Gifts for teachers and coaches

[123SA]

Truly, I wish I had unlimited funds to give these wonderful people the gifts they deserve. I have 3 school age/sports age children -- how do I reasonably gift all of their teachers and coaches? DS4 has two full time teachers and one coach. DS7 has one full time teacher and 1 coach, 1 reading teacher he sees daily, and 8 other teachers he sees once or twice per week. DD8 has 2 full time teachers, 3 coaches she sees 5 days/wk, 1 coach once weekly, 8 teachers once weekly, art club teacher, 4 office staff...that is 33 people! For the past few years, I have given hand soap and matching lotion from Bath & Body Works but at $6 per person that is $200 plus I give $20 to the classroom gift for the head teacher, and $10 for the aide. And $20 for the swim coaches.

Tonight I made a post it note holder -- while it turned out great, is it enough? It would come with a pen. I had thought about making monogrammed cards, but I just don't have time.

ANy ideas?

 

[ddavis860]

I like the post it note holder! I always tried to give something useful and regiftable. Teachers get so much! I had a friend that would only give flowers to the teachers...

I'm a sewer, so things I've given are bag bags to put your plastic grocery bags in (ribbon opening at the top and elastic at the bottom...bags feed out the bottom for dog walking or trashbags). I also made holiday handtowels using the embroidery feature.

I've painted holiday things on pure and natural soap (3 for $1 at the dollar store) and wrapped them up in tule and pretty ribbons

Another popular one was making a candy wreath with the little scissors hanging from a ribbon...

That's about it for me... Love to hear all the ideas!!

 

[Mickster]

The last few years, I've made chocolates...a tiny bag of holiday shapes or chocolate covered pretzels. A little note from the kids on my printer and viola...I guess I'd better get thinking about this year, huh?

 

[morgansmom2000]

I think the post-it note holders are a great idea. I made them one year and I think they were the most well received gift we've given.

I have also done coasters and trivets (from 4x4 and 6x6 tiles from Lowe's) super cheap and I had all the rest of the supplies (staz-on, stamps, etc.). Princess was sick one week, so we did these together:

One year I did quick and easy sets of cards. Just a basic card with a stamped image and torn paper. I put sets of 8 into an organza bag. They *loved* those.

Another year, I put little Hershey's nuggets into a tin and made a band around the middle. Everyone loves chocolate!

I had grand ideas to make to go cup cozies this year, but the time is getting away from me! If I get a free weekend, I bet I could knock a bunch out at once.

I'm also thinking I should get Princess more involved, since these gifts are supposed to be from her. If I go that direction, I think I'll do quick and easy cards again.

 

[notes4theheart]

as a teacher I can say that any classroom teacher would be incredibly thankful for set of Letters (circut cutouts) for their boards. Make sure you include at least 2 of each constant and 3 vowels (for the more popular constants, M, R, S, T, L, N 3 are appreciated). I know as a teacher these sets of letters cost around 5 dollars a piece.

 

[JandJ]

My DMIL has been a 3rd grade teacher for 29 years and has told me on several ooccasions that she doesn't like getting food gifts. She has dietary issues and most of the time has to give them away or throw them out. She's also had her fill of mugs, paper, ornaments, etc. Her favorite gifts have been when all the parents get together and chip in $3-$5 each and get a gift card to a restaurant or an AmEx or Visa gift card that she can use anywhere. With 18 kids in the class, at $3 each that's over $50 for a gift card, which is a very nice gift! If you're up to organizing it, e-mail the other parents and see if they'd be interested. It's a lot cheaper for each parent than buying individual gifts, it's easy, and the teachers would love it.

 

[123SA]

Thanks for the ideas!

My DMIL has been a 3rd grade teacher for 29 years and has told me on several ooccasions that she doesn't like getting food gifts. She has dietary issues and most of the time has to give them away or throw them out. She's also had her fill of mugs, paper, ornaments, etc. Her favorite gifts have been when all the parents get together and chip in $3-$5 each and get a gift card to a restaurant or an AmEx or Visa gift card that she can use anywhere. With 18 kids in the class, at $3 each that's over $50 for a gift card, which is a very nice gift! If you're up to organizing it, e-mail the other parents and see if they'd be interested. It's a lot cheaper for each parent than buying individual gifts, it's easy, and the teachers would love it.

I agree with you...we generally do this for the head teacher. No one does this for the special teachers - -music, art, computers, gym ,spanish, library etc.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Wait, where is Buffy, the queen of teacher gift-giving and making! ...and where are all of you, because you are not the parent of a student in my school. As I have said before, after 33 yrs in the classroom, a simple thanks is my gift because most of my students need food on their tables more than gifts for teachers. Trust me, we teachers are truly appreciative of whatever gifts we do receive! Thanks for some great ideas, though, and thank you for thinking of us.

 

[boudreau.christine]

As I teacher, I agree with all of those points. Thoughtfull food gifts are always a pleasure, unless there are known dietary problems. I would imagine its hard to get the whole class together to get one large gift card. I received a few Tim Horton's gift cards - here in canada, its similar to your Dunkin donuts - the cricut letter pieces sounds super thoughtful. All those classroom decorations come straight out of our pockets and they can be pricey.

Home made picture frames, class room decorations, personalized tree ornaments even are nice, especially the home made kind.

hope all of this helps