Middle School teacher gifts?

[design_mom]

This is my son's first year in Middle School.

In Elementary school, we always got the teacher a decent sized gift card. It was either to someplace she'd mentioned to the class (favorite restaurant, loves Starbucks, loves shopping at Target, etc) or to the bookstore (if I didn't know anyplace else).

This year my son has 5 year-long teachers, and 6 partial-year teachers (some of whom he hasn't met yet because he doesn't start their classes till the third quarter). He currently has 8 classes/8 teachers.

What do you do for middle school teachers?
• Get each of them a small gift card and the same size for everyone? (would probably only be $5-10 per teacher)
• Do you just get gifts for the kids' favorite teachers, but get larger gifts for them? (DS has two teachers that he really likes... and one that he doesn't like at all.)
•*Would it be weird for middle school kids to give their teachers gifts? Is that more of an elementary school thing?

My budget doesn't allow me to do "my usual" times 8 different teachers -- but I'm not quite sure what do do from there.

 

[Christine]

Most people I know stopped giving teacher gifts at middle school. Just too many teachers. That said, if your son has one teacher in particular that spent some extra time with him, or maybe an afterschool tutor, or a coach--any teacher that went above and beyond the usual, you may want to give that teacher a token of appreciation--same at the high school level.

 

[Pollyanna Poppins]

How about a bottle of Lortab or Tylenol. Better yet a bottle of Jack Daniels. Just kidding... What about just some candy, note pads, or a book?

 

[PlutosFriend]

Most people I know stopped giving teacher gifts at middle school. Just too many teachers. That said, if your son has one teacher in particular that spent some extra time with him, or maybe an afterschool tutor, or a coach--any teacher that went above and beyond the usual, you may want to give that teacher a token of appreciation--same at the high school level.

I agree with this

How about a bottle of Lortab or Tylenol. Better yet a bottle of Jack Daniels. Just kidding... What about just some candy, note pads, or a book?

I second the Jack Daniels

 

[StephMK]

I'm struggling with that too. Both of mine are in MS this year and share some teachers. Plus DS has some teachers that DD had last year. We may do a small bag of candy w/a nice note for each one. I would like to do something since they both enjoy all of their teachers.

 

[travelalot]

Car Wash gift certificate.

 

[Duchie]

Most people I know stopped giving teacher gifts at middle school. Just too many teachers. That said, if your son has one teacher in particular that spent some extra time with him, or maybe an afterschool tutor, or a coach--any teacher that went above and beyond the usual, you may want to give that teacher a token of appreciation--same at the high school level.

Same here. There are just way too many teachers (especially if you have multiple kids in the school). And besides, kids are less comfortable giving the gifts to the teachers at this age.

 

[abdmom]

If he has a homeroom teacher, I would get them a present - gift card, whatever - and that's it.

 

[JustineMarie]

I got all my daughters teachers dunkin donuts gift cards. Just $5 a piece but thats enough for a small coffee and a donut or a large coffee. I do know that she was the one of maybe 3 kids to give the teachers a gift.

 

[Fly4free]

I got all my daughters teachers dunkin donuts gift cards. Just $5 a piece but thats enough for a small coffee and a donut or a large coffee. I do know that she was the one of maybe 3 kids to give the teachers a gift.

I did this my son's 6th grade year. He was really struggling and his wonderful teachers and guidance counselor really went above and beyond to help him out. I felt kinda cheap giving them each $5 gift cards to DD but I got so many positive thank you s from the teachers. It really seemed to mean something to them. I also wrote a nice thank you letter to all of them. When I went to the guidance counselor's office She had my letter, which I had printed on Christmas stationary posted up on her board. She said it really encouraged her to know how much she had helped.

 

[Samandmom]

At Dunkin Donuts they have a book of 10 certificates for 10 large coffees for only $12.00. I would guess that the certificates could be split up so you could give each teacher one with maybe some cookies.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm a high school teacher, and the mom of a middle schooler and a high schooler.

Because of the sheer numbers, most people stop buying teacher gifts once elementary school ends.

If you do want to send in something, probably the best approach would be a platter of cookies or donuts or something similar for the faculty room. In these hectic days before Christmas, it's such a treat to go in for a break and find something sweet! If there's a particular favorite, a handwritten note in a Christmas card is greatly appreciated!

 

[mjkacmom]

If he has a homeroom teacher, I would get them a present - gift card, whatever - and that's it.

Why? Our MS and HS homerooms are 10 minutes a day - the teacher just takes attendance.

I don't think people here give gifts to middle school teachers, and I know my kids would die of embarrassment. How about sending some goodies (Edible Arrangement?) to the teacher's lounge?

I do give the elementary school teachers a nice gift card, but they also spend a lot more time with my kids during the year.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Too many teachers. After elementary school, I don't give teachers gifts.

 

[Kimberle]

In our MS, kids don't gift the teachers. The PTO organises teacher appreaciation lunches and breakfasts throughout the year. Parents bring in food items.

If you're friendly with 1+ teacher(s), you could donate classroom items. Most teachers have such little money for basic items. My dd loves to read. When she's done with many of her books, she'd give them to her English/Reading teacher for the classroom library.

 

[shell8558]

I have 2 middle school children and I buy 5.00 Starbucks cards for the teachers. If never occured to me to buy them gifts until my sister, who teaches there, said how much they really appreciate the token of appreciation.