Another teacher gift question!

[britfish]

DD5 is in 1/2 day kindergarten so this is our first year giving teachers gifts. I was wondering what the custom is regarding gifts to art teacher, gym teacher, librarian, etc. I wasn't sure what most people do. There is also a classroom aide that floats between the K class and 1st grade.
(I know gift giving is not mandatory however we are choosing to give a small gift as a token of our appreciation for all their hard work).

[tinkarooni]

Really? It never even occurred to me once to give gifts to all those people. Maybe drop them a little note of appreciation.....but with a long school career ahead of you I would think it would get pricey. Wait until your child starts switching classes like ours do in 4th grade. Thats 4 teachers + all the specials....

We just give a small gift to homeroom teacher. Happy Holidays.

[britfish]

I was thinking the same thing - that it would really add up! Great, you answered my question, thanks

[tar heel]

We used to give those teachers Bath and Bodyworks antibacterial liquid soap/lotion/hand sanitizer. I would put one (sometimes two) in a celephane bag and tie it with ribbon. The beauty of this gift other than price (usually 5/$10 around Thanksgiving) is that it's consumable and can be used in the classroom.

[ckrum]

Sometimes, I will send a "group" type gift to be put in the teachers lounge. One year it was nice chocolates. Another year, it was a fruit basket. Then, DD made a card and signed her name. This way, I don't accidently leave someone out and everyone can enjoy. Oh, and I do this the first week of December before the teacher's lounge gets inundated with baked goods.

[HsvTeacher]

Originally Posted by tar heel

We used to give those teachers Bath and Bodyworks antibacterial liquid soap/lotion/hand sanitizer. I would put one (sometimes two) in a celephane bag and tie it with ribbon. The beauty of this gift other than price (usually 5/$10 around Thanksgiving) is that it's consumable and can be used in the classroom.

Originally Posted by ckrum

Sometimes, I will send a "group" type gift to be put in the teachers lounge. One year it was nice chocolates. Another year, it was a fruit basket. Then, DD made a card and signed her name. This way, I don't accidently leave someone out and everyone can enjoy. Oh, and I do this the first week of December before the teacher's lounge gets inundated with baked goods.

Both of these sound like wonderful ideas! It's so sweet of you both to remember the teachers who often are forgotten during the holidays!

[britfish]

I love the antibacterial idea, especially since everyone is using it so frequently these day!

[Minnie_me]

My DDs make gifts for all of those "special" teachers, as well as the principal, secretaries, nurse, lunch ladies, playground monitors, etc.!!!

Every year, we go to the craft store and buy little wooden shapes to paint. Then I put a pin back on them with a little hot glue. Easy and cheap. This year will be our 8th year (and last....since my youngest is leaving the elementary building next fall). We have made: snowmen, mittens, Christmas trees, stars, reindeer, ornaments, etc.

It's nice to see these teachers wearing their pins year after year.

We also make end-of-the-year gifts. We usually do book marks (many varied ways). But one year we painted terra cotta planters and put candy in them.

[dizneechic]

Mine do cards for the specialists and gift cards or small gifts for the teachers. We tend to support the specialists at other times of the years like when they request books at the book fair.

[MichelleinMaine]

On years that I have my act together , I bring a platter of cookies, fudge, etc to put in the staff room to cover all the staff. The kids make something little for their own class teacher + any aides in the room.

[hmcfall711]

As a Kindergarten teacher, I always ask that the parents do not send a gift for me. I have more coffee mugs and candles than Wal-Mart. I ask that the parents donate their child's favorite book to our classroom library. I have a stamp that says donated by... and I write the child's name on the inside. They really are proud to say that they gave to everyone. You could also ask what other things they need for the classroom. This time of year things are starting to wear out or there may be a specific puzzle or learning game that you child's teacher would like to have.

Second to a gift for the entire classroom, my other favorites are student made cards. The one that they draw and write the message in.

I have taught in schools where the parents were well to do financially and I was showered with gift sets etc. I currently teach in a school with 96% free lunch. I have cherished more of the gifts from these students because they are gifts from the heart. Pictures the student draw on their own, notes they write, hugs with a thank you etc. Not that all gifts are not appreciated but those are the ones I personally like the best.

[deanna2426]

My children love to give to all of their teachers and bus drivers and I find these gifts are often most appreciated.

I usually purchase small boxes of candy (the ones with just four pieces) for the special teachers and wrap them in festive paper. It is only about a $1.00 per teacher.

I also really like the hand sanitizer idea.

Our school's room parents usually do a collection for the homeroom teacher, so they get a large gift certificate.