Inexpensive Gifts from Teacher to Student

[tinkerbell615]

My DS is a new teacher this year. He teaches Special Education to students in grades 9 - 12. I believe I have seen other threads on here previously with ideas for gifts and I was hoping that you all could help with this.

Do you have any ideas what he might be able to do for his students? He has a whole lot of college loans to repay so he really does not have a lot of money to spend, but it would be really nice for him to be able to do something.

Any suggestions?

[mebbradley]

Originally Posted by tinkerbell615

My DS is a new teacher this year. He teaches Special Education to students in grades 9 - 12. I believe I have seen other threads on here previously with ideas for gifts and I was hoping that you all could help with this.

Do you have any ideas what he might be able to do for his students? He has a whole lot of college loans to repay so he really does not have a lot of money to spend, but it would be really nice for him to be able to do something.

Any suggestions?

He could make ornaments for each of his students. I make like 15 Glass ornaments with boxes for them to go in (and painted little designs on the outside of each ornament) for like 20 dollars today (all my materials). The most expensive part was the paint.

But he also may want to check with his principal and clear giving the gifts to the kids. There may be rules in the school forbidding it or putting limits on what can and cannot be done.

[KayW]

Even just a simple pencil with a nice note is good. I have 22 kids in my HR and got 2 packs of 12 at the Dollar Store. I tend to pick snowmen or snowflaskes since they may celebrate different holidays. A little chocolate treat is good too.

[tinkarooni]

I agree with PP, make sure there is no problem with giving a gift to students. If it were me I would probably do something food wise, make the day enjoyable. Maybe a treat and a drink, make that days lesson a little more fun and nothing for students to take home to clutter up their rooms. (I say this as I battle my 9 year old to clear the clutter in her room )

The age range you mention is a tough one to buy something for that they will appreciate. For my son's 6th grade I just did Walking Tacos. Taco meat your son can bring in a crock pot and plug in his room. Some individual bags of fritos, salsa, cheese. Voila. The kids think it's cool, and everybody likes to eat, and that age should enjoy tacos, heck I enjoy tacos. Good Luck!

[happygirl]

Maybe he could rent a movie, then he could cheap snacks to go with it.

[crusoe2]

I also teach special ed at the high school level. I usually have a total of about 45 kids on my roll so I can't get too spendy with what I do for them. I usually go with a big bag of good candy and give each student a couple pieces to enjoy during class. I've also done the pencils with some sort of holiday design on them but the candy was much better received.

If your son is teaching a smaller group or has a class that is self-contained and together all day, there are a lot more options. I like the walking tacos idea. My students would love that. My principal not so much. Also love to show movies when I can but that is something else your son should check on before he goes thru with it. We have to get approval to show movies.

[patsal]

I have done glass ornaments that I have personalized with the student's name and the year in silver sharpie. I have done pencils and post it notes. I have done a full sized candy bar--buy them at BJ's or Sam's Club so they are not expensive.
I do not do the movie thing--the reason I do not is because everyone else in the building is showing a movie on that last day, so the day becmes a blow off. I do work so the day doesn't drag. When all the other teacher's are scrambling at the end of the year to complete the curriculum I end up with time that I can give the kids to stay on track in their other classes. We do work on the first day of school, each first day back from a break, each last day before a break. I do not do teach the last week of school, I meet individual needs for success. We review and I work on individual problems, but the teaching is done and they can rest assured they are prepared for the state test!

[melancholywings]

I love the idea of handmade ornaments. You could easily do them out of salt dough and maybe write something special about the kid on the back of each one. I know my DD would really cherish something like that every year she put it on the tree.

I wouldn't give food as a gift. The kids get so much of it already, and why does every holiday have to involve shoving empty calories into kids?

[daisyduck123]

I give my students a FREE gift every year.....

On the computer, I create a really cute, snowman-themed HOMEWORK PASS/COUPON. I put an expiration date on it and everything. The kids love it!

[tinkerbell615]

Great ideas everyone. Thank you. I am going to share all of them with him.

He does have a small group. They also have a kitchen in their classroom because he also teaches lifeskills to his students. I love the ornament and walking tacos idea. He is usually pretty creative so might have fun with the ornaments.

I am sure he will probably have to get anything approved first.

[tinkerbell615]

Originally Posted by daisyduck123

I give my students a FREE gift every year.....

On the computer, I create a really cute, snowman-themed HOMEWORK PASS/COUPON. I put an expiration date on it and everything. The kids love it!

This is also a really cute idea!

[MSSANDRA]

Many times scholastic books has offers for teachers this time of year for a $1 a book. Not bad if it's a small group and books are always great.

[StephMK]

This probably wouldn't work for the holidays but if he plans to give a little something at the end of the year, my favorite from a teacher was a CD of pics of the class over the year set to music. Very cute, inexpensive & a great keepsake.

[katiebelle21]

I always buy a few classroom presents such as toys or puzzles and wrap them up. That way the kids can use them the rest of the year. We make ornaments to take home, and then they open the gifts.

[KKB]

Pencils & homework passes are your best bet. $1 books can add up for a classroom.
Be sure to check on rules regarding food & movies. Our district doesn't allow ANY candy, food must be an hour before/after lunch, and movies must be for educational purposes only. (I'm not saying you can't show Charlie & the Chocolate Factory; just have the kids read the book--or you read it to them--and do a compare/contrast lesson on the movie v. the book)
And Disney movies are a BIG NO NO. (Disney will fine districts $25K+ if they do not buy a high priced license; or you must buy the movie at elevated prices to cover the lisence for just that movie)
Also be sure to be conscious of those that do not celebrate Christmas--either Christians that do not do celebrations, or those whe are not Christian.
Ornaments could be offensive to some (trust me, you'd be surprised--this happened to me with a Christian who doesn't do celebrations due to their denomination); pencils w/ winter theming is safe.