Need help - end of year Teacher Gift suggestions

[mickeysgal]

Its that time of year again and I've put this off until the last minute due to other things going on this week. I need four teacher gifts by tomorrow. Other than a WalMart gift card what could I get? We don't have Barnes & Noble, Target, etc. in our town. They're about an hour away, so we are sort of limited in retail choices in this small town. Any suggestions? A plant maybe? Usually I've got good ideas, but this year I'm drawing a blank.

 

[daisyduck123]

1st grade teacher here....you sound like a thoughtful parent. It's nice that you think of the teachers at the end of the year.

I personally don't care for plants for a few reasons. It's hard to get them home from school. Sometimes the pot tips over in the car, & then the potting soil goes everywhere on the floor of my van. I also don't care for them in my house, as I'm not very good at keeping them alive for long.

If Walmart is one of the few shops in your small town, then I'd have to assume that your teachers must do some shopping there...so a gift card to there would be appreciated.

One other idea....does your town have any restaurants that you could get a gift card to? Applebees or other similar place?

Enjoy your summer with your kids!!

 

[goodeats]

What about a Starbucks?

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we thought ahead this year (rare for us) : we took photos throughout the year - DD with teacher and another with a lilly bulb they planted in school (DD's did not grow, but teacher made sure she had another and it bloomed at home), DD in school play, DD with artwork she had chosen for a county exhibition.....we made copies - DD is gonna use these to make personalized thank you cards for teacher, music teacher, art teacher...- teachers can keep the photos. We also will do a moderate amount mall gc for classrooom teacher.....this way she is not locked in to one store!!!

the restaurant gc is a great idea as well - the teacher can treat themselves to a nice meal out!!!! We did this at Xmas for the bus driver (yes, here they also gift the bus drivers - this year it was appropriate because we had a tough situation with my DD's seat mate and the bus driver was very nice in her way of dealing with it, called me immediately and we worked through it - and she is the nicest, most professional driver DD has had so far).



I usually put GC's in a little gift bag with a handful of nice chocolates...something for now, something for later.....

 

[Jingle]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

 

[luvflorida]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

I taught first grade for fifteen years and I have to say that it was always VERY much appreciated to hear parents say thank you in some form at the end of the school year. I'm NOT talking about a parent going out and buying something. The things I most treasured every year were the notes of thanks and a few kind words. There were a few times when a parent would write a nice note, maybe relating something that she/he appreciated that I did for her/his child that year, and they sent the note to my principal, who then shared it with me and put it my file.

Having a parent stop by the classroom at the end of the year, or sendng a short e-mail was also a nice gesture.

I never expected anything from anyone, but it always felt good to get positive feedback from parents.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

I work at a day care center and we dont expect it, but sometimes parents do give us gifts, thank you notes, or just call to say thanks..its always very appreciated!

 

[mickeysgal]

I just wanted to give a small token of thanks from my child to his teachers. It was a good year - a year where he thrived academically and socially.
I understand people's views aren't all the same on this issue and to each his own. Now if someone has any other suggestions for gifts, please let me know.! I'm going out after school today to get something- I'll be on a mission. I just don't know what to get!

 

[lyeag]

Same boat as you OP, except I needed them today. Here is what I did. For my dd's 2nd grade teachers I found a cute pail with an apple on it painted like a flag. I asked dd what we should fill them with. One teacher loves chocolate, so we filled it with chocolate, and the other was always giving out gum as treats so that is what the other one was filled with. I also found a few cute teachers magnets and wrote her name and the year on the back. I then wrote a nice card, and put a 10 dollar Blockbuster card inside.

For ds' teachers we are doing the Blockbuster cards, a small bunch of flowers, and the magnets with a handwritten note in a card.

As a former teacher, I never expected anything, but it always made me feel appreciated when I was given a nice note from a parent.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Okay, I'm going to jump in here and ask my own teacher gift question. DD and DS have a combined number of teachers (including special ed, and therapists) equalling 11. At Christmas I gave them popcorn boxes filled with a bag of microwave popcorn, candy and a $5 movie rental gift card.

I've thought about giving each teacher a small plant, but I see that might not be a great idea. What about a small pot and a pack of seeds with a card that says "Thank You for helping us Grow" ? Too corny? Any other ideas?

 

[camreesmom]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

We don't give to every teacher every year but there are some teachers out there who just go way above and beyond what is expected. They don't expect gifts but I definitely want to make sure that they know how much they are appreciated. My DD7 has ADHD and can be difficult at times and her 1st grade teacher this year has always made her feel cared for even when she is being disciplined. Her K4 teacher made her feel like dirt and DD couldn't stand going to school. I want my kids to enjoy their time in school, I know it's not always enjoyable, but I don't want school to be a place that they dread, especially at this young age. Today was her teacher's birthday so I just sent the gift that I had bought her for the end of the year which was a nice mousepad calendar with teacher cartoons on it.

Julie

 

[Jingle]

I definitely was not trying to start anything by saying I thought gift giving has gone overboard. I do have respect for other people's opinions. I also agree that it's nice to at least let teachers know they are appreciated, especially those great ones who go above and beyond!

As a divorced mother of two kids, there were times where it just got to be overwhelming with the number of people I was expected to give gifts to, at Christmas or other times of the years. Teachers, bosses, secretary's, the mail deliverer, the paper carrier, the garbage truck operators, the hair stylists and so on. I work hard too for the public but people in my position certainly don't get gifts from the people they serve or help out, even if it's done on a regular basis! I guess I just don't always understand why people are expected to give gifts (I'm not talking tips) to people who work in certain professions.

I apologize for making comments that really don't answer the question of the OP. I am not trying to turn this into a debate about whether gifts are appropriate. It's just something I've wondered about and ended up posting it in response to this question.

 

[mickeyboat]

I understand how you feel, Jingle, and it is a perfectly legitimate feeling. Some people just have different ideas about what they should be doing to show others how much they appreciate them.

This thread got me thinking about teacher gifts, today, too. We just had staff appreciation week, and I did jar candles. I gave scarves for Christmas that I bought while I was in France. For end of year, I bought a springy plastic cup, some drink umbrellas and some candy. I am putting it all in a gift bag with a note saying "Have a sweet summer," and a thank you from the kids. The teachers really do appreciate their students and their families thinking of them.

The thing I find difficult is that there are so many people to thank, and you just don't know where to cut it off. I am doing the bus driver and the five teachers in the girls' classrooms. Maybe next year I will try to do something for the gym and music teachers, the principal, custodian and librarian - but really, where does it end?

Denae

 

[mickeysgal]

As a divorced mother of two kids, there were times where it just got to be overwhelming with the number of people I was expected to give gifts to, at Christmas or other times of the years. Teachers, bosses, secretary's, the mail deliverer, the paper carrier, the garbage truck operators, the hair stylists and so on. I work hard too for the public but people in my position certainly don't get gifts from the people they serve or help out, even if it's done on a regular basis! I guess I just don't always understand why people are expected to give gifts (I'm not talking tips) to people who work in certain professions.

Hey Jingle, are you kidding me...I certainly understand this! You have brought up a very valid point. My DH is between jobs now and money is not as flowing as it should be right now. Thats why I'm trying to wrack my brain to come up with a gift that is appropriate yet not over the top. I don't feel I have to, I want to do this because my son, who is normally sort of shy, has had a great, comfortable year in school. I truly believe that his teachers have had a major hand in this.

 

[lisajl]

I'm giving to a charity in their name.
For God's sake, don't do it...there are people that think I am evil for it!

Lisa

 

[Buckalew11]

I wrote them all a personal note of thanks and included a check. Creative, huh? Our teachers (small private school) make lousy pay and are wonderful teachers. I just want them to know how much I appreciate them.

 

[Brutie]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

I'd have to say I agree. I dont even have kids in school but I dont see the need to get all the teachers gift. My parents or anyones parents I went to school with, never gave the teachers gifts. To me its just too much.

Like George Costanza says "this is getting to be too much"...lol

 

[Brutie]

Whoops...But forgot to add, do you do any kind of sewing, needlework or crafts that you cold make them something. I'm a cross stitcher and make the smaller pieces to put into tuck pillows. I thinkk they'd make a great gift if you do anything like that or you can have someone make them for you, they arent all that much really. Good luck in finding something if you feel like you have to. But, the flock of geese has been done already...

 

[Laurajean1014]

I don't understand why people think they need to give gifts to teachers at the end of the school year. Am I the only one who feels this way? I think the whole gift giving thing has gone way overboard!!!

I am not a teacher. However, I believe that most teachers are overworked and underpaid, and that most teachers are excellent. (There are a few with tenyoritis and are not worthy).

Because they "TAKE CARE" of my child and teach him to read, write, understand complex math problems and keep him in line, I believe, that all teachers deserve a gift.

I usually buy a $50 gift certificate for each teacher and a $25 gift certificate to the administrator.

 

[mytwotinks]

I asked my dd (2nd grade) what she thought her teacher would like. She knew exactly what she wanted to give. Chocolate or scented candles! I always try to give something that can be used up. A Kindergarten teacher once told me that she had hundreds of Christmas ornaments that she had been given in the 5 years she had taught. Imagine what the teachers who have taught for 25 years have!?!?!?!?

Some of the moms that I have shared a teacher with will try to get everybody together and pool our money and do something. One year we had a book made with pictures the kids had drawn. I know that they have done picture frames with a pic of the class in them. While I am sure that the teachers appreciate the thought, unless they have a room in their house devoted to these gifts, I just think it is a little too much. I would rather give something that they can use and get rid of!

I filled a gift bag with all different chocolates! Not too creative, but I know that her husband and kids will be able to enjoy it with her.