Holiday teacher gifts question

[Halloweenqueen]

I now have two middle schoolers and will have 4 next year! Last year I gave starbucks gift cards to all of my son's middle school teachers. I was wondering if it would be more appropriate to only give something the homeroom teacher.

TIA

 

[mjkacmom]

I stop after elementary school, because there are just too many teachers. I wouldn't give to the homeroom teacher - my middle and high schooler only spend about 10 minutes a day in homeroom.

 

[indimom]

I stop after elementary school, because there are just too many teachers. I wouldn't give to the homeroom teacher - my middle and high schooler only spend about 10 minutes a day in homeroom.

Exactly what I was going to say. Once the kids had that many teachers I stopped giving the personal gifts. If you really want to do something, just take a huge tray of cookies for the staff room or something similar.

 

[punkin]

I don't know how a gift to a child's teacher can be appropriate. In elementary school, we always organized a gift from the class and everyone contributed. That seems appropriate, but individual gifts reek of bribes to me.

 

[Liberty Belle]

If you have the money and want to do it, I think you should give to each teacher. If it would hurt your budget or take something away from your family, then I'd only give to the homeroom teacher.

My oldest son is in highschool (no gifts anymore, except the Tide stain pen he gave to his German teacher lol ), so one down, but I have one in elementary. He gives his Main teacher (who is also his math teacher) and his reading teacher (they team teach and group by test scores) a nice gift. He's also giving his principal and the specials teachers an ornament (bought boxes of four, half off at Hobby Lobby) in a little basket ($1 each at Hobby Lobby) - just something to say we're thinking of them.

Crap - just realized we haven't planned on something for the bus driver and bus moniter. I'll have to buy some more!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know how a gift to a child's teacher can be appropriate. In elementary school, we always organized a gift from the class and everyone contributed. That seems appropriate, but individual gifts reek of bribes to me.

We've always done individual gifts and did it was I was a little girl, too. Most people do here.

 

[punkin]

We've always done individual gifts and did it was I was a little girl, too. Most people do here.

If people do it around here, I'm not aware of it. Last year I felt a little strange giving gift cards to DD's high school teachers and guidance counselor who wrote her college recommendations. I did it, because everyone else around here does, but it seemed a little weird to me. Still, these teachers were doing something "extra" for my child and I did appreciate that, so a gift may have been appropriate.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

As a teacher I have found most parents organize a group gift however not everyone likes to participate or wants to give that particular gift card so they give their own. I teach elementary school and appreciate the generosity of parents. But it seems unnecessary to continue gift giving in middle school.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Once my kids were out of elementary school, the only time I have heard of "class gifts" where for band & chorus directors. We always give all of our kids' teachers gifts.

I don't see it as a bribe and I have friends who are teachers who don't consider it that way either. If your teacher thinks a Christmas gift is a bribe, you've got other problems with that teacher.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know how a gift to a child's teacher can be appropriate. In elementary school, we always organized a gift from the class and everyone contributed. That seems appropriate, but individual gifts reek of bribes to me.

Really? At our elementary school, most contribute to the class gift, and give a family gift as well, at Christmas, plus the end of the year. It's certainly not a bribe!

 

[punkin]

I never meant to imply that is actually is a bribe. Goodness knows the amounts involved are not usually enough to tempt anyone. I just think it looks bad.

 

[mjkacmom]

I never meant to imply that is actually is a bribe. Goodness knows the amounts involved are not usually enough to tempt anyone. I just think it looks bad.

Maybe it looks bad to you, but for all you know, you might be only one of a few who didn't give the teacher a present. I honestly don't know of anyone who doesn't (the conversation of what one is giving the teachers this year is a frequent one this time of year).