Gifts for Teacher: Class gift or individual? Both?

[2Pirates_1Princess]

At my school the PTO cover teacher week. They give each teacher the same gift..this year it was a gift basket of assorted items and provide lunch one day during the week. Anything else is left up to the individual parents. I always do Christmas gifts, but not always end of the year gifts. My kids both want to do them this year and I am pulling my hair out trying to come up with something good. I don't want to do anything expensive as we leave for Disney two weeks after school is out, but would like to do something memorable. I love the chair idea. I may have to give that a try.

 

[mamalle]

Last Year we had a daily thing that was suggested to bring in. This year the class mom didnt come up with anything.seems though the teacher is getting something on a daily basis from her. dd will bring her a dozen roses tomorrow. Im not too fond of the teacher but dd is so... I let her pick out something today with a homemade card to be given to her. anyhow its also nurses week this week and I havent seen anyone saying Happy Nurses week to me! did get a $5.00 coupon to the cafeteria though... LOL

 

[gottaluvdis]

We and DD10 are not fond of her teacher this year, and that's putting it mildly. I contributed a food item for the recently held teacher appreciation week. The PTO handles food for all the teachers each day of that week, plus assorted raffles and goodies. I'm hard pressed to provide this woman with anything at the end of the year and we're seriously thinking of writing to the Principal/Superintendent about her to try to spare other kids the fate of having to have her. That being said, I usually do Dunkin Donuts gift cards (we did this for Christmas) - will do this again at the end of the year as a token, but that's it. We'll be celebrating in a month or so when this year is over!

 

[tbuot]

As room parent in the past, I have collected money (whatever each gave was up to them) and got the teacher a VISA gift card or just the cash.

If the teacher was outstanding I would also give an individual gift.

As a teacher myself, I really appreciate a VISA or Amex gift card that way I can get what I really like.

 

[tigger813]

In June 2004 when I was leaving for maternity leave, one of my mom's who is a CM consultant made me a beautiful album with pictures and notes from all of the students. I still tear up when I look at it. It's even monogrammed on the front. It's a very special gift for me.

Yes, please don't give teachers mugs! I don't drink coffee. The student who gave me the mt. dew, and cheetos actually gave me a large reusable plastic cup to drink the mt. dew out of!

 

[NMW]

We usually do both, same with Christmas. I usually do gift cards to Barnes and Noble, Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts (if I know they drink coffee). For teacher appreciation day I usually do Yankee Candles and a card. This year, my secaond grader's teacher had a rough year-husband ill. She's the most AMAZING teacher. We are collecting money to giver her a gift cert to a spa and donating a book to the school library from the class in honor of her. Two parents are also making her a scrapbook with a page on every kid.

 

[englishteacha]

Is teacher appreciation day recognized more at the elementary level? Is it a regional thing? As a child I don't remember doing anything for my teachers in May. Now, I teach middle/high school and we get lunch provided by the district and some little token in our mailbox with the school name on it. As a teacher, I'd love to get a note from a parent or student mentioning some positive things from the year. It would be nice to look back on when I have a tough day at school! I prize most a note from a parent last year saying how glad she was that her son was in my class, and a phone call from a parent 2 years ago saying I was doing a great job and that he felt his daughter was learning a lot. We forget the trinkets and coffee mugs. We remember the comments that say we are making a difference.

 

[Trixiezzz]

This is a perfect topic because it's almost time for our school to be out.

How much do you give to a teacher?

 

[rentayenta]

This week was teacher appreciation week. We got each teacher a gc to Coldstone Creamery and then pitched in for the class gift as well in the classes that were doing one.


For the end of the year we try to get something personal. This year we got Gab's teacher something from his favorite team, Chloe's teacher got a gc to a store she loves, and Joshua's teacher collecys Coca Cola memorabilia.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

School is almost over for us too. My DD is in preschool so this is my first time with all of this.

She has 2 teachers and I am giving them

the free bag from B&BW
a $15 GC for a local ice cream place
ice cream cones
sprinkles
hot fudge
an ice cream scoop
a cool candle for outside

She also takes dance and has 3 teachers there. I made little baskets for them too

the little $1 buckets from Target
combos
microwave popcorn
a B&BW lotion
a candy bar
a pack of gum
a pack of kissables

Sound good? I am never sure if others will like my ideas.

 

[ndeelou]

The BEST teacher gift (if you had a worthwhile experience) is a letter to the principal and superintendent with specific examples of what made the year special for your child and those magic words "please add this to the personnel file". It is easy for those letters to get tossed by a supervisor (never by the teacher) but hard to ignore a direct parental request. Those kind of accolades follow the teacher through her career and even as she finds a new job at other schools that might appreciate her even more.....

When my daughter had my granddaughter (who will be two in July) I wrote a note to the hospital administrator complimenting the outstanding service we got and naming specific nurses and staff. She was in the ER this week ("practice run" she calls them for baby two) and the triage nurse remembered not only her but "the nice note your mother sent". so those compliments in writing are FREE but travel around and many organizations have special recognition for employees who are recognized by "the public".


Betsy

 

[Worfiedoodles]

OP again. I think the handwritten notes, especially sent to the administration, are a fantastic idea! Of course, I wouldn't want to draw attention to our school -- the Archdiocese might decide to close it! (I think I mean LOL, but not really...)

I also love the idea of the nylon chair. That is incredibly thoughtful!

We usually spend $50 on ds's primary teacher, and $25 on the afterschool teachers, secretary and principal, and $10 on the crossing guard for the end of the year. Plus the $10 contribution to the class gift.

That said, I don't usually hand over a $50 gift card -- I try to give a gift card or basket and include items to equal that in value. It's not that I'm unwilling to spend that much -- I just think it looks like we didn't put much thought into it.

One year I picked up giant popcorn bowls and filled them with movie theater candy, micro popcorn, big plastic drinking cups, and also some outdoor accessories.

When ds had a teacher that was about to deliver her first child any minute the end of year, gifts were given as a baby shower and I know she greatly appreciated it.

At Christmas we gave gift cards to the teachers, and I made fudge for the crossing guard, music teacher, etc.

Since ds is in parochial school, we know the teachers are receiving lower salaries than in public school, and they tend to be young women just starting out. That said, I don't feel the need to help them start a mug collection!

Keep the great ideas coming, I know we're all still looking for something new or different!

 

[kldmom2000]

In June 2004 when I was leaving for maternity leave, one of my mom's who is a CM consultant made me a beautiful album with pictures and notes from all of the students. I still tear up when I look at it. It's even monogrammed on the front. It's a very special gift for me.

Yes, please don't give teachers mugs! I don't drink coffee. The student who gave me the mt. dew, and cheetos actually gave me a large reusable plastic cup to drink the mt. dew out of!

I'm so glad to hear that!!! Earlier in the week when I volunteered in my DD's 1st grade class, I'd slipped a CM 7 x7 scrap (I'm a former CM so I have lots of stuff leftover! ) page in each child's backpack w/ instructions on returning them to my DD "discreetly" after their parents helped them write a small note of gratitude on one side and they're to send me a picture of their child so I can crop/embellish it on the other side.... the whole class will present it to her on the last day I'm hoping like crazy I get 100% participation to make it truly memorable

 

[Microcell]

You needed an other option! I usually give to the class gift & give a little something also but this year I do not like the teacher so I am only going to contribute to the class gift. She wasn't worth giving anything extra to.

My Ds's was not that bad, but you could tell he was not her favorite.

I will probably give DD's third grade teacher more, she really got her on track with staying on task!

 

[ballle_98]

We did movie themed baskets last year. We put gift cards for movie rentals, microwave popcorn, movie theater tickets, candy, and gourmet soda. We used silver stars and yellow cellophane to wrap it up. We used a big ceramic popcorn bucket from Target to put everything in. It turned out super cute.
This year everyone just pitched in for a Walmart gift card. That was the teacher's favorite store. I will probably do something else, too.

 

[luvsgrumpy]

Is teacher appreciation day recognized more at the elementary level? Is it a regional thing? As a child I don't remember doing anything for my teachers in May. Now, I teach middle/high school and we get lunch provided by the district and some little token in our mailbox with the school name on it. As a teacher, I'd love to get a note from a parent or student mentioning some positive things from the year. It would be nice to look back on when I have a tough day at school! I prize most a note from a parent last year saying how glad she was that her son was in my class, and a phone call from a parent 2 years ago saying I was doing a great job and that he felt his daughter was learning a lot. We forget the trinkets and coffee mugs. We remember the comments that say we are making a difference.

Here, it seems that our PTO in elementary school is larger and more tied in with the school. I personally feel more connected since I can go in and help in the classrooms each week, doesn't happen in middle school here. DS13 was asked as a member of National Junior Honor Society to take 2 teachers/staff and recognize them anonymously all week then make themselves known and give a small gift today (Friday). Well, neither were teachers he has had or knew very well, but I met one after school today (he happens to be the Custodian) and he was just beaming that someone thought of him and had already made plans to use his Starbucks GC that DS gave him!

thanks to all the teachers out there!!

 

[Joeldor]

I am a veteran elementary teacher and have received many gifts over the years. I was most appreciative of the thank you notes that parents and/or kids wrote to me. I also loved receiving crafts that parents made for me- especially a pretty baby afghan from one mom when I was pregnant. I can still remember the children and their moms who gave me some of my favorite Christmas ornaments 26 years ago.

Something to keep in mind- elementary teachers starting out often put out hundreds of dollars on books and materials that the schools can't afford to provide. Over the years I bought Staples, bookstore, or teacher store gift cards for my kids' teachers. These were always appreciated.

Hope this helps..