End of the year Teacher Gift ideas?

[cjnix29]

Does everyone do this? This is the first year, actually, that I have considered NOT doing it. DS8's teacher this year has made his life miserable. She is just not nice. I volunteer to help with reading, and she hardly acknowledges even me, and never says thank you. I have to wait in the hallway and she just sends the kids out. He has learned a lot, and her academics in class are great. But I don't feel like I should do something nice for someone that has made my son hate school! Not sure if this is an expected thing. Also...should I tell the teacher how miserable she has made my son?!!?

 

[nellyru]

Homemade cards!

A plant or two!

And maybe a gift card (target, barnes n noble, gas, etc..)

 

[disney*mom*82]

I am the "room mom" for my dd11s 5th grade classroom. This is the last year she is in elementary school and the last year they do all the room parties and have just 1 or 2 teachers. Our teacher appreciation week was 2 weeks ago, I was the only one who sent in items to her. All school year Ive been the only person to put on the parties, I couldnt even get other parents to send in plates, napkins, drinks, etc. I didnt even try to get help when the PTA called and asked me to have parents help put together a dinner to send her home with on the Fri of TA week. I did it all on my own.

Last week I sent home a note on Wed stating that since the end of the school year is comming quickly, I would like us, as a class and parents to go in together and purchase items to put in a gift basket for the teacher. I suggested a $5 contribution, stated that any amount would be appreciated and gave the option to just buy items, gave my address, phone number, etc. Almost a week later....NO ONE has sent in a dime I figured atleast 5 or 6 students would bring in something, it is so frustrating. They were asked to send in money by this Fri, so they have time, but Im doubting they do it.

So....now that I vented.

My plan was to get one of the plastic popcorn containers ($1 at dollar tree), get several boxes of theatre candy ($1 each), bags of popcorn (on hand) get a Family Video gift card, ($5-10) and a gift card to movie theatre ($10-20), local pizza gift card ($15-20). But...if no one helps with this, I will just do the popcorn container, popcorn, candy, and Family Video card. I just cannot beleive that no one cares enough to chip in a few bucks.

My Dh and I are both teachers, I work with adults, so no teacher appreciation, he teaches 1st grade in a different town and came home with sooo much stuff. Some things were...Chicago Cubs homemade coasters, Chicago Cubs cookies from bakery, TONS of candy, a photobook from the classroom all year, and gift cards to wal mart, olive garden, and more I cant remember.

Sorry it got so long

 

[GinnyEmma]

Cjnix, I wouldn't give a gift. I'm sorry your child has had a wretched year. I doubt telling her or anyone else would do any good, although talking with the school counselor might be of benefit. I hope he has an awesome teacher next year. They make the world of difference.

 

[NY Disney fan]

What about a mug with #1 teacher on it? Has anyone suggested that? Candles?

 

[Jedana]

Our ds's school had a "teacher appreciation week" a couple of weeks ago. We were asked to:

Monday--send in a flower, to make a bouquet. Also send in xxx for the lunch on Friday (some classes got hit up for fresh crab and asparagus! Our class ended up with hot chocolate packets, vanilla coffee creamer, vanilla pudding, instant vanilla cappuccino packets and something else)
And send in $5-10 for a gift card for the teacher. (if everyone sent in $10, she would have ended up with $180 in gift cards!)

Tuesday--send in a shape, with something nice written on it about the teacher, to put in a collage.

Wednesday--send in hershey's kisses, just 5-10, to make a candy jar

Thursday--send a thank you card

Friday--work the teacher's room, so they could have a 1 hour lunch (instead of the usual 30 minutes). Parents watched the kids at the lunchroom and then during the half hour "break", and some other parents cooked the teacher lunch. Handed out gift cards (ds's teacher got a $50gc to Target, $50 to Publix and $40 to Woody's BBQ).

I bought starbucks cards for all of DD's teachers (7!!!) and Ds's (2) @$10 each. That's my limit, I'm broke. Dd's prom and graduation has eaten up my budget.

 

[becauseisaid]

I gave a first grade teacher (she was wonderful, young and a friend) a bottle of tequila and margarita mix (OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY though) as a end of the year gift! She LOVED IT!

I had to at this. I gave my DD's 1st grade teacher a bottle of wine for Christmas. I did warn her NOT to open it in the classroom.

Does everyone do this? This is the first year, actually, that I have considered NOT doing it. DS8's teacher this year has made his life miserable.

I don't think I would go out of my way to tell a teacher what a rotten job you think she/he's doing, but I also don't believe you're obligated to give a gift of appreciation to someone you don't really appreciate. KWIM?

Last year I gave my DD's kindergarten teacher a GC for a pedicure since I figure no one needs relaxation and pampering like a teacher at the end of the school year.

This year I bought a plain white T-shirt from Build-A-Bear and had a local T-shirt place airbrush the name of the school on the front and "2010-2011" on the back. I then took colored permanent markers and let the kids in the class sign their names to the shirt. The kids voted on the BaB animal to get and my DD and I went this past weekend to buy the animal and have it stuffed. Kibble's birth certificate shows it is from the Class of 2011.

 

[cjnix29]

Cjnix, I wouldn't give a gift. I'm sorry your child has had a wretched year. I doubt telling her or anyone else would do any good, although talking with the school counselor might be of benefit. I hope he has an awesome teacher next year. They make the world of difference.

Thank you! I do too!!! If I was going to say something, I would do it tactfully. But I probably will just let it go. We moved mid year, and she was not helpful one iota in the transition,rather,the opposite. I have been told that all the third grade teachers are great! Feels weird not doing something, as I always have, but just can't bring myself to it. Looks like I will just save the money for next year's teacher. When I do....I usually give gift cards to Meijer or target, etc. Who can't use gas and groceries?! One year, I sent a note to the principal about how great I thought the teacher was.

 

[Aliceacc]

Does everyone do this? This is the first year, actually, that I have considered NOT doing it. DS8's teacher this year has made his life miserable. She is just not nice. I volunteer to help with reading, and she hardly acknowledges even me, and never says thank you. I have to wait in the hallway and she just sends the kids out. He has learned a lot, and her academics in class are great. But I don't feel like I should do something nice for someone that has made my son hate school! Not sure if this is an expected thing. Also...should I tell the teacher how miserable she has made my son?!!?

My youngest daughter had a BAD teacher last year.

After having me in tears on the phone with the princpal, as I explained the full extent of what she did to my daughter, I'm pretty sure she wasn't surprised when she didn't get a gift from us at the end of the year.

I'm kind of hoping a house lands on her. It kills me that my tax dollars continue to pay her salary, and will for the next 30 years.

I've gotten a Christmas gift and an end of the year gift for every Aide and teacher my kids have had through elementary school.

Except that one.

Oh, and yes, I'm a teacher as well.

 

[curly5]

Does everyone do this? This is the first year, actually, that I have considered NOT doing it. DS8's teacher this year has made his life miserable. She is just not nice. I volunteer to help with reading, and she hardly acknowledges even me, and never says thank you. I have to wait in the hallway and she just sends the kids out. He has learned a lot, and her academics in class are great. But I don't feel like I should do something nice for someone that has made my son hate school! Not sure if this is an expected thing. Also...should I tell the teacher how miserable she has made my son?!!?

This is coming from a teacher.....

No it is not expected that you buy an EOY teacher gift...unless you are at some hoity toity school. It is an expression of appreciation. My DS8 had a rotten teacher last year....she did not recieve a gift. I just couldn't do it. There are teachers who lack interpersonal skills and can make people miserable. Academics aside, there is an emotional piece to education also. And if she doesn't meet the standards....then sorry chickie, no EOY gift for you!

 

[curly5]

Here are some gift ideas from a teacher who rarely gets anything cause I teach in a very low SES school.....

Gift Cards: any amount! Common places! We're happy....we eat too.

Pencils/paper: We always run short and with budget cuts it looks like we won't get any supplies next year.

A movie night bag: Microwave popcorn, a little candy and a redbox card. Priceless family time with our own youngins.

A card of thanks: Many of us keep them to prove to ourselves that we DO do something good and we don't stink!

A note/letter to the principal: Hey, in this tight budget and cuts looming, we need all the help we can get not to be one of the cuts.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Number one for me is a note. Gift cards are so appreciated. Keep in mind that the card can be to Walgreens for $5.00 and I will be thrilled.

 

[cjnix29]

This is coming from a teacher.....

No it is not expected that you buy an EOY teacher gift...unless you are at some hoity toity school. It is an expression of appreciation. My DS8 had a rotten teacher last year....she did not recieve a gift. I just couldn't do it. There are teachers who lack interpersonal skills and can make people miserable. Academics aside, there is an emotional piece to education also. And if she doesn't meet the standards....then sorry chickie, no EOY gift for you!

That was just it...I have been pleased with his academic progress,but at the expense of his emotional well being! I think sometimes teachers get so bogged down with trying to meet all the academic standards that they forget they are teaching CHILDREN. It is a tough balance sometimes, I am sure. That is why the good ones should be rewarded.

 

[casjen]

I am also a teacher, and I have food allergies. So, I am always cautious about giving candy and popcorn etc to teachers. I love that people put forth the effort and thought to give me a gift, but feel terrible when I have to give it away or throw it out because I can't eat it. I feel so wasteful.

I gave Ds's teachers gift cards to Satrbucks because they have tea, coffee, food, snacks, frozen non-coffee drinks etc. Even with my food allergies I can find something at Starbucks.

I don't feel like anyone needs to give an end of year gift, but it is nice to be acknowledged. A card or note is just fine, but it is nice to hear from families at the end of the year. Teachers work hard and it's nice to know someone noticed.

I think gift cards to Target or Walmart are great (I spend so much on markers and hand gel etc every year), starbucks, dunkin donuts (my kids love these), movie theatre, local store etc. 5.00 is fine. I'd rather get a $5 gift card than $5 worth of stuff I am going to throw away as soon as the bus pulls away (b/c I am allergic etc).

I have gotten plants before and appreciate them but I am a known plant killer. Again I feel so guilty for killing something someone spent $ on.

Also, I know it is not the holidays, but before you buy someone an ornament or religious item be sure they actually celebrate the holiday you think they do. I have had to toss out more ornaments and Christmas themed items than I care to think of.

 

[torinsmom]

Does everyone do this? This is the first year, actually, that I have considered NOT doing it. DS8's teacher this year has made his life miserable. She is just not nice. I volunteer to help with reading, and she hardly acknowledges even me, and never says thank you. I have to wait in the hallway and she just sends the kids out. He has learned a lot, and her academics in class are great. But I don't feel like I should do something nice for someone that has made my son hate school! Not sure if this is an expected thing. Also...should I tell the teacher how miserable she has made my son?!!?

It is not expected, even if your child's teacher was the best teacher they ever had. It is always a nice surprise when I get EOY gifts; maybe 1/3 to 1/2 will give me something most years. In your case, I would not spend one cent. I WOULD let the principal know(in a letter) that the year was not a good one and let him know specifics. Maybe you can save another child from having a miserable year.

 

[EKW]

No mugs! School supplies are always good. Gift cards if you like. If you are well known to the staff, homemade treats are nice. (This year I did pizelles and Earl Gray tea plates for one group and pie-in-a-jar for others.)

If the teacher has a room theme, something for that theme would be nice.

Really want to rock the teacher's socks? Write a letter to the principal and school board...and your local paper.. expounding on all the wonderful things the teacher has done for your child this year.

I'd take the latter any day!

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

A movie night bag: Microwave popcorn, a little candy and a redbox card. Priceless family time with our own youngins.

Do they have gift cards for Redbox? I checked their website and it says they don't. I wanted to do a cute basket for a movie night.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

My mom retired from teaching kindergarten about 10 years ago. In one of her last years there, unbeknownst to her (they picked a day she was out) the room moms came up with a ginourmous terra cotta pot - big enough to bathe a kindergartner, or at least a toddler, in. They had painted it brown first with a green bottom for grass before they brought it in. Each child in the class painted a flower on the side of the pot and printed his or her name below the flower.

It was adorable and useful and my mom still has it in a place of honor. At first it was used to store magazines, then music. Now it's actually doing duty on the front porch being used as a pot for a big ole' plant, but one day it will likely see some other form of usefulness.

 

[GraysMom]

I am the "room mom" for my dd11s 5th grade classroom. This is the last year she is in elementary school and the last year they do all the room parties and have just 1 or 2 teachers. Our teacher appreciation week was 2 weeks ago, I was the only one who sent in items to her. All school year Ive been the only person to put on the parties, I couldnt even get other parents to send in plates, napkins, drinks, etc. I didnt even try to get help when the PTA called and asked me to have parents help put together a dinner to send her home with on the Fri of TA week. I did it all on my own.

Last week I sent home a note on Wed stating that since the end of the school year is comming quickly, I would like us, as a class and parents to go in together and purchase items to put in a gift basket for the teacher. I suggested a $5 contribution, stated that any amount would be appreciated and gave the option to just buy items, gave my address, phone number, etc. Almost a week later....NO ONE has sent in a dime I figured atleast 5 or 6 students would bring in something, it is so frustrating. They were asked to send in money by this Fri, so they have time, but Im doubting they do it.

So....now that I vented.

My plan was to get one of the plastic popcorn containers ($1 at dollar tree), get several boxes of theatre candy ($1 each), bags of popcorn (on hand) get a Family Video gift card, ($5-10) and a gift card to movie theatre ($10-20), local pizza gift card ($15-20). But...if no one helps with this, I will just do the popcorn container, popcorn, candy, and Family Video card. I just cannot beleive that no one cares enough to chip in a few bucks.

My Dh and I are both teachers, I work with adults, so no teacher appreciation, he teaches 1st grade in a different town and came home with sooo much stuff. Some things were...Chicago Cubs homemade coasters, Chicago Cubs cookies from bakery, TONS of candy, a photobook from the classroom all year, and gift cards to wal mart, olive garden, and more I cant remember.

Sorry it got so long

I'm sorry no one has volunteered time/items to help you out . I volunteer in my son's class and the school library. DS's teacher just sent an email today about needing volunteers (with all of their clearances on file) to help with their field day and end-of-school party. She said she would give preference to those parents who have not been able to help out previously because she gets many volunteers for special activities. Hopefully the parents in your DD's school will get on the ball and help you out finally.

 

[GraysMom]

I bought a tote from Thirty-One Gifts for my boys teachers. I also am giving them a box of candy from one of the local candy places (I work there and they all know that and tell me they love getting spoiled with the candy).

Next year, it will be different b/c hopefully they won't have as many. This year, I have 5 to buy for b/c the 2 Pre-K teachers, the regular classroom teacher, who is on Maternity Leave the past 5 weeks and is coming back soon, her sub and the aide that comes in. YIKES!!!

Do you work at Josh Early by any chance? I love their dark chocolate chocolate buttercreams !