Class gift for 1st grade teacher

andiraye · Nov 30, 2015

Disneylover99 said:
That must have been quite the ceremony. I hope there was an eight course meal and open bar.

Ha!!! Sadly, no booze. It was catered, though...

bsblady01 · Nov 30, 2015

kandb said:
No, it's definitely $20 just for the teacher. The email is from both class moms and says, we are collecting for Mrs. ***, if you want to contribute, please send in $20 for her gift. We send in $20 at the beginning of the year for class party stuff and this past thanksgiving, I still sent in Thanksgiving paper goods that the class moms requested (you had to pick from a list). I know the teachers work hard and I appreciate them but I just think $20 is too much to ask and I know they always request the same amount for the end of the year gift.

that is a lot for a gift it should be up too each family. as a teacher I don't want parents spending a lot on me for Christmas I ask for items for the class to use the rest of the year. in our school they have each teacher make a Christmas classroom supply wish list and parents can pick from that. I don't need any more teacher mugs or magnets.

Tiffylv · Nov 30, 2015

Shanti · Nov 30, 2015

$20 is not a lot in the context of what the teachers are required to do for your child, and in the context of what they are (under)paid. Your opinion that the teacher makes plenty is just that, an opinion, and as a fellow teacher and mom, I strongly disagree. You'll never know how many hundreds of hours have been taken away from my home time with my child, to help someone else's child I work with at school, for a job that didn't always pay the bills when I was a struggling single mom.

MSLRAC · Nov 30, 2015

I teach first grade and at my school, our room moms collect for a class gift for the teacher for Christmas, birthday, and end of the year. They never ask for a specific amount. Most parents send between $5-25 but some send nothing while others send much more. I usually send $25 in with my own kids.

kuhltiffany · Nov 30, 2015

It's a US thing :duck:

Disneylover99 said:
I've never heard of the term "class mom".
And as a teacher, I would be mortified to find out parents were collecting $20 per family for a gift for me. Thankfully, I've never heard of this.

justgrace · Nov 30, 2015

$20? A kid?

Who gets to decide what gift is purchased with that money for the teacher? I'm guessing they wouldn't just hand her a stack of cash or a Visa gift card. That seems a little weird to me that one room mom has taken on the responsibility of collecting $20 bucks a kid to purchase a gift. Like someone else said, if I was that teacher, I would be mortified to find out that someone was collecting money from my students to get me a Christmas present.

I always liked the idea of kids bringing in a handmade card for their teacher or some nice little candies or coffee set for $5 or even $10. Times are changing.

aprilgail · Nov 30, 2015

bsblady01 said:
I am a teacher and something is way off with this. I would read the note again as $10.00 may be for the teachers gift and the other $10.00 may be for the class Christmas party.

In our schools they collect 20.00 from each kid the first week of school to cover class parties for the year and a field day t-shirt. At Christmas they collect another 20.00 per child, 10 goes to the Christmas gift for the teacher and the other 10 goes for the end of the year gift for the teacher. Typically a visa gift card- if every kid contributes it can be 220.00-260.00 depending on class size. We typically always gave that and then just gave our own gift too, a 25.00 restaurant gift card or if my daughter heard the teacher talk about something specific she would want to get her that- like 4th grade her teacher loved to drink a red bull after lunch at school and starbucks so we bought her a starbucks gift card and a few cans of red bull!

bsblady01 · Nov 30, 2015

the teacher gift thing stops after elementary school here. no way can I afford to give my daughters five teachers gifts.

a tip for mom's buying teacher gifts for the first time avoid anything that has a sent some teachers may have a allergy to a certain smell.

soccerdad72 · Nov 30, 2015

Our parent's association makes it easy for us these days - we can go online and order gift cards for each teacher. There's 2 options - either you can contribute to be part of a group GC or you can do a separate GC on your own. We chose to join the group gift for our son's subject teachers and do a separate one for a larger amount for his primary teacher.

cijay · Dec 1, 2015

What in the name of God are they planning on buying this teacher for that money?

I was always embarrassed when my students would buy me things. Wished they wouldn't.

Miskey · Dec 1, 2015

kandb said:
No, it's definitely $20 just for the teacher. The email is from both class moms and says, we are collecting for Mrs. ***, if you want to contribute, please send in $20 for her gift. We send in $20 at the beginning of the year for class party stuff and this past thanksgiving, I still sent in Thanksgiving paper goods that the class moms requested (you had to pick from a list). I know the teachers work hard and I appreciate them but I just think $20 is too much to ask and I know they always request the same amount for the end of the year gift.

If. Which means if you don't want to, don't. Personally, I would have been more than happy if this had been offered to me when my kids were in school. Factoring in the time to shop to buy a gift on your own, and adding the cost of the gift bag or wrappings, I think it's a bargain

kandb · Dec 1, 2015

cijay said:
What in the name of God are they planning on buying this teacher for that money?

I was always embarrassed when my students would buy me things. Wished they wouldn't.

They get the teachers a Visa/MasterCard gift card, so really it's a cash gift and she gets what she wants to.

sam_gordon · Dec 1, 2015

Shanti said:
$20 is not a lot in the context of what the teachers are required to do for your child, and in the context of what they are (under)paid. Your opinion that the teacher makes plenty is just that, an opinion, and as a fellow teacher and mom, I strongly disagree. You'll never know how many hundreds of hours have been taken away from my home time with my child, to help someone else's child I work with at school, for a job that didn't always pay the bills when I was a struggling single mom.

It may not be a lot in the context of what the teachers receive, but it might be a lot in the context of the family who has multiple kids in school, sports, after school, church, etc, it definitely adds up.

As far as the low pay and poor hours, I'll tell you what I tell anyone who doesn't like their working conditions... it was your choice to take that job/career. If it's that bad, find something else.

kandb · Dec 1, 2015

Shanti said:
$20 is not a lot in the context of what the teachers are required to do for your child, and in the context of what they are (under)paid. Your opinion that the teacher makes plenty is just that, an opinion, and as a fellow teacher and mom, I strongly disagree. You'll never know how many hundreds of hours have been taken away from my home time with my child, to help someone else's child I work with at school, for a job that didn't always pay the bills when I was a struggling single mom.

Obviously you did not work in Northern Bergen county where the teachers get paid very well.

kandb · Dec 1, 2015

Shanti said:
$20 is not a lot in the context of what the teachers are required to do for your child, and in the context of what they are (under)paid. Your opinion that the teacher makes plenty is just that, an opinion, and as a fellow teacher and mom, I strongly disagree. You'll never know how many hundreds of hours have been taken away from my home time with my child, to help someone else's child I work with at school, for a job that didn't always pay the bills when I was a struggling single mom.

I am a government worker and get no "gifts" at Christmas or at the end of the year. Yes, I am sure a lot of teachers work hard but a lot of people work hard in their jobs, not just teachers. I am sure they put in extra hours at times but they get off all summer, Christmas break, presidents break, Easter/Spring break and numerous days off during the year, they get off far more days then any other profession, so let's be fair in judging how many hours they are working.

mom2rtk · Dec 1, 2015

andiraye said:
Our class parents collect money for group gifts but it is up to each family's discretion what to give.

But to knock everyone's socks off, when my son "graduated" from preschool the class parents asked for $275 per family to cover the teacher gift and the graduation ceremony/party. I just about died.

Sounds like they needed you to cover your plate. :rolleyes:

jrmasm · Dec 1, 2015

Twice when my youngest was in elementary I contributed nothing for class gifts. Both teachers were awful teachers and awful human beings. I didn't feel guilty for one second.

Contribute what you're comfortable with and don't worry about what others are doing.

DawnM · Dec 1, 2015

Actually I don't think $20 is too much.

Dawnlight · Dec 1, 2015

Our room parents collect $20 total for the year. That amount includes $7 towards Christmas, $7 towards end-of-year, and $6 at teacher appreciation week. It is optional to contribute, but they will send out "friendly reminders" regularly if you don't pay up.

There is also a cap on what teachers can receive each year in our state of MA ($50-$75, can't remember exactly). Anything over gets sent to the teacher account in the school office and can be put towards books and supplies for the class.

I think the asking amount is always higher due to wanting to cover those who can't or won't pay.

I love my girls' teacher this year and gladly contributed, but last year was another story. I should've sent that women a bill!

Give what you can and only if you desire to; you aren't committed to contribute.

Class gift for 1st grade teacher

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