Kindergarten teacher gifts?

[njmom47]

I used to order pencils saying "Mrs. C's 3rd grade" (or whatever name/grade)on them.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I used to order pencils saying "Mrs. C's 3rd grade" (or whatever name/grade)on them.

That is a GREAT idea! Teachers are always lending out their pencils to kids and they might be more likely to get them back this way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2disneyboys]

We always give Gift Cards to Target or Walmart in a card handmade by my kids. This way teacher can buy her/himself something or something for the class. We have also done the movie night ideal someone else mentioned and that was pretty cool.

 

[NYCDiane]

In Kindergarten, we got the teacher a crystal Mikasa angel figurine for Christmas, along with a card.

Other Christmas gifts I have gotten teachers were: $25 gift card to their favorite educational store; Dunkin Donuts gift cards; flowers w/ beautiful vase; etc. One teacher was very into Ancient Egypt and we got her an Egyptian item from the museum.

It's all about knowing the teacher and what they like.

 

[dispor]

I always give Target gift cards. It's the closest store to our school. I figure the teachers can use it on themselves, or for classroom items - whichever they want. I also never write their names on it, only the $ amount. I figure if they get in a bind, they can re-gift it!

But I have to say, some of the gifts ideas on here are really cute! Love the soap dispenser and beach towels!

Two questions...

How much do you give to each teacher (I give $10 from each of my kids for homeroom teacher.) I'm not sure how to do it this year, since they have a different teacher for each subject now.

Frankly, I wish the schoool/PTA took up a collection and divided it among the teachers. But I'm sure there would be people complaining about giving money to teachers that they didn't like or they felt were unfair to their child, etc. and I can kind of understand that. I'd still rather donate, though!

What do others do about people like the Librarian, school secretary, etc.?

 

[patchchild]

Teacher here.

A supeer cute one I got last year was a package of microwave popcorn and a one month membership to Netflix. It would be fun right before Christmas vacation or summer vacation, when sitting down and relaxing is a necessity.

 

[jkshel]

Go over to the Creative DISign board and have one of the awesome artists create her a name plaque for her classroom door.

 

[cerberus]

Our teacher asked for no small things of candles, candy, etc. The way I think of it, would I like a gift of a bunch of little things like that....probably not.
We plan on doing gift cards.
Plus my mom embroiders so I hope to make her a bag with the school name on it for her to carry her books and such.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I teach first grade. I like gift cards, candles, lotion from places like Bath and Body Works and board games for the classroom.

 

[NYCDiane]

Plus my mom embroiders so I hope to make her a bag with the school name on it for her to carry her books and such.

This is a great gift idea!!! Teachers always have a ton of stuff to lug around and this would be very useful to her. Maybe your mom can embroider her name (Mrs. ______), along with ABC, 123, and maybe an apple or a ruler or something like that.

 

[sk!mom]

While I sincerely appreciate any gift I receive, I enjoy gift cards the most.

Unless you know the teacher well, I really think that's the only way to go. I've received so many knick knacks and ornaments over the years that I no longer have room to keep or store them. Even the embroidered bag idea is great but I've already been given several of those and I'm not the type to carry a teacher themed bag, anyway. They are all stored one inside the other in a closet. I did keep each one out and use it for the remainder of the year that the student who gave it was in my class.

I really love gifts from Bath and Body but not everyone does.

 

[esk]

We give gift cards and something edible, from Harry and David or somewhere like that. Packaged, because although I agree something homemade would be more personal, you never know people's issues with that and what if they don't like it? They can always re-gift a tower of treats or packaged cookies.

We've done Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart (we live in a very small town....educational stores are just not anywhere within like a 4 hour drive).

For day care, I always gave consumables....Tower of Treats or gift basket from Bath and Body Works. But only to the teachers that know my child....for the previous poster's question about the school librarian, secretary, etc, I don't give them a gift. I give a gift to the people that know my child because I feel like he/she has a connection with them. As nice as the school nurse is, and as much as I appreciate her being there, we only usually see her two or three times a year and she probably doesn't know my child by name. Same with the librarian. Maybe at year-end, but at Christmas, school has only been in session a few months. I don't gift the music or PE teachers either for that reason.

 

[jadeblue13]

I am a teacher and mom. Although I never expected a gift, I was always grateful for what I received. I am a sucker for crafty items, but gift cards are nice too.

My children did gift cards to blockbuster video taped to an individual microwave popcorn bag wrapped with a picture or thank you letter depending on the age of my child at the time.

We also donated books to our kids' library in honor of the teacher in older grades with a note about what they liked during the year or a special moment they had shared with that teacher.

Coffee and chocolate also seem to be a big hit as well as supplies for the classroom.

One year a preschool student had decorated a clay pot for me with fingerprint art and planted a flower-I still have the pot-unfortunately a green thumb didn't come with the plant-

 

[Kat&Dom]

OP, thanks for starting this thread. My son is in Kindergarten this year too and I decided to get a Gift Card to Subway. I decided on Subway because it is literally across the street from the school. I thought it would be convenient if she has evening meetings to be able to just run across the street and get something to eat.

I am debating about getting gift cards to Tim Hortons for all of the teachers at my son's school - the school is fairly small (100 students) and all the teachers take turns monitoring the playground before and after school so my son has contact with all of them. I believe there are 8 teachers so if I do $5 gift cards then it is not too expensive to thank everyone for all that they do to make school fun and safe for my son.

 

[Malibustyle23]

But only to the teachers that know my child....for the previous poster's question about the school librarian, secretary, etc, I don't give them a gift. I give a gift to the people that know my child because I feel like he/she has a connection with them. As nice as the school nurse is, and as much as I appreciate her being there, we only usually see her two or three times a year and she probably doesn't know my child by name. Same with the librarian. Maybe at year-end, but at Christmas, school has only been in session a few months. I don't gift the music or PE teachers either for that reason.

I am sorry but I don't think that you are giving the teachers at your childs school the credit that they deserve either that or the teachers at my DS school is doing a beyond average job. Every specialist teacher at my sons school knows his name and who he is. Librarian, gym, music, etc and no he is not a problem child or the class clown. He is actually pretty quiet in class, behaves very well and has only been attending school for two years now. I understand that not everyone wants to or can afford to acknowledge every teacher and that is perfectly fine. But I wouldn't assume just because you don't know your childs teachers doesn't mean that they don't know your child.

I don't know how active you are at the school and forgive me if you already do but I would suggest you to go volunteer a day or two and you may be very surprised at who and how many teachers know your child and almost every other child in the grade/school.

 

[mjkacmom]

I am sorry but I don't think that you are giving the teachers at your childs school the credit that they deserve either that or the teachers at my DS school is doing a beyond average job. Every specialist teacher at my sons school knows his name and who he is. Librarian, gym, music, etc and no he is not a problem child or the class clown. He is actually pretty quiet in class, behaves very well and has only been attending school for two years now. I understand that not everyone wants to or can afford to acknowledge every teacher and that is perfectly fine. But I wouldn't assume just because you don't know your childs teachers doesn't mean that they don't know your child.

I don't know how active you are at the school and forgive me if you already do but I would suggest you to go volunteer a day or two and you may be very surprised at who and how many teachers know your child and almost every other child in the grade/school.

I have had kids in school for a while now, and can't agree more. Our special teachers, nurse, and office staff know the name of every single child in our school. I'm sad to say I haven't given them gifts, because with 5 children, it's hard enough with the main teachers and student teachers. I think this year I might try something new, and send something (cookie basket?) to the faculty lunchroom instead of individual gifts.

 

[andymattmom]

I sub at the elementary and have for 8 years. My children are out of elementary now so I don't buy for all their teachers.

The best ones we would do were gift cards, movie tickets or even gas cards.

I have seen on the teacher's desks so many knick-knacks, etc that are teacher themed...imagine if it is an older teacher if she gets say 5 at Christmas and 5 at the end of each year. Too many.

The soap, lotion, candle ideas are good BUT do you know what scent the teacher likes? What scent you like might not be what someone else likes...while you like the cinnamon scent candle the teacher might like something else or might not even burn candles. The same goes for body lotion or smelly soaps. I have allergies and any scents can set off my allergies (I can't stand walking through the perfume department--literally takes my breath away at times).

Christmas ornaments are the same as knick-knacks...imagine how many each teacher has. Same goes for Xmas hand towels, etc. Unless you know the teacher well and her/his home decor they might not get used.

For food--do you know if the teacher has food allergies. In all honesty I can tell you many teachers will leave the cookies they receive in the teachers lounge for everyone to eat. What if you bake peanut butter cookies and someone in the teachers family has nut allergy. Also, the teacher might have a health issue or be trying to lose weight and might not be able to enjoy the treat you baked. Maybe a fruit basket would work but the homemade or even bought cookies, breads, cakes, etc might not be a good idea for one who is watching weight, diabetic, cholesterol issues, etc.

I had no problem asking teachers if there was something special they needed for classroom---as mentioned by so many they have to buy things with their own money to teach our kids--ask about an electric pencil sharpener, paper cutter, box of craft supplies. The board game idea was fantastic too for the indoor recess.

These are things I have learned over the years. No teacher is ever going to be ungrateful for any gift they receive but think before giving a food item, "teaching" themed gift, Xmas themed ornament, smelly lotion, smelly candle, etc. Imagine how many picture frames a teacher has too..... Giving something practical is the best way to go...let the teacher get the themed or home decor or ornaments or smelly items themselves.

It doesn't have to be a big gift either...even a letter from your child saying how much they enjoy their class and the teacher!

I did give gifts to the 'specials' teachers (p.e., art, music, computer class, spanish class, principal and the secretary). This was at elementary level because they do teach our children also and let me tell the person who says they only give to teacher who knows their child's name...these teachers know every child's name they teach or work with! Even as a sub after a couple times in the same class I can pick up on the kids names and you'd be surprised the looks when the sub comes in and knows their names...I even will say 'hi" XXXX name when I see them at the store.

EVEN VOLUNTEERING IN THE CLASSROOM OR IN THE SCHOOL WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND WOULDN'T COST YOU A THING!

 

[andymattmom]

I am sorry but I don't think that you are giving the teachers at your childs school the credit that they deserve either that or the teachers at my DS school is doing a beyond average job. Every specialist teacher at my sons school knows his name and who he is. Librarian, gym, music, etc and no he is not a problem child or the class clown. He is actually pretty quiet in class, behaves very well and has only been attending school for two years now. I understand that not everyone wants to or can afford to acknowledge every teacher and that is perfectly fine. But I wouldn't assume just because you don't know your childs teachers doesn't mean that they don't know your child.

I don't know how active you are at the school and forgive me if you already do but I would suggest you to go volunteer a day or two and you may be very surprised at who and how many teachers know your child and almost every other child in the grade/school.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

I got my daughter's kindy and 1st grade teachers a Scentsy warmer and some of favorite scents for Christmas. We just straight up asked them - I didn't want to get something she'd think was stinky. At the end of last year, I sent her teacher a homemade certificate for a magazine subscription. I looked on one of those discount magazine websites and gave her a long list of everything under $20. She picked Paula Deen's magazine and wrote me a note how great a gift that was... I hope she meant it!

I couldn't be more impressed with our school's specials' teachers (that was tough grammar... did I get it right? ) so we gave them each a bag of truffles for Christmas and at the end of the year, my DD wrote each one a personal thank you. I wasn't in a position to put together anymore gifts but my daughter's messages were all very sweet and I hope the teachers were able to see how great she thinks they are!

Okay this year, 2nd grade... I sent our teacher a GTKY questionnaire as a room mom type of thing (hey, he agreed... little did he know it would be 46 questions!) It had things like favorite restaurant, where do you like to go with a drive thru, do you root for any sport's teams, do you like to go to the movies along with ones like what did you want to be when you were little and did you grow up in Indianapolis? So it was a thinly veiled attempt to find out good places for gift cards and/or little gifts he will actually like. I hope it works!

Final thing - I was inspired by the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promo. One of the questions on his questionnaire is his favorite charity and/or cause. His birthday is coming up and I am going to see if I can start a collection of volunteer hours for his choices. This may or may not work depending on what he picks (I haven't gotten his replies back yet). It may just be our family... but I think it's a cool idea and it will be in addition to the normal little gift or gift card.

Hmmmm I hope he's not on this board. I haven't seen any Disney stuff in his room!

 

[Bren's Mom]

You get to choose your kid's kindergarten teacher's gift?! Really?! Because I got a letter from the room mom the other day telling me that the 'past practice of a donation of $7 towards the teacher's gift is expected'.

Now I have no problem with a group gift. And I have no problem with the room mom, this is her first kid in school and I'm sure she's just following the Nazi PTA 'suggestions'. But I thought that was obnoxious.

Ds will make cards or small crafts for all his teachers and paras. And we'll probably do gift cards, even if they're small $5 ones depending on my budget for Target/Walmart/book store/etc.