How Much $ On Teacher Gifts?

[TiggerPiglet]

In the past I've always contributed to a group gift for the teacher, but for some reason the room mothers do not want to do that and wants everyone to buy their own gift Anyhow, I was thinking about a gift certificate to somewhere like Bath n Body Works, but I'm not sure about how much to spend. So, for those of you who have gotten gift cert. for a teacher, how much have you spent or if there are even any teachers out there who have received gift cert., how much do the parents generally spend?
Thanks

 

[Byrd]

As a teacher I told mine to bring me new pencils or dry erase markers for us to use. I have to buy them for my class and this really mounts up in the money. Teachers in public schools spent an awful lot of their own money for needed things in the classroom. You might want to give a gift certificate that could be used for the classroom.
Byrd

 

[mom2boys]

I spent about $10 on each of the teachers this year. I ordered personalized notepads with the teacher's name & the school name. I know it doesn't sound like much but each of my boys has at least 3 teachers - not counting specials like art, music, PE...

I didn't buy for them this year. For some reason there seems to be two teachers for each special - they rotate which teacher they see for specials

 

[MHopkins2]

I would think $5 or $10, MAX. But having said that, given the small(ish) amount, a gift certificate might not be your best choice. If you want to go with BBW stuff, just buy her a lotion or whatever, and wrap it up nice and spangly. I also like the pens / pencils / post-its idea. Something I like to give lately (thanks to advice from the Etiquette Grrls, who are AWESOME) is a vintage book about something the person likes / teaches / is interested in. If you have a decent-sized used book store near you, you can find something precious on nearly any topic for $5 or less.

 

[Kteacher]

To be honest with you, my favorite gifts I've received have been homemade ones, or inexpensive ones that showed a lot of thought and imagination. A few years ago one of my kindergarteners drew a picture of my cat ( I'm always telling stories about him to the kids) . I framed it, and it's hanging in my hallway. I also love the picture one student drew of me that showed me with wheels instead of legs . I cherish the handmade cards that say " thank you for being my teacher". Another one of my favorite gifts was a serving of tiramisu from our local Italian bakery, complete with a hand made card with a fork attached to it. Anything you give will be well liked, especially if it's accompanied by a card of appreciation

 

[RumpleMom]

When I was teaching full time, I loved getting a plate of homemade cookies. My family loved them even more!!!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Usually, I do Barnes and Noble Gift certificates ($10 at Christmas and $20 at end of year), but this year I am doing something a little different. For Christmas, eache of the teachers (12 total!)are getting one of those layered mason jars that contain all of the dry ingredients with the recipe for great cookies attached. DD1 (5ys) will be helping me make them. DD2 (2yrs) will be lucky to get them to her teacher without dropping them!

 

[figment95]

If you have a school supply store near you, a gift certificate is always appreciated. Lots of the supplies we use in our classrooms are bought with our own money. Also, as someone else said, we can always use a gift certificate to a book store. Honestly, most of the teachers I know really don't expect anything. A picture drawn by your child or a nice card can mean more than anything you can buy.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

This year for my sons 3 pre-k teachers I was going to get a $25.00 gift card to AMC Movie theaters. They are all young so I thought they might enjoy that. For the 2 directors, I have a candle and I might get a bag of Lindt Truffels or something.
For Halloween I gave each of the teachers and directors a Mrs. Prindable apple. I usually send something for Valentines Day and Mother's Day and the end of the year. And usually if we go on vacation, I will pick up something small.

I think the world of the teachers and I just want to show our appreciation.

 

[JDY]

$100.00

I'd be happy with a card.

"Happy Holidays! Thank you for putting up with little Johnny"

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I always give the elementary teachers a $10 gift certificate to Holcomb's teacher supply store. That way they can get what they need to teach or want to supplement what they have. At the end of the year I usually get a restaurant gift cert., as no teacher wants to cook on the last day of school.
I also give the "special" teachers (art, gym, music) some homemade fudge.
DD#1 wants to know why her teachers at the junior high don't all get gifts--all 7 of them!!! I told her she can make them cards. I teach at the HS level and I'm lucky to get a plate of cookies. So if you have a JHS or HS student, you might want to suggest they pick a teacher they respect/like and do something nice for them (we actually have a "no gift" policy at my HS but I food or cards are OK). Really, secondary teachers kind of get the shaft at holiday time (imagine my sad, long face here! )
Robin M.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter has 2 teachers and there are 15 kids in the class...we all chip in 10.00 per teacher for Christmas and again at the end of the year so they each et 150.00 gift cert twice a year plus last year I got them each a 25.00 gift cert to a restaurant near their house and I will probably do the same this year.

 

[KimRaye]

I just chipped in $5 for the class gift and, will give DD's teacher something else as well. Yankee Candles are for sure and, probably a small GC as well.

 

[tiggerlover]

As room mother this year I asked parents to donate $10 so we could buy a gift certificate from amazon.com (we are overseas and do not have a decent american bookstore and teacher likes books). There are 10 in the class so I was hoping to get her a $100 gift certificate, but only half the parents chipped in so she will get a $50 gift certificate with a card from the 5 who contributed. DS's other teachers I think I will be making homemade zucchini bread with a thank you note, these are secondary teachers he doesn't have every day.

 

[powellrj]

Originally posted by Rock'n Robin
I always give the elementary teachers a $10 gift certificate to Holcomb's teacher supply store. That way they can get what they need to teach or want to supplement what they have. At the end of the year I usually get a restaurant gift cert., as no teacher wants to cook on the last day of school.
I also give the "special" teachers (art, gym, music) some homemade fudge.
DD#1 wants to know why her teachers at the junior high don't all get gifts--all 7 of them!!! I told her she can make them cards. I teach at the HS level and I'm lucky to get a plate of cookies. So if you have a JHS or HS student, you might want to suggest they pick a teacher they respect/like and do something nice for them (we actually have a "no gift" policy at my HS but I food or cards are OK). Really, secondary teachers kind of get the shaft at holiday time (imagine my sad, long face here! )
Robin M.

LOL my DS who is in middle school insists that we buy every teacher a present! I am so happy with the extra mile his teachers seem to go that we are buying 22 teacher gifts this year.(this includes my dds 11 teachers and child care staff) I got popcorn boxes and filled them with candy and added microwave popcorn and a $5 blockbuster card and wrapped them with cello. After my oldest ds who hated school, its a small price to pay to say thank-you!!

 

[KathyFP]

This has been helpful for me also. In previous years (preschool) we all picked in. This year, I barely know the children and know only one parent, so I have to buy.

Another question. DD takes a variety of lessons and I wasn't sure if we should buy something. Is it dependent upon the class?

Some classes are large - drama, ballet and gymnastics. Some are small - voice (which she just started) and some are private- spanish and swimming (which has been on hold since Oct , WDW trip, holidays).

What about Sunday school teachers and girl scout leaders???

I am feeling guilty because I never thought about these people before (well, girl scouts, drama and voice are new this year).

What do others do???

 

[tkd lisa]

I usually make a plate of baked goods for the girl scout leaders. I've never gotten anything as a cub scout leader, but I did get presents for Christmas from my Tae Kwon Do students. Once, I even got a Mother's Day present from one family. That was really nice. It was a framed picture of me coaching a group of students at our state tournament, and in the card, they told me it was like I was their TKD mom.

Once DD wanted to take flowers to a teacher she knew liked them.

Overall, most of the teachers we've had have said they most appreciated either books for the classroom, or a gc to someplace to buy teaching supplies. I think our scholastic program offers the ability to put money there for the teachers. I did that one year (just sent in a check for $10 over my order, with a note that the teacher was to pick out something she needed).

 

[TiggerPiglet]

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. I think I'll do the gift cert. to a teacher's supply store. I had no idea that the teachers had to buy supplies. I always thought the school supplied them.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Originally posted by TiggerPiglet
Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. I think I'll do the gift cert. to a teacher's supply store. I had no idea that the teachers had to buy supplies. I always thought the school supplied them.

The school only supplies us with a small budget...so a gift certificate is an excellent choice!

As far as how much? I dunno...does your child want an A? HEH HEH! Only kidding! It is really not the amount you give...it is the thought behind it! It sounds like you have giving this alot of thought! Your child's teacher is lucky to have such a giving and generous classroom parent!

 

[CEDmom]

For those of you who are teachers I recall seeing commercials where Staples gives a teachers discount. Is this true? I was just thinking it would be helpful for those that might not have a teacher supply store nearby. BTW I'm doing candy and Borders gift cards.