how much money for a teacher gift?

[SnowWhite607]

My daughter would be very disappointed if the teacher did not open the gift she gave her in front of her. The teachers always make a big deal out of each gift the kids give them.

Yep, teacher here. I always open the gift in front of them if I can. Some gave them to me as they were walking out the door on the last day but for those who give early, I make a big deal of it. They are in kindergarten and they love nothing better than knowing that they got their teacher something she loves and getting a huge hug!

I got gifts this year ranging from a $5 smoothie gift card to a $25 restaurant card. I gave my daughter's teacher (her only one since she is in elementary) a $25 gift card. We dont really do PE teachers or music or art teachers....maybe I should give them a small token even though they only see my DD once a week for about 1/2 an hour??

 

[SnowWhite607]

Our school district made a big fuss this year over gifts. The only cash / giftcard type gifts can be from the class as a whole and cant be more than $100 in total.

Individual gifts can't be monetary.

We may spend 10-20 on a small gift and bake some cookies.

I am fine w limiting the gift policy...
In our district the average teacher makes $100k/yr (yes, that is jusy a salary number... not including benefits) and they will get a fantastic pension and medical benefits for life.

HOLY COW! I need to come teach in your district!! We get a salary and benefits, well hubby does cause he teaches in public school. I teach in a private school and get NO benefits at all. We will get no Social Security when we retire either since we are state employees.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Ds' teacher and asst teacher both got a $5 gc to Dunkin Donuts and a dozen chocolate chip cookies and a dozen Oreo truffles (thanks to the thread about them) from me with a card stating all my gratitude for their hard work and special attention to my son.

Ds made each his own card and picked a new Christmas book for the class library wrapped to the teacher.

 

[momx2]

I teach reading, writing, and math in an elementary special ed program, so kids come to me for 1 to 3 hours a day. I typically don't get much in the way of gifts. Yesterday I got 3 plates of homemade goodies. Today I got a small glass dolphin and a minature porcelean teapot knicknack, both from the dollar store. The families are middle and upper middle class. I oohed and aaaahed over the Dollar Store gifts because I know those kids picked out the gifts themselves based on where the parents took them.

I agree with a PP, that if you can't spend any money, at least have your child make a card vs doing nothing. Those are priceless and don't cost anything. Let your kids teachers know they are appreciated. Most are underpaid. Even if a teacher does make $100K a year (probably in an high area of cost of living, so salary is relative), the decision to not buy a gift shouldn't be based on the amount of income the teacher earns. I find it interesting that people will tip their hairdresser or a waitress $10 - $15 for an hour of service, but can't dig deeper than a couple of dollars for a holiday gift for their child's . Homemade gifts are also fantastic!

DH is also a teacher and came home with several nice gift cards, lots of homemade treats, and coffee mugs!

For DS's 5th grade teacher I bought a nice ceramic hand-painted bowl with snowmen on it, filled it with packages of microwave popcorn, a huge Hershey bar, and an oversized fleece throw blanket. I got the bowl for $11 which was 1/2 off during a sale. I got the fleece throw on Black Friday for $3 regularly $14.99. Adding in the popcorn & candy bar I spent $18 plus $1 for the gift bag.

DD is in 8th grade and gave her 6 middle school teachers an oversized throw blanket and added in a $20 B&N gift cards to her two favorite teachers.

I just have to say that teachers are not a tipped position as is a waitress or hairdresser. These jobs are tipped positions and much of their salary is derived from the tip, especially the waiters and waitresses.

Also, your comment about the dollar store trinkets. You said this is where the parents took them to buy the gift. How do you know that??? I have had to talk my girls (when they were younger) out of buying dollar store trinkets for their teachers. The kids see them and think they are great. I've also been the recipient of some of those dollar store items from my girls. It's hard to not buy them when they are begging you.

 

[momx2]

I am a teacher and I received gifts from $5 to $100. I appreciate it all. I would hate for a family to spend more than they could afford with the thought of what I would think.

I never open my gifts in front of the children, because some do not bring gifts and their faces show the disappointment. I tell them I will wait until Christmas and then send a nice thank you note.

That is a very nice thing to do for those children.

 

[lisaross]

it pretty much varies year to year..i but in advance so i get good sales so a gift might look like $25.00 but i only spent 10 or so.

This year my older son is in 4th grade and his teacher LOVES the beatles and i happened to be in a Ross's store and they had a book of lost photos, articles all about the beatles..so i bought it and really think she's going to like it - it cost about 10.00 - i am not going to chip in w/the class. He also has a para in that class so i'm going to give her a $5 gc to Dunkin Donuts and a lottery ticket!

My other son in 2nd grade i chipped in w/the class 5.00 each kid plus i'll get her a little something about $5 or so!

i also had 3 cub scout leaders and i gave them each a $5 gc to dunkin donuts and a lottery ticket - think my husband also chipped in w/the other kids in the troop $5.00!

i think its the thought....

when my older son was in pre-school i use to give $25 gc but i realized that is just too much for my budget!

 

[Cindy B]

HOLY COW! I need to come teach in your district!! We get a salary and benefits, well hubby does cause he teaches in public school. I teach in a private school and get NO benefits at all. We will get no Social Security when we retire either since we are state employees.

100K is pretty common in our district as well. Starting pay for first year, bachelors only teachers is just about 48K. Masters first year make 51K.

As for Social Security (putting on my Social Security hat ), check to see when you started working for the employer. I think either after 1983 to 1986, Social Security was mandatory for all employees except for some specific states (Texas and Ohio are two!). Check to see if an agreement was made and that FICA is now being taken out.

If not, you can receive Social Security if you had work prior to this non withholding state. For example, I had a client that was a non soc. security employee from 1983 or so to this year (retirement year). He worked FICA withholding jobs prior to his non SS job, so he had enough coverage to get a very small Social Security check for jobs prior to his employment with that state entity. Check and see-- you may have enough coverage. I have some other clients who take a small second job just for Social Security coverage just to offset the non social security wages.

 

[aprilgail2]

As for Social Security (putting on my Social Security hat ), check to see when you started working for the employer. I think either after 1983 to 1986, Social Security was mandatory for all employees except for some specific states (Texas and Ohio are two!). Check to see if an agreement was made and that FICA is now being taken out.

.

I have been working since 1981 and have never paid a penny into social security...I pay 3 different tiers of railroad retirement but no social security...I can't collect it when I retire either. And I am in NY.

 

[quentina]

I am struggling with this as well. Both of my girls are in middle school and they rotate between 4 primary teachers. I just don't want to break the bank......

I asked a few of my friends who are teachers about this...they tell me gifts end once you leave elementary school.

If this is not true, I need to know ASAP. I have a middle schooler this year.

 

[pigletto]

For dd and ds's teachers we gave $20 dollar gift cards to Staples. That way if they want to get something for the classroom or for themselves they can.
For the two bus drivers we got them each a card and a box of nice chocolates.

So all in all about 60 dollars spent.
I'm sure some gave more and some gave less, but this was what was in our budget and I wanted to be able to give them something. They are all really wonderful ladies

 

[taylor3297]

I taught middle school for 17 years and each year it varied on what I was given for Christmas. So if your child wants to give their teachers a present then let them. If not that is ok too.

My favorite present I ever received from a student was a can of government peanut butter. This child wanted to give me something so badly that her and her mother went through their cupboards to find something to give me. The student knew I loved peanut butter and banana sandwhiches so she picked the peanut butter. With the peanut butter was a handmade card. I called the mother to thank her and her daughter for the thoughtful gift. I know how much of a sacrifice they made in order to give me a present. I still have the can (empty of course, I made lots of sandwhiches) and the card.

 

[mum4jenn]

My Dd is in Middle school. She has not given a gift since 3rd grade but she loves these teachers so much we wanted to let them know they are loved and appreciated. SHe has 3 main teachers. Her male teacher she gave a $25 Chili's gift card to. Her two female teachers she gave a Vera Bradley purse to......not full price though...the discontinued styles!!

 

[Cdn Gal]

Every year, I tell the kids to please not buy me anything. But regardless, they always do. For the past few years I have asked the kids to make a donation to our classroom library. The book can be new or used, it doesn't matter. It builds up the classroom, and the kids have fun bringing in a book so that they and others can read. I don't need a whole lot and I would rather it go back to the kids. In reality, unless it is a gift card, or something that I can either eat or use, I give it to the Salvation Army.

 

[clombardi]

My daughter would be very disappointed if the teacher did not open the gift she gave her in front of her. The teachers always make a big deal out of each gift the kids give them.

I am another teacher who does not open gifts in front of the children. Many children are not able to bring a gift, and you cannot imagine the sad expressions when they watch other students' gifts opened.

However, I realized long ago that it was very difficult for the students to accept that they couldn't have the joy of watching me open their gift. That wasn't fair to them either.

I came up with a solution that has worked out beautifully! I explain to the children that every single gift will be opened slowly on Christmas morning. I tell my children that my husband and I do not exchange gifts, so their gifts are the only gifts I open that morning. I further explain that I will tell my husband and daughters all about each child as I open their gift.

It has become such a special tradition at my home that my daughters, who are now teens, were very upset with me one year when I opened the gifts on my own the day before Christmas, instead of waiting for Christmas morning

After break, I make sure to give each child a personalized thank you note that names their gift, so they can be sure that I am acknowledging the special gift they gave me.

 

[torinsmom]

I guess I go against the grain because I sent in gifts for my son's teachers and he is a sophomore in high school. I actually think those teachers put up with a lot more than an elementary teacher(and I AM an elementary teacher, LOL) They were just $10 gift cards, but I just wanted them to know that I appreciate all their hard work.

As far as teaching not being a "tipped" position, I don't think showing appreciation for someone who spends almost as much awake time with your child as you do is that big of a deal. I mean, most people tip their garbage man, their hairstylist and their paper delivery person and they are not a "tipped" position either.

Yes, I too can tell something came from the Dollar Tree, probably because I get paid so little as a teacher that not only do I have to have two part time jobs, but I am in the Dollar Tree A LOT to do discount shopping, LOL. I could care less where a gift comes from though, because at least I know they were thinking of me.

Marsha

 

[Teacher03]

My daughter would be very disappointed if the teacher did not open the gift she gave her in front of her. The teachers always make a big deal out of each gift the kids give them.

I thank the kids for the gift, quietly, and as I said,explain that I will open it on Christmas. To be honest, I have never seen a child question my reasoning or seem disappointed. My thank you note is heartfelt. I have taught for many years, and it is heartbreaking to see the looks on the kids faces who do not bring a gift for whatever reason, so I can't imagine opening them and making a big deal out of it in front of everybody. If I could find a way to do it without anyone else around, I would, but it would just be impossible.

 

[IDoDis]

I just have to say that teachers are not a tipped position as is a waitress or hairdresser. These jobs are tipped positions and much of their salary is derived from the tip, especially the waiters and waitresses.

Also, your comment about the dollar store trinkets. You said this is where the parents took them to buy the gift. How do you know that??? I have had to talk my girls (when they were younger) out of buying dollar store trinkets for their teachers. The kids see them and think they are great. I've also been the recipient of some of those dollar store items from my girls. It's hard to not buy them when they are begging you.

Excuse or not, I still think teachers should be shown a bit of gratitude. It doesn't have to be monetary -- a handmade card or craft from the student is a treasure to almost all teachers. For older kids, a handwritten note of appreciation is great.

As far as the Dollar store items go, if my kids asked to go to the Dollar Store to buy a gift for their teacher, I'd steer them to a different store. When one of my students handed me his Dollar Store unwrapped little trinket, he said, "It's from the Dollar Store. That's where my mom took me." He seemed to be a bit embarrassed, but I ooohed and aaaahd over the little knickknack so that he wouldn't feel bad. The other student who gave me a dollar store item was very proud of her purchase and may have chosen to go there. I don't know. I just know that I would not go to the dollar store to buy a gift for my kids' teachers if I can afford other extravagances like electronic video games and frequent meals out. If my child really insisted on going there, I'd let him/her pick out a dollar gift and combine it with something else.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm a teacher and I have to say that expensive gifts make me uncomfortable. Yesterday, I recieved several cards with very sweet notes wishing me a Merry Christmas and thanking me for the help I have been to the child this year. Those are wonderful and will be saved for years to come. I also recieved a gift box with several travel size bottles from Bath and Body and a basket with bottles of Diet Coke, microwave popcorn, and a $10 Hastings card. Then I also recieved a $50 restaurant gc and while it was certainly appreciated, I really feel that it is too extravagant and it made me a bit uncomfortable.

I would be quite happy with no gifts. Heck my Dh of 30 years and I choose to forgo exchanging gifts. I guess that I'm just not a "gift" person.

 

[daisyduck123]

I guess I go against the grain because I sent in gifts for my son's teachers and he is a sophomore in high school. I actually think those teachers put up with a lot more than an elementary teacher(and I AM an elementary teacher, LOL) They were just $10 gift cards, but I just wanted them to know that I appreciate all their hard work.

DD15 is a junior and we gave each of her 8 teachers a Starbucks gc.

I'm just glad she gave them out this past week, as I'm not sure if we'll be having school this Mon-Wed. due to the 21 inches of snow we just got.

BTW...I'm an elementary teacher too

 

[Cindy B]

I have been working since 1981 and have never paid a penny into social security...I pay 3 different tiers of railroad retirement but no social security...I can't collect it when I retire either. And I am in NY.

RRB-- now thats a different animal altogether. RRB gets the jurisdiction of the claim (Its a much better setup and benefit system if you want my opinion!)

I have seen where some spouses of railroad board go to Soc. Security for Medicare ONLY. Truth be told RRB claims are very rare in our office.

The few groups that I have seen that don't get SS taken out are:

Railroad Board
Texas Teachers -some!
Ohio Teachers
Federal Employees under old retirement system


I know there is more but those are that I have seen.