anybody NOT giving teacher gifts???

[RN01]

I have been trying to figure out a way to scale down some this Christmas and the only way I can cut back are with teacher gifts. I know not everyone gets teachers a gift but I don't want them to think bad of us or my kids if they don't get something from them. I also know it's a way to show appreciation but with todays economy I would like to cut back. Is anyone else doing this?

 

[badblackpug]

Our schools have a "no gift" policy. Thank goodness, I have always thought this tradition was excessive. Most teachers have said they more appreciate a nice card or letter from the student, anyway.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

A card and a note of appreciation would be nice.

 

[HsvTeacher]

A card and a note of appreciation would be nice.

As a teacher, those are my favorite gifts! Plus I would feel horrible accepting a gift from a family if I knew buying my gift created a financial hardship. The economy is affecting us all, and I am sure the teacher would not think any less of you or your child if he/she did not receive a gift.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm giving $20 starbucks cards (so I get the free one from Costco), but after reading these threads, next year, I'm writing letters, and having the kids do the same!

 

[jensen]

I'm really torn... but, not so much for financial reasons. I've always given gifts... and I'd probably feel bad not giving them something... but, I don't feel they are appreciated. I have rarely received a verbal "thank you", let alone a note. Is it that they don't think a "thank you" is necessary since the gift is a thank you to them for their work?

 

[K and K's Mommy]

As a former teacher I can tell you my very favorite gift.

I had a student who did not bring in a gift that last day before break. I am sure there were financial reasons. I never opened my gifts in front of everyone, but by second grade the kids knew that most brought presents. Anyway, my students just happened to have art class that day for their special area. The little boy came back from Art with a homemade paper ornament with my name on it. The art teacher later told me that he asked if he could make me something for my present. I still have that ornament and know exactly who gave it to me.

Anyway, I always have my own kids at least write something on the card.

 

[koolaidmoms]

I'm really torn... but, not so much for financial reasons. I've always given gifts... and I'd probably feel bad not giving them something... but, I don't feel they are appreciated. I have rarely received a verbal "thank you", let alone a note. Is it that they don't think a "thank you" is necessary since the gift is a thank you to them for their work?

Many people today including adults don't say thank you whether in a note (most appropriate) or even a verbal thank you. They may have said it to your child when the gift was given if your child gave it to them but I think a nice thank you note to the parent is good too. It is just one of those polite societal things that is being lost. I am on a push to have my children write proper thank you notes letting others know how much they appreciate the thought and the care that went into picking out the item for them. I refuse to let them open the toy, book or spend the gift card until a thank you note has been sent.

Maybe a polite, "I was just wondering if you received the gift my child gave. I didn't hear anything from you so I just wanted to make sure you got it." would push them a little. Yes, it is a gift for their work but a thank you is always polite.

 

[2cutekidz]

As a former teacher I can tell you my very favorite gift.

I had a student who did not bring in a gift that last day before break. I am sure there were financial reasons. I never opened my gifts in front of everyone, but by second grade the kids knew that most brought presents. Anyway, my students just happened to have art class that day for their special area. The little boy came back from Art with a homemade paper ornament with my name on it. The art teacher later told me that he asked if he could make me something for my present. I still have that ornament and know exactly who gave it to me.

Anyway, I always have my own kids at least write something on the card.

Awww...that so sweet!!

I'm not sure et, but I think I'll be making bags/purses for our teachers this year. Somethng like these...

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/handbags/Aivilo-Pocket-Messenger-Bag.htm

 

[Poohbug]

I give teachers one gift-at the end of the school year. Not a big gift-$20 gift card to Target or Walmart. That's it.

 

[Starr W.]

I'm really torn... but, not so much for financial reasons. I've always given gifts... and I'd probably feel bad not giving them something... but, I don't feel they are appreciated. I have rarely received a verbal "thank you", let alone a note. Is it that they don't think a "thank you" is necessary since the gift is a thank you to them for their work?

My kids teacher's always have sent home thank you notes.

 

[melafive]

Many people today including adults don't say thank you whether in a note (most appropriate) or even a verbal thank you. They may have said it to your child when the gift was given if your child gave it to them but I think a nice thank you note to the parent is good too. It is just one of those polite societal things that is being lost. I am on a push to have my children write proper thank you notes letting others know how much they appreciate the thought and the care that went into picking out the item for them. I refuse to let them open the toy, book or spend the gift card until a thank you note has been sent.

Maybe a polite, "I was just wondering if you received the gift my child gave. I didn't hear anything from you so I just wanted to make sure you got it." would push them a little. Yes, it is a gift for their work but a thank you is always polite.

Personally I would be quite upset if a teacher did not thank me. I think I would lose some respect for them. That being said I have always received thank you notes from teachers.

As for getting the teachers a gift, I may pass on that this year. For one we will be on vacation that last week before break. Also, from the sound of it, most teachers like notes or cards best, why not just do that?

Past years I usually just did a g/cert to a bookstore.

 

[disny_luvr]

As a former teacher, I never expected Christmas gifts from my students but was very appreciative for the gifts I did receive - I always sent home thank-you notes during the holiday break. I taught sixth-grade and almost every year, I'd receive gifts from about half of the class.

Gifts ranged anywhere from $25 restaurant gift cards to candles to home-made candy and ornaments. I also received many Christmas cards with short notes from students. These are more meaningful to me because I know the student actually took time to write it instead of mom/dad buying me a present. I can always keep them unlike a gift card or candy - I've kept everyone of them and enjoy looking at them periodically.

If your looking for ways to save, I'd either have your child give his/her teacher a card or, if you're crafty, make home-made ornaments or something similar. If you decide not to give a gift, that is fine too. I've never thought twice about the students who didn't give me a gift. I don't feel like it is something they have to do.

Remember, it's the thought that counts, not the cost of the gift.

 

[Minnie_me]

Looking back over my 20+ years of teaching, I can't tell you who did or didn't give me a Christmas gift (we live in a pretty poor rural area, so I don't normally get gifts from every child). But I *can* tell you who wrote me lovely notes, because I keep those FOREVER.

Have your child write a little poem about the teacher, or draw a picture of the teacher (or both!). Those little things are worth so much more than a Starbucks gift card.

 

[disykat]

I don't generally give Christmas gifts to teachers. I'm a teacher also, so I tend to do what I would want students to do for me. (I only work part time if you're wonding why I'm on line!) I don't associate gifts with appreciation in the least - that's just not my nature. The years my kids have given gifts it's because they made something or had a specific idea of something they really wanted to give him/her. The last thing I would want is to be a gift obligation, so I don't give obligatory gifts.

Like others, the things I've cherished the most have been notes the kids have written. Because gift giving to teachers isn't that big of a deal here, I do actually have the teacher ornaments on my tree and use all my teacher mugs (Pencil holders around the classroom)etc. While they are a fond reminder of the kids, I'd still remember the kids without them. I can imagine it would get pretty overwhelming if you got 25 gifts each year.

I do write thank you notes for every gift I receive, but I'm always thankful I live in a place where a teacher gift isn't done by the majority. That would be too overwhelming for me.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I will do something for the teachers at the kids school but I'm leaning towards not doing anything for the daycare teachers. My kids are in pre/after school care at their daycare.

They have so many workers and to be honest, I'm not real excited about the afternoon workers these days. They show no discipline or structure. I would love for the afternoon to have a quiet area my daughter could start her homework but they don't, its a free for all. I do not expect them to do all her homework but atleast give her a place she could start it.

In past years I've made cookie trays and treats for the center, NO thank you ever. Last year I did the trays and then gifts for each teacher, most said thank you for the gift but no one said a word on the treats. I know they enjoyed them because the kids said the teachers requested I send more in. I also make them for DH's office and my office and get rave reviews.

The teachers from the school all sent very nice thank yous home. I think this year I'll have the kids do a little note or kraft to go along with the gift.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Awww...that so sweet!!

I'm not sure et, but I think I'll be making bags/purses for our teachers this year. Somethng like these...

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/handbags/Aivilo-Pocket-Messenger-Bag.htm

That is a great looking bag, will you be one of my parents?

I always send thank you notes, usually addressed to the kids, is that right(they are only 2) or should I send it in the parent's name?

 

[minniebeth]

I like the way our school does it, they request every child send in $20 per child for all the school staff for the entire year. Both at Christmas and at the end of the school year, each and every staff member of the school gets a gift card from the "pool".

We have team teaching at even the 1st and 6th grade levels, so with 3 kids combined we would have 16 teachers to buy for, plus "special" area teachers.

In the past, we have send an additional little something for some of the teachers, but we are cutting back on this this year and doing personalized cards as I'm sure many others will cut back on that as well.

 

[janni518]

We stopped after I think first grade and started sending in a nice tray of goodies to the main office with a thank you card from our whole family. Seemed to go over well. It had the added bonus of thanking their art, PE, speech teachers as well as other school personel.

 

[RN01]

We stopped after I think first grade and started sending in a nice tray of goodies to the main office with a thank you card from our whole family. Seemed to go over well. It had the added bonus of thanking their art, PE, speech teachers as well as other school personel.

I love this idea. I may do this because I always felt guilty for not doing anything for the principal and secretery and this way everyone will get something. I wonder if they like pumpkin rolls with cream cheese filling?