How much to spend on Teacher?

[Tombstone]

My wife and I are having a debate on how much to spend on a gift certificate for our daughters 4th grade teacher for Christmas. Need your help. We will be getting him a certificate for the local movie theater, just don't know for how much yet. How much do you spend, or if you're a teacher.... what is a nice amount?

TIA

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!
I'm a 1st grade teacher. I think $20.00-$25.00 is an appropriate amount (of course one time a family gave me a $100.00!)

I'm giving my DS8's teacher a $25.00 gc to Target.

 

[mytwotinks]

I think that $20 for a gift certificate is an appropriate amount. If I were buying an actual gift I would try to spend between $10 and $20.

 

[mytwotinks]

Hi!
I'm a 1st grade teacher. I think $20.00-$25.00 is an appropriate amount (of course one time a family gave me a $100.00!)
I'm giving my DS8's teacher a $25.00 gc to Target.

I would love to be able to be that generous with our teachers! What a great gift.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I bought DS's 5th grade teacher a $25 Target gift card and an angel ornament that said, "To teach is to touch the future."

 

[kdibattista]

Hi!
I'm a 1st grade teacher. I think $20.00-$25.00 is an appropriate amount (of course one time a family gave me a $100.00!)
I'm giving my DS8's teacher a $25.00 gc to Target.

Was their child failing or really bad in school

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Do you know for sure he likes to go to the movies? Is he married, or have kids? If he has a family make sure you get enough for the family to enjoy an outing together(unless the kids are older, then maybe a "date" night). My DH hates it when I get GC to a restaurant or the movies becuase he knows it will cost us money to use. If you think the movie GC may be too costly in the end any amount in a VISA or AMEX GC or to Target or Walmart would be good. I try to give between $10 and $20 depending on my finances at the time.

 

[daisyduck123]

Was their child failing or really bad in school

Actually, she was by far the brightest girl in the first grade. I think her parents just really valued education & appreciated me! She was a student who also had $50.00 Scholastic book orders every month.

She had a sister in Kindergarten who I wanted in my class next year, but I did not get her.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think $20 is a great amount. Enough to buy 2 tickets at least, or a ticket and some goodies If you're feeling generous, $25 will usually buy 2 adult tickets and drinks.

 

[castleview]

Actually, she was by far the brightest girl in the first grade. I think her parents just really valued education & appreciated me! She was a student who also had $50.00 Scholastic book orders every month.

She had a sister in Kindergarten who I wanted in my class next year, but I did not get her.

Ok, I have a bright first grader who LOVES to read, but $50 for the scholastic book orders every month is way too much. There is such a thing as the library and teaching your kids to use it is very valuable...then again I probably spend a lot more at Barnes and Noble a month. Nah, it's OK for me.

 

[aprilgail2]

25.00 gift cert to a local place I know she eats at.

 

[ElizK]

I'm putting together a gift basket for DD11's two teachers. There will be a $10.00 gift card and some items that go with the theme of the card (math/science teacher is getting a blockbuster card, some movie candy, and some microwave popcorn, english/social studies teacher is getting a couple of books for her classroom library and a gift card to Barnes and Noble). I know the dollar amount isn't very high, but we're doing the best we can right now.

 

[disneyfanatic3166]

When my DD was in elementary school, the whole class would get together and each donate 10-20 towards a big gift. That way, the teacher could get a $200 gift instead of scattered $20 gifts. Now that shes in 8th grade, its harder to give out presents because she has 7+ teachers, so we usually give out 10$ gift cards, or something more personal. This year shes giving her teachers copies of the Boston Childrens Chorus CD's which she performed on.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Sorry.. all I can afford is $10 GC. It will be from Starbucks. Each students will be donating $1 (or more if they want to) to buy their teacher a gift. The school have a policy that the homeroom mom cannot ask for more than $1 unless the student wants to donate more or the homeroom parents want to pitch in also.

 

[Disneemomee]

my children go to catholic school , therfore i know our teachers are greatly underpaid, so we usully give 50 american express gift checks. I know its a lot but it is well deserved!

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

I work for our school district ---

I've always enjoyed gifts from students that were Christmas Nick Nacks/Decorations/ornaments - nice items can be found for $5-$10

If you do get these types of items - put your child's name and the year on the bottom of it --- I appreciate this - because I will always remember who gave it to me and it reminds me of that child through the years.

I would like this more than a gift certificate --- I never use those and they end up in a drawer somewhere.

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

As a KG teacher, most of the GC I receive are in the 15-20 range. I like GC the best! Actual gifts are nice but I run out of space to put them!

 

[texasthree]

My son is in kindergarden but has several teachers. I am giving his teacher a $25 barnes and noble gift card. He has 2 PE teachers that he sees everyday so I am giving them each a $10 gift card to blockbuster. The rest of them (Music, Art, 2 spanish) are just getting a whisk with hersey kisses and the I whisk you a merry christmas message. They only see him once or twice a week.

 

[disykat]

I shouldn't have opened this thread. I'm always a minority. I'm a teacher and have never seen the kind of gift giving people talk about here. Homemade gifts or $5-$10 gifts are the norm in my community IF a gift is given at all. Cards or something made by the kids are my preference.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I just got $20 Starbucks GC for each teacher. I figure that if they don't want them, that's something you can always re-gift, as it has a $20 value. However, I don't know anyone that can't find at least *something* they like at Starbucks! DS's class had asked for money a month or so ago and I sent in $5 for that, as well. One year I really liked both teachers and bought them each $50 GC to the local spa. I figured you couldn't do much with less than that, and even with a $50 GC, I'm sure they had to add some money to it to do anything! I have made nice homeade things in the past, but no time this year. I guess my point is that I have no standard $$$ amount.

WDWDancer- I'm surprised to hear that. Most teachers I've known have said they get sick of yet *another* knick-knack, ornament, etc. and would prefer a GC they can use.