? for parents of middle school children...

[RitaZ.]

My older DS is in 6th grade and he has several teachers. I'm debating whether to buy presents for all of them or none at all. I also have two younger children, so there are more teachers to buy for...

What do you all do about presents when your kids reach middle school?

 

[Beauty]

John-Cole is in 6th grade and has 2 teachers. I will buy something for each of them....next year, however he will probably have 7 or 8 teachers and honestly I will leave it up to him who he buys for. When I was in Jr. High and High School I would buy something for my favorite teacher/s but if I didn't care for them I wouldn't buy for them. That sounds bad but honestly it was the same with a lot of the older children.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Last year my daughter was in the 6th grade. I bought some popcorn and Blockbuster gift certificates for each teacher. I asked DD what she wanted to do this year and she doesn't want to buy any of them anything .

 

[JustHolly]

Most middle schoolers don't give gifts to their teachers. You could always just give a gift to your child's homeroom teacher or "advisor"

 

[AZKathy]

I stopped after elementary school. That is too much with 6 teachers. My DS did buy something for his Social Studies teacher on his own; guess he likes her a lot and that was nice of him to take that initiative on his own.

 

[Chipmunk]

Why don't you go to the dollar store and get a holiday container and fill it with candy or cookies for each teacher? This is a pretty inexpensive way to thank your child's teachers. You might also make some muffins or cupcakes and leave it in the teacher's lounge with a note of thanks.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We didn't give anything out. DD has 7 teachers.

 

[FINFAN]

DD is in 8th and would DIE if I sent in presents! I bake a tray of goodies drop it at the office thanking the teachers for the hard work they do. They get sweets, I get to thank them and DD doesn't get embarressed.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I asked DD who is in 6th grade and she would like to give something to her history teacher--so I told her to make her a card. As I have said in a thread last week, secondary (6-12) teachers are lucky to get a plate of cookies, so I encourage your kids to pick a teacher and maybe just write a nice note or something. We don't need the "#1 teacher" mugs, etc., but it's nice to be recognized. (don't listen to my sobbing here, LOL)
Robin M.
who teaches English in grades 10, 11 and 12!!!

 

[Lorix2]

My DD has alot of teachers in 6th grade as well. So, I only bought for her homeroom teacher that she has got to know pretty well. She reports there in the morning and back there in the afternoon for 40 minutes.

 

[Kitty 34]

My son's teachers have a team time where they are all together so at that time I bring in a plate of Christmas cookies for them.

 

[msdznyduck]

When my kids were in elementary school, the teachers got small presents, usually a gift certificate for a local "Teaching Room" store. Or Staples or Office Max.
When they hit Middle School, I stopped. It was just impossible to get gift certificates for all of them, since each kid has 7 or 8 teachers. I also take a plate of cookies and drop it off in the office for teachers, school nurse, etc.
DS is now in High school,,,,,I didn't bring anything last year, mainly because it was a little too much......but maybe this year

 

[RitaZ.]

I asked DS what he wanted to do and his response was, "Ok mom, if YOU want we'll get them presents". Is that a hint or what? He does have a favorite teacher, so it's up to DS. Now it's time for me to back off...

 

[powellrj]

when ds #1 was in middle school he would have died at the very idea of a christmas gift to a teacher. Enter ds #2, thinks we need to get everyone (including the lunch cashier) a gift. Enter dd who is in 2nd grade. "If ds gets to give all his teachers presents I need to too" So we are giving 22 popcorn boxes filled with little candy bars, microwave popcorn and a blockbuster card. I hate to discourage my little gift givers after having my oldest who never wanted to give to anyone.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by powellrj
when ds #1 was in middle school he would have died at the very idea of a christmas gift to a teacher.

Exactly what I was thinking. Our DD said she would be so embarrassed (when she was in middle school). Plus the fact that they have numerous teachers.

I, too, stopped after elementary school.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by powellrj
Enter ds #2, thinks we need to get everyone (including the lunch cashier) a gift.

That is SO sweet! My MIL is a lunch cashier at a school and I know she would be floored to get a gift from a student. Give DS#2 a hug for me!

Peggy

 

[WendyZ]

The kids in DD middle school do not buy gifts for their teachers, bus drivers, etc. It's not cool at DD school either. Lord knows they wouldn't be caught dead doing something uncool!

Although...she must have softened because she has this favorite teacher and she did ask to get him a present. So we did. So out of three years at the middle school, this one teacher is all she would take a present to. She's in 8th grade this year, so it's her last. She wouldn't even take one to her bus driver when I asked her too! She wasn't carrying that on the bus! Needless to say....I gave up on that!

 

[RitaZ.]

She wouldn't even take one to her bus driver when I asked her too! She wasn't carrying that on the bus!

LOL