it is.

[lab]

I'm the room mom for my kids class and this is what I send out every year.....

November 29, 2004

Attn: Parents

It is gift giving time again!

Those of you who have decided to give gifts to the teachers are welcome to donate to a fund in lieu of shopping!

The room moms will be collecting money for a gift certificate for Mrs.Teacher to give as a Christmas Gift. A gift certificate is a great way to show appreciation and allow teachers to do their own “shopping”. The gift certificate will be purchased from Southpark as the Simon Giftcard. The Simon Giftcard may be redeemed within any Simon mall and anywhere Visa Debit cards are accepted. This will enable Mrs. Teacher to use the gift certificate even after she moves.

What a fabulous way to get a super gift for your teacher and make it easy on you!

Anyone interested should send his or her money in the envelope provided. Please understand that this is completely voluntary and any amount would be appreciated. Make checks payable to Lab and send in before Wednesday December 15th 2004.

Thanks so much!
Lab
xxx.xxx.xxxx


I collected $250 last year!

If we don't do the gift card then I spend about $10 per teacher.....

[Book Addict Jen]

Sees candy GC.

[EFmom]

The best gift I ever got was a long handwritten note from parents telling me how appreciated I was and how much I meant to the children.

My dh is a public school teacher and he agrees with this. Handmade or other cards are also great. It is also nice to get office supply type gifts because he does spend a fortune out of pocket on school supplies. Do not feel stressed to spend a lot on a gift. The teachers won't think ill of you for a second.

The teachers at my dd's school got together and requested that in lieu of gifts, donations be made to a pediatric critical care facility that treated a student last near who nearly died. I thought that was nice and it doesn't preclude the card and note approach.

[LunaMom]

At my DD's school, the class parent collected money and will use it towards gift certificates (ones that can be used in any store in a mall) for the teacher and the assistant teacher.

The amount was only $10 for the two of them, and my daughter loves her teacher so much I just feel the need to give something personal. So I think I will have her make a special card and write down all the things she loves about her, and maybe we will bake some cookies or something.

I think it's crazy when people give teachers really expensive gifts. We live in a fairly wealthy neighborhood, and some people do this. I honestly think it makes teachers uncomfortable. I used to teach and I never got a pricey gift but if I did it would make me feel that way. Especially if it was from the parents of an awful student...