Any teachers out there???

[PrincessTigerLily]

I would love your input!!!

What do YOU appreciate from your class for an "end of the school year" gift?

Do you have scented lotion baskets up the wazoo?

We are taking a collection from all the parents of the class (kindergarten) and I don't want to give something without thought or another mug, etc.

 

[tchrrx]

I think a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a day spa would all be wonderful!

Although, I did get a box of See's chocolates from a student this year. YUM!!! I had never had them before. They were incredible!

Hmmm...I also think gifts that show that you recognize the teacher's personality are always appreciated. For example, does this teacher collect something that the class could purchase for her? I always love it when my kiddos add to my Disney collection!

 

[vatchr]

I love to get gift certificates to my favorite places. Last year my class knew that I was going to Disney World right after school with my family and they gave me an American Express gift card to use at Disney. It was a great surprise!

I also love to get the handwritten notes and pictures from my kids. One year my room mom got a letter from each student (I teach fourth grade) and put them all into a scrapbook with a few gift cards attached to it.

 

[albertagirl2007]

I'm a teacher and the gifts I like the best are "consumable". Gift card for the mall, a restaurant or a day spa. I love when the students add something individual, like a picture with a note.

Not to sound ungrateful, but I don't love receiving mugs and other "knicknacks" that are just more things to find a home for!

While it is nice to receive a gift with monetary value some of the nicest gifts are a nice card / note or kind words. Sometimes as a teacher you start to feel a bit unappreciated. Being recognized with a "my child learned so much this year and is looking forward to school in the fall" is a nice boost to the ego (sometimes worth more than cash!)

 

[TexasMinnie82]

While I am not a teacher, my mom and 2 aunts are, and I know they love gift cards!! My mom received a Starbucks giftcard last year and that was by far her favorite. She used it for several months!!! My mom's aide loves to go to the movies so she gets movie passes and resturaunt giftcards alot so her and her husband can have date nights!! I plan on getting giftcards for my kids teachers when they start school. Everyone loves a gift card!!!!

 

[Metsoskil]

Gift cards are a great idea. I've never gotten any scented lotion, nor would I want any

Living in a rural area, one of the coolest gifts I've gotten is homemade maple syrup. I also got an awesome jar of hot pepper jelly last year. Those homemade gifts are great.

The personalized gifts like photos and such are fantastic, as the PP mentioned.

A simple smile and "thank you" by a student as they walk out the door on the last day is the best, though.

 

[tweedlemom]

Thank you notes from the parents were always my favorite!

 

[HerdOHuds]

I taught for 12 years before children and am pleased to see so many gift card requests here! I have a very healthy collection of mugs and candles and lotions leftover STILL from when I stopped teaching nearly 4 YEARS ago.

My favorite gifts were always personal notes and gift cards to the movies, the bookstore, Walmart, Target, or an office supply store. I don't know a teacher who doesn't enjoy a leisurely trip through the adhesive section!

The year I left, one parent went over and beyond and gave me the cutest Mickey charm watch. She really knew that I would enjoy that.

The worst gift I received was an electric pencil sharpener. The mom knew I didn't like them-they created too much 'mystique' around getting up in the middle of a lesson to sharpen a pencil or to avoid actually doing the work assigned. She also made a point to tell me that she knew I was not in favor of them.

 

[kcool]

I am not a teacher, but the room mother and I put together a digital scapboook from Shutterfly for our teacher. It has two pages dedicated to each student with at least 4 pictures of eah child and also a quote telling their favorite memory from the year. It also had pages from each field trip and party and then at the end just collections of pictures from the year. We collected from each student to pay for it and are going to get a gift card with the remaining money. I hope that she loves it, I think that it is great.

 

[okeydokey]

We usually give gift cards to the movies.

 

[Jen414]

The first class I had at the school I am at now gave me a rocking chair with all of their names on it. My room mothers bought it at an unfinished store, had them all sign it, and then put polyuerethene (spelling???) on it. That is my most treasured gift as the signature of a girl who has since died is on it. It's in my classroom. After that, to be honest, what I like the most is just gift cards. That way, I can get what I want. Here's a poem that one family gave me one year:

You've given the kids a fantastic year
Now the end is almost here
The children all give a big, happy cheer
While their parents just shed a tear
Time to slow down, relax, enjoy
A well earned vacation for the real mcCoy
Take in a movie with that special friend (movie theater gift card)
Read a good book at a summer days end (Barnes and Noble)
Plant oa floew or a shrub (Home Depot)
Find some time just to soak in the tub (Bath & Body Works)
Try a new hobby, craft or art (Michael's)
All year long you've done your part
Colin's been taught by the best that there is
Lucky to have a teacher who is such a wiz
Thanks again for all that you've done
You are one in a million, second to none.

I really loved the poem with all of the different gift cards. I thought it was really original.

 

[katybugsmom]

As a teacher, my favorite gifts to receive are books for my classroom or books purchased in "memory of a great year" and placed in our school's library for checkout. We have also received gift cert. from Scholastic for a free book of our choice from several parents. Homemade goodies are always appreciated because of the time that's put into making them. As a mom, we have given books, homemade bread with starter, and gift certificates to a local teacher store or book store. When my daughter was in first grade we made flipflops for both of her teachers. They loved them!
This year we found really cute stationary at our local Dollar Tree. I plan on making a basket with these items as well as something good to eat to give to my daughter's third grade teachers!
Good luck!!!

 

[SplashMountainMama]

The first class I had at the school I am at now gave me a rocking chair with all of their names on it. My room mothers bought it at an unfinished store, had them all sign it, and then put polyuerethene (spelling???) on it. That is my most treasured gift as the signature of a girl who has since died is on it. It's in my classroom. After that, to be honest, what I like the most is just gift cards. That way, I can get what I want. Here's a poem that one family gave me one year:

You've given the kids a fantastic year
Now the end is almost here
The children all give a big, happy cheer
While their parents just shed a tear
Time to slow down, relax, enjoy
A well earned vacation for the real mcCoy
Take in a movie with that special friend (movie theater gift card)
Read a good book at a summer days end (Barnes and Noble)
Plant oa floew or a shrub (Home Depot)
Find some time just to soak in the tub (Bath & Body Works)
Try a new hobby, craft or art (Michael's)
All year long you've done your part
Colin's been taught by the best that there is
Lucky to have a teacher who is such a wiz
Thanks again for all that you've done
You are one in a million, second to none.

I really loved the poem with all of the different gift cards. I thought it was really original.

What great gifts and thoughtful parents to go to such lengths. Those are the kinds of gifts that really special, not because of the monetary value, but because of the thought that went into them.

 

[daisyduck123]

Do you have scented lotion baskets up the wazoo?

Yes! As much as I love Bath & Body Works, I actually had quite a bit of their products out at my yard sale 3 weeks ago. It was just too much.

I would LOVE a Target gift card this year.

 

[Scrapfriend]

Last year my class pitched in and bought me a $100 gift card to a wonderful nursery in our area. It was a wonderful, unexpected surprise! I used it to buy a fountain and some plants for my yard. I appreciate every gift I receive, and usually end up donating quite a few candles, soap, etc that I just cannot use. (husband has allergies) I thought this gift card was wonderful because I could pick out something I would like and buy a larger item that I would normally not buy myself.

 

[zoemurr]

Thank you notes from the parents were always my favorite!

Yesterday I got flowers, mugs, treats, and GCs. My favorite gift was from a family that made a nice card on the computer. The DD dictated what she liked most about school, and about me as a teacher. The parents added a note as well. (There was also $10 to a coffee shop.)

Whatever you decide to do PLEASE include the kids. Get an inexpensive binder and a box of page protectors. Have each kid make a picture of something they enjoy at school. Have them put their pic on it and decorate the cover. You can use field trip pix to make other pages. This is what will be kept, and looked back on. Or, take a class pic and put it in a large frame and have all the kids sign the border. (This is what we're doing for my DDs teacher, 'cause he is very "green" and has told us he doesn't want gifts.

Give this with a GC to somewhere she would enjoy. I usually get supercertificates as they are good at many places.

 

[rk5798]

Yes, yes, yes to gift cards!!! And please, no more items with apples or "world's greatest teachers/#1 teacher" on it. You can only have so much of that stuff!

 

[sraiford]

Love the gift cards Another great idea was a Blockbuster gift card along with a bucket of popcorn and snacks

 

[Minnie_me]

Last year, my parents chipped in and bought me a beautiful Adirondack chair for the porch of our new house.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I sent a thank you card along with a gift card to Lifeway Christian Bookstore. My DD was at a Christian school and I know her teacher is very involved in the church. As someone whose home is about to burst at the seams I don't want to create any clutter.