Gift for Graduation advice

[eeyorethegreat]

I have a friend (mid 30's) who will be graduating from college in a couple weeks. I am invited to a party that her family is putting on and so a gift is in order. She is getting her degree in elementary education.

Here's the thing and if these circumstances shouldn't matter you can say so... she did resonably well in her general classes but when it came to her student teaching she is not able to handle a classroom and all that comes with being a teacher. She shows up unprepared, not able to complete tasks assigned to her and even 14 weeks into this the mentor teacher still can not turn the class over to her on her own. (Yes my friend readily admits this and more). She has some severe emotional issues -actually this is nothing new- and I feel like the only reason she is being passed through on this student teaching is because the mentor doesn't want to make her issues worse. I can't imagine that she will be getting positive exit reviews and I can't imagine her being actually getting hired let alone being able to maintain a classroom. I am not trying to down her here, it is just I am not sure what type of gift would be appropriate for someone in this situation and I am trying not to give too much personal information.

I really have no idea what to get her . I feel like I should get her something as she is going to be allowed to graduate (or at least she hasn't been told otherise at this point) but I don't want to get her teacher supplies that in all reality she won't use. What would be a practical gift (budget minded as well) give the circumstances?

 

[zachsmomie]

How about getting her some "teacher" things that can be used for other things? For example, you could get several plastic bins of varying sizes and put pens, pencils, post-its, cute notepads, blank notecards, magnets, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, highlighters, tissues and such inside. These could be used in any setting (home or office). Then you could add some stickers or apple themed/teacher themed accent (or even the ribbon) to make it seem like it is for her degree. (You can make a pretty full basket of stuff up from the dollar store.)

I teach elementary school and use all of the above things. I know several people who went to college with me and decided during student teaching that this was not the job for them. They still got the degree but went on to do other things.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Right those are good ideas and what I am looking for- something that she can use even if/when she doesn't teach.

 

[MSSANDRA]

What about a resturant gift card???

New graduate..no job might love a meal out!!!

 

[Pixieflip]

How about a gift certificate to a local teacher store?

 

[mmouse1239]

Well, in our area, there are lots of elementary ed. majors looking for jobs. Unlikely she will obtain one in teaching with those issues. However, she could probably use a gift card for an office store. I like the idea of the PP for a restaurant gift card...we all enjoy an evening of no cooking. Everyone enjoys some pampering, so a spa gift card might be nice. Even though she has some issues, she has still worked hard to graduate and deserves recognition. Good luck with your choices.

 

[MSSANDRA]

And you know....she might be much beter in a normal classroom setting and not in a student teacher situation.

Are you also a teacher and have you seen her in the classroom?
It is so hard for some people to "perform" when they know they are being graded. I am a preschool director and know that when I go into to do a official observation, teachers can be very differnt than if I just pop in for a minute or stand outside the room with out them knowing I am there. Hope this might be the case!!!

Of course there are just teachers that never get it together too sooooo.....

Give lots of support!

 

[robsmom]

Here's the thing and if these circumstances shouldn't matter you can say so... She has some severe emotional issues -actually this is nothing new- ?

Since you said we can say so...I don't think those circumstances should matter. You are placing you own judgement on whether she deserves to graduate - that is really not your call to make. She is a woman in her 30's who is graduating college. You said yourself that she has had emotional issues in the past. It sounds to me like this is a huge accomplishment for her. It is much harder to go to college in your 30's then when you are 18. You are getting her a present to say "good job, I am so proud of you for graduating". It is not a congratulations on your new teaching career gift. Give her something personal that has nothing to do with teaching. A nice handbag, a dayplanner, a great frame to put a graduation picture in. If she is your friend you should be proud of her for what she has accomplished not be concerned about what you may view as failures or your pesonal belief that she does or does not deserve the degree.

 

[MrsPete]

Given what you've said, she will certainly graduate: She has passed the classes and fulfilled the degree requirements. However, it sounds likely that she will be able to find a teaching job. When I began student teaching, our adviser told us flat-out: "If you don't earn an A in student teaching, you will not get a job." Although I was always an A-student, it scared me!

Since then, I've found that to be true. The majority of student teachers I've known have earned an A. Most of the ones who "weren't going to make it" are weeded out earlier -- mostly they realize earlier in their college career that this isn't right for them, and they change their majors. The few bad ones that we've had here in my department, though, don't go on to get jobs. They substitute, they work for tutoring places, but they never get classrooms. I suspect that your friend might be in that category (hope I'm wrong, but that's how I see it).

Now, why'd I say all that? To work up to this point: If it's unlikely she's going to get a teaching job, I wouldn't give her a typical teaching item. If it sits around un-used, it'll be a reminder to her that she isn't teaching.

I second the vote for a restaurant gift card. It's something that anyone would appreciate.

 

[MrsPete]

And you know....she might be much beter in a normal classroom setting and not in a student teacher situation.

I doubt that. Unless she has a stern, authoritative supervising teacher who is making her nervous, that's just not what I've seen in my years in the classroom.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I have a friend (mid 30's) who will be graduating from college in a couple weeks. I am invited to a party that her family is putting on and so a gift is in order. She is getting her degree in elementary education.

Here's the thing and if these circumstances shouldn't matter you can say so... she did resonably well in her general classes but when it came to her student teaching she is not able to handle a classroom and all that comes with being a teacher. She shows up unprepared, not able to complete tasks assigned to her and even 14 weeks into this the mentor teacher still can not turn the class over to her on her own. (Yes my friend readily admits this and more). She has some severe emotional issues -actually this is nothing new- and I feel like the only reason she is being passed through on this student teaching is because the mentor doesn't want to make her issues worse. I can't imagine that she will be getting positive exit reviews and I can't imagine her being actually getting hired let alone being able to maintain a classroom. I am not trying to down her here, it is just I am not sure what type of gift would be appropriate for someone in this situation and I am trying not to give too much personal information.

I really have no idea what to get her . I feel like I should get her something as she is going to be allowed to graduate (or at least she hasn't been told otherise at this point) but I don't want to get her teacher supplies that in all reality she won't use. What would be a practical gift (budget minded as well) give the circumstances?

Oy. Maybe a Barnes & Noble or Target gift card? She could use it for school stuff of for personal stuff.

My first thought was "What Color is Your Parachute?".

 

[bettymae1121]

When my best friend graduated with a teaching degree, I bought her a plane ticket so she could visit her grandparents over the summer (well, I gave her a hand made gift cert saying I would buy her a ticket once she was ready to travel...). She was the typical broke 22 year old college grad, and I had a good paying job for the past several years (I didn't go to college and just went straight into the work force) and I knew she missed not being able to see her grandparents over the last few years as they were too ill to come up to visit her.

Anyway, the gift doesn't have to be teaching related at all. Just find something in your price range that you know she wants or needs in other areas of her life.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. That way, she can spend it on herself...books, music, etc.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Thanks for the gift advice. I am going to get a gift cert to a local bookstore so she can choose what she likes for herself or take her out to lunch to celebrate her milestone.

Robsmom thanks for your input. My question wasn't really about whether she deserves to graduate or not- she has meet the requirements to get her degree or if I should get her a gift as I said a gift is in order. She has worked hard and I am glad to see her accomplish getting a degree. My question was more about what WHAT to get her given that knowing what I know about her situation and the way she dealt with her student teaching and choices she made pertaining to that part of her work, she will undoubtably not ever be hired as a teacher even if schools were hiring in this area. I feel badly about that as I know she had really hoped to be a sucessful teacher and re-reading I can see where that could come off as judgemental.

Like MRSPETE said " If it's unlikely she's going to get a teaching job, I wouldn't give her a typical teaching item. If it sits around un-used, it'll be a reminder to her that she isn't teaching." I was a bit torn as to whether to get her something teacher themed because that is what would be expected or to go with something non teacher related that shows I care without it being something that will make her feel badly later.

Thanks again folks for your input

 

[adelricbilly]

I think scrapbooks are always a good gift... especially if you've got a lot of pictures of her throughout school and stuff... You can also collect messages from people who have been in her life and who have strong feelings for or about her and all she has done. If you have or can get photos of them, that would strengthen the book even more!

 

[smokeyblue]

I usually give college grads gift cards from a clothing/department store so they can purchase interview/career clothing. I like the idea of an Amazon or Barnes and Noble card.

You should really encourage your friend to explore different areas in teaching. Maybe she would be well suited to a different age range, different school setting, 1:1 or small group tutoring or even corporate training. I've worked in nursing for awhile now and have come accross nurses who were hired into departments/situations that didn't suit their skill level or personality. For instance I had a friend that was really good at the 1:1 and giving emotional support; she didn't have what it takes to take care of a full load of acute patients and was really struggling. I suggested she become a hospice nurse and she made the change and she is doing great!