Kindergarten teacher gifts?

[sunshine74]

We always do gift cards, with a very thoughtful note. My DD gets special education services, so has multiple teachers and therapists. Since there are so many of them, our $ amounts are not large, but I like giving them a little something along with the note about how much I appreciate what they do for my DD every day. I like to hope that the sincere appreciation makes up for the relatively small gift.

 

[Swimalie]

My husband is an incredible bread baker so he makes a loaf of bread and I have Christmas plates that I put them on. They are wrapped nice and those are the gifts. I might also throw in a gift card or something nice as well.

 

[ronnmel]

Gift cards are my favorites (and my teammates' favorites). Even ones for just $5.00. Places we love: a bookstore, Target, Michael's, and Staples.


I recommend avoiding: candles, lotions, ornaments, apple/teacher themed items, coffee mugs, and picture frames. Most teachers who have been teaching more than 5 years have wayyyyyyy too much of the stuff.

Yeah that! I never light candles (with two cats, I'm always afraid they would be knocked over). I don't like washing my hands in scented stuff, and I'm running out of places to put mugs/hang picture frames.

Last year one parent in my classroom sent a letter to all the other parents asking them if they wanted to contribute to a collective gift. Instead of getting several little 10$ gifts and gift cards, I got a 100$ gift card to the local shopping mall. It has close to 300 stores, so I could buy anything I want.

This year I've already started telling them I'm a Disney freak, so maybe I'll get something related.

I also REALLY like the idea of board games or legos for the classroom. Even if they are used, as long as they are in good shape I would appreciate it. I really have nothing for them to play with when it rains... (and boy did it rain this week...)

But the one gift that brought tears to my eyes was a giant handmade thank you card. Inside she listed all the different (and specific) reasons why she enjoyed her year with me.

 

[All American]

Last year, my daughter wanted to get flowers for her teacher. ("As long as the person isn't allergic, they're always a good idea", taught my mom.) So, I took her to a florist, told the lady our price point, and she let my daughter help make an arrangement. We didn't get a vase (most people have a million), and her teacher loved all the flowers. The best part is that it's a gift that is beautiful and can be thrown away with no guilt.

I also think gift cards are awesome, too, as are simple cards with a note from the child.

 

[2girlsR2good]

I teach and have kids in school.

Teachers are different--if it is a younger teacher they could use classroom "stuff" or gift cards to get what they need. Classroom libraries are hard to build and elementary teachers really need them. If there's a used bookstore that sells gift certificates, a teacher can really start building a collection.

Frankly, in this budget, some of my teacher friends would be thrilled just to get a ream of paper, they are buying it out of their own money right now. I'm fortunate not to have to buy my own paper.

I just got the $1.00 size mini hand sanitizers with Halloween themes from BBW for Halloween gifts. Not necessary, but cute and, well, I want my kids teachers to know I appreciate them. Germs are starting to pick up.

My favorite gifts are holiday cards (ones with photographs are the best) with personal notes from students in them. I save them all. Add a $5 card to Starbucks and I'm in heaven.

 

[Ephany]

Gift certificates to a local movie theater and a gift card to Walmart/Target/school supply store so they can get items for the classroom. The movie tickets in particular seem to be well liked; every person has thanked DD again after Christmas break and told her about the movie(s) they saw over the holiday.

 

[ltl engine]

Our Kindergarten thru 3rd grade teachers have all been teachers for a long time and had tons of knick knacks, frames, etc. so they decided to let parents know that they would appreciate hats, socks, gloves, etc. that they donate to a local shelter and a note from the kids. But they also appreciate the GC that come during teacher appreciation week too.

 

[SoonerSarah]

For Christmas I gave a GC and a soap/lotion set from BBW. Everytime I was in the classroom afterwards, I could see the soap/lotion on her shelf and she told me it was nice to have something just for her. I also gave her an end of the year present, I make jewelry and she loves jewelry so I just paid attention to what colors she wore the most and made something that would go along with them.

 

[Soulsearching]

When my children were in school, I would always get them a GC for a manicure at a place in the same town as the school.

With the holidays coming up, this GC was always greatly appreciated.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Last year in Kindergarten for DS teacher and her assistant I gave a tin of homemade cookies, and oreo truffles, a $5 giftcard to Dunkin' Donuts. The teacher also got a Christmas book for the class. Other students gave flowers, books, and bath gift sets.

This year I may include his specialist teachers also so I am looking at a Bath and Body Works gifts also like another PP. It's the Pocketbac Antibacterial hand gel and the holder that attaches ideally to your purse but I guess you could hang it most anywhere. The silicone hanging caddies are 5 for $5 and the hand gel is $1.50. I figure a nice little something for the ones that are usually left out along with possibly some homemade treats and a handmade card from DS. Not trying to go for broke this year just celebrate everyone and the holiday.

 

[DisMomme]

I teach and have kids in school.

Teachers are different--if it is a younger teacher they could use classroom "stuff" or gift cards to get what they need. Classroom libraries are hard to build and elementary teachers really need them. If there's a used bookstore that sells gift certificates, a teacher can really start building a collection.

Frankly, in this budget, some of my teacher friends would be thrilled just to get a ream of paper, they are buying it out of their own money right now. I'm fortunate not to have to buy my own paper.

I just got the $1.00 size mini hand sanitizers with Halloween themes from BBW for Halloween gifts. Not necessary, but cute and, well, I want my kids teachers to know I appreciate them. Germs are starting to pick up.

My favorite gifts are holiday cards (ones with photographs are the best) with personal notes from students in them. I save them all. Add a $5 card to Starbucks and I'm in heaven.

I totally agree with this. Anything for my classroom is great, from paper or markers to games or giftcards. If you don't want to do something for the classroom, I always appreciate a Dunkin Donuts GC. Anything personally done by the kids is nice too...one year I had a family that owned a farm and were not well off. I received a dozen eggs from the students own hens, a loaf of bread made by the mom and a pound of bacon (also from their farm). Everything for a nice Christmas breakfast! It was a gift that I used and have never forgotten. Another year I received a knitted scarf made by a student, I still use it! I don't think it has to be a big gift, just something needed or something from the heart.

For my kids teachers, veteran teachers, I often donated a book to the school library (of course that was when the school budget wasn't cut as tight as it is now). When I have had other teachers/ TAs working in the room with me I have made a donation to their favorite charity in their name along with a DD GC.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Gift cards are always GREAT. 5.00 ones from starbucks are just fine. Targert, Walmart, Resturants, even fast food, are great.

I have also gotten and liked a nice sweatshirt, fun socks, candy, homemaid goodies (though if the teacher does not know you well she may toss them), dish towels, monogramed bags, beach towels.

I love ornaments but not everyone does.

Avoid mugs, candles, bath products, huge framed pictures of your kids (though I LOVE a wallet six one), any teacher stuff (though I have gotten a few really neat teacher sweat shirts I could wear to worked and LOVED).

 

[happydisneyfamily]

for Kindy we gave one GC for something she could use for her classroom-Barnes and Noble- and one she could use on herself-$25 to the local movie theater. Also wrote her a note of thanks, and my child did the same.

This year her teacher is more interested in the material side of life than the kindy teacher was, so I will either get her one big ($50) GC to Sephora or a smaller Sephora and a $25 to Barnes and Noble.



I want to know too! If they do I will make a trip to the mall.

My mom is a teacher so I am pretty careful not to give anything knicknacky, candles, or mugs

Yes, I just checked the website and they are still available. Just type in apple and it's one of the first things to show up. You should call your store before you go just to be sure they have it in though.

 

[happydisneyfamily]

I always shop teachers gifts at after Christmas sales. Last year it was a great find - snowman hand towels - very cute - a set for $5 at like 70% off. I got those for both teachers and a couple of grab bags.

THis year is tough - I did buy a couple of things after Xmas last year but honestly I have more trouble giving 'gifty' type things like this to male teachers (sorry, sexist I know) - and now both kids have male teachers. I might take some smaller things I have and put them together into a gift basket and purchase a couple of more 'male appropriate' things to go in there.

My husband coached our son's football team this past year and at the end of the season luncheon, one of the kid's gave him a gift card to Starbucks and another one was to Jamba Juice. He really liked both, especially Starbucks.

 

[debilovesmickey]

Hi,
I am a Kindergarten teacher and really appreciate gift cards. As has already been said, I have taught for about 18 years now and have way too many mugs and things with apples on them. I do treasure ornaments for the tree from children... and it is the thought that counts.
That being said, gift cards are the way to go. My favorites are Target and Barnes and Noble as I can either buy something for the classroom or for myself.
Although we do spend tons of our paycheck on school stuff, it is nice to get something personal! It makes me feel appreciated.
A nice hand written note from a parent is also ALWAYS appreciated.
Debi

 

[Piper]

Gift cards are great. I'd rather have a note from a parent telling me what their child has learned or something they appreciate than more mugs, perfume, candy, dishtowels, etc. I just took those to the nursing home after holidays.......the residents loved getting gifts and I didn't have more clutter! (I also used the gift cards for things for the classroom--except for the Starbucks & I used those to give me the energy to keep up with the kids!!)

 

[Fabooliss]

Anything consumable!
When I was teaching grades 7 and 8 I enjoyed flowers, garden plants, homemade items like pies, cookies and gift cards are great!

I don't like "smelly" things, so was always giving away hand lotions, candles etc to friends.

I usually get my kids' teachers a boxed amaryllis at Christmas and a miniature rose for the end of the year. The rose can be kept inside as a houseplant or planted in the garden.

In the younger grades, the teachers usually planted the amaryllis and kept it at school so the kids can watch it grow.

 

[sk8jdgca]

I had bought some lunch totes that were raising money form breast cancer research. I put in a reusable igloo freezy thing and a small no rinse anti bac hand cleaner

At the end of the year, we gave huge 6 ft beach towels-. The kids picked colours that went with each teacher and they loved them

 

[2kids2luv]

I like to give GC for the local movie store but have done a restaurant I know the teacher goes to as well. I usually add some hand lotion and then stickers or candy that they use for rewards in the classroom.

 

[DCbride]

As a teacher ANYTHING that can be used in the classroom is wonderful! Dry erase markers in fun colors are always on my list (we only get black or blue). Book gift cards, target/walmart gift cards are great too for supplies.

I would much rather have a gift card for $5 to a store that I can purchase items for my class than an actual present like a mug, candle, or any type of food item. While every gift is thoughtful, I like to have my students see how their gift helped to make our class a better place to learn.