Gift for a Very Special Teacher - Need Ideas

[MB MinnieGirl]

My daughter was blessed with a kindergarten teacher that is more than we could have ever dreamed of. She cares so much about the kids, goes above and beyond everyday and is truly one of the kindest people I have ever met.

When she went on vacation she sent the children all individual postcards, when her mother died this year....she made it a point to still come into school just to drop off my DD's birthday card, and she takes the time to make sure no child in her class is left out in anyway. I told DD6 that I will probably be in tears on the last day of school because I will miss her so much next year.

So....I would like to get her something really special for the end of the year but I cannot think of a thing. I would love some ideas. Her assistant teacher is also a wonderful person and one we were so lucky to have. So I really need two gifts but they need to be different as I want them to both feel special in their own way.

Thanks for any ideas!!
~~~Kelly

 

[clh2]

Is there any way you could get a nice picture of your DD and the teacher (and a separate pic of your DD and the aide) and then buy a nice frame for a pic of your DD with each? Of course, don't tell them that's why you need the picture???

Does the K-teacher like to garden, you could do a gardening center GC, with something in a hand-made card that says "thanks for helping to make me bloom."

 

[smilingmouse]

Maybe you could help your daughter write a letter to the teacher thanking her for a great year. You could also write a seperate note to the teacher yourself. If other parents and students feel the same way, maybe you could put notes from everyone into a scrapbook.

Most teachers really enjoy receiving notes like this.

Hope this helps

 

[carrie_106]

I agree with the poster above. As a teacher, I still have all the notes parents sent me at the end of the year. Those notes from parents and students mean the most.

 

[disykat]

I also agree with the note. I'm not a fan of gifts that cost, but if you do - make it a gift certificate to a bookstore, amazon.com, or a teacher store!

I would not do a picture frame. IMO, it kind of implies you expect the teacher to display your child's picture. I still have scrapbooks with pictures of my former students, but I never displayed them in my home and certainly not in my classroom - other than when all the students were represented.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

I love these ideas!

I sort of did the picture thing at Mother's Day. I had a photo of the entire class on a field trip and had it matted and framed for her, with a special note from my daughter on the mat. She loved it.

smilingmouse - PERFECT! Now you have me thinking...I volunteer a lot in the class and will be there tomorrow. I can take each child aside and have them write a special note of what she means to them. Then I can make them all into in a nice scrapbook! Thank you!

For Mother's Day she had the mom's of ALL 28 children to the class for a breakfast complete with fresh fruit, bagels, etc., then the children sang us songs and she had them each make a book about why their mom was "fantastic" and had them all laminated into books. We all cried of course. It had to be hard for her as her own mother had died only a month earlier.

She also knows I'm a single mom and pics of my DD and I together aren't something I have a lot of, so she had taken pictures all year of us without me knowing and had them for me as well.

She is such a special person - thank you SO MUCH for helping me show her how much she means to us!!

 

[Caradana]

I'd give a touching note and/or small scrapbook and a generous gift certificate to a fun local restaurant. She is probably underpaid relative to her fabulousness and would surely appreciate dinner out!

 

[llp479]

As someone who has 6 teachers in the family, stay away from any "teacher" gifts. No matter what you decide to do, a letter to the principal and school board letting them know how much you appreciate her is also in order. It's great for them to hear positive feedback.

 

[goofy's friends]

As a former teacher, I agree with no "teacher" gifts. I also agree that she is probably underpaid and showing your appreciation by a gift certificate is perfect. We did one to Target for DDs teacher, since it was her favorite store and she could get necessities or fun stuff--however she wanted to spend it.

Have also done GC to favorite resteraunts, enough for 2 so they can have an evening out--if you wanted to do even more, include movie tix and ice cream GC for after movie.

 

[tinaluis]

I know what you mean about crying on the last day of school. I find it so hard to move on when my girls have a special teacher. In first grade, my daughter and I took a canvas bag, dipped her hands into pink fabric/puffy paint and she placed her palms onto the bag in a heart shape. At the top of the bag we put "You have touched my heart". Her teacher loved it. Inside the bag, we included some theater gift certificates/cards, candy, popcorn, etc.