OT - Ideas for teacher's gift

[scrapgal123]

I know this is not really budget related but I can't think of any ideas for gifts for my DD's teachers. She is graduating from a small middle school and has had these same teachers for all of her middle school years. So she would like to give them each a special gift. She also has 1 particular teacher that has been extra special and we would like to give her a special gift.

Any ideas????

 

[Bren's Mom]

All of the teachers I know would love, first and foremost, a heartfelt letter/card from students and from parents. After that, a gift card to someplace like a book store or Staples or the local teacher store is always appreciated since often they spend out of pocket money for extra things for their classrooms.

 

[Isi]

I have been thinking of getting my kids teacher a gift card for a message..

http://www.massageenvy.com/home.aspx

There prices seem really good...

 

[meway]

Being a former teacher, I would have to ditto to have your child make a special card for the teacher. I always got sentimental at the end of the year and really appreciated handwritten/homemade things. I would also agree that a gift card would be much appreciated---even a $5 bookstore gift card. I can guarantee the teachers have all the coffee mugs and pictures frames they'll ever need, but who wouldn't like to be able to pick out a paperback book or a magazine?

You are so thoughtful to do this for the teachers! Teachers work so hard and get paid so little...

 

[Bren's Mom]

"I can guarantee the teachers have all the coffee mugs and pictures frames they'll ever need"

My best friend is a teacher...after every holiday it's a tradition for us to get together and go through her bag of 'tchotchkes'. This past Christmas she got 7 packages of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, which she doesn't eat and so she donated at the food drive. To be honest, anything reusable is usually freecycled or donated, if it's not it's thrown out. She lives in a small condo and just doesn't have room for all of these little dust catcher things, sweet and nice as they are. If you have 30 kids in a class, several 'gift giving' times per year times years of teaching...you'd end up with no where to sit in your home if you kept everything. It seems such a shame, and she feels really bad about it but there's not much she can do.

 

[bradleysnana]

www.curingkidscancer.org
This is an excellent organization started by a Mother whose son died from leukemia (she is a friend of mine). She has received backing from the National PTA association as well as Lee Corso and most of the youth sports associations. For $10.00 you can make a donation in your child's teacher's name. The teacher receives a very nice certificate and letter. The letter talks about how the teacher has taught the children to pay it forward. I gave them to all of my grandchildren's teachers and even the assistant principal. The asst principal was very excited and has the certificate hanging in her office next to her diploma. I went to the dollar store and bought $1.00 frames and framed the certificate. If you want to donate $50.00 (either $50.00 for one teacher or $10.00 for 5 teachers, you will receive a tote bag or a t-shirt. Let me know if you want any information. This also works well for youth coaches such as the baseball coach, soccer coarch, etc.

 

[HsvTeacher]

www.curingkidscancer.org
This is an excellent organization started by a Mother whose son died from leukemia (she is a friend of mine). She has received backing from the National PTA association as well as Lee Corso and most of the youth sports associations. For $10.00 you can make a donation in your child's teacher's name. The teacher receives a very nice certificate and letter. The letter talks about how the teacher has taught the children to pay it forward. I gave them to all of my grandchildren's teachers and even the assistant principal. The asst principal was very excited and has the certificate hanging in her office next to her diploma. I went to the dollar store and bought $1.00 frames and framed the certificate. If you want to donate $50.00 (either $50.00 for one teacher or $10.00 for 5 teachers, you will receive a tote bag or a t-shirt. Let me know if you want any information. This also works well for youth coaches such as the baseball coach, soccer coarch, etc.

That is an awesome idea! I am a teacher, and I would love to receive a gift like this.

 

[SylviaL]

My DH just suggested getting a gas card for my son's preschool teacher. Her drive takes 45 minutes each way and she's on a tight budget. I filled my tank up today for $4.19/gallon! Yikes!

 

[Jaycey'smom]

www.curingkidscancer.org
This is an excellent organization started by a Mother whose son died from leukemia (she is a friend of mine). She has received backing from the National PTA association as well as Lee Corso and most of the youth sports associations. For $10.00 you can make a donation in your child's teacher's name. The teacher receives a very nice certificate and letter. The letter talks about how the teacher has taught the children to pay it forward. I gave them to all of my grandchildren's teachers and even the assistant principal. The asst principal was very excited and has the certificate hanging in her office next to her diploma. I went to the dollar store and bought $1.00 frames and framed the certificate. If you want to donate $50.00 (either $50.00 for one teacher or $10.00 for 5 teachers, you will receive a tote bag or a t-shirt. Let me know if you want any information. This also works well for youth coaches such as the baseball coach, soccer coarch, etc.

I would love to know more. It sounds like a great gift!

 

[Russian-in-Kansas]

We always do flowers. Nothing too extravagant, but a simple and tasteful arrangement is my favorite. Plus it trains the boys for the future

 

[Aliceacc]

Scholastic.com is having a $1 sale. I went online the other day and ordered a total of $45 worth of stuff-- that's $15 for each of the 3 teachers I'm buying for. Since most of the stuff is valued at 3 or 4 times that, it will make a nice gift.

I'm not sure whether the site is open to non-teachers. If not, you could do the same type of thing at the dollar store &/or the Dollar Spot at Target... stickers, highlighters, anything teachery.

 

[kmk160]

It may sound a little corny, but I got each teacher a KitchenAid pink Susan G Komen ice cream scoop (good deal when on sale at Kohls and since I am walking Breast Cancer 3 day this year, thought it was appropriate).
I attached a 5.00 Cold Stone Cert. with a note that read "thanks for the scoop on learning!"

 

[KAPTink]

It may sound a little corny, but I got each teacher a KitchenAid pink Susan G Komen ice cream scoop (good deal when on sale at Kohls and since I am walking Breast Cancer 3 day this year, thought it was appropriate).
I attached a 5.00 Cold Stone Cert. with a note that read "thanks for the scoop on learning!"

I think this idea is very clever, and very summery!!

 

[KAPTink]

My children are into cooking, so we're going to make muffin mix in a jar, and give it with personal note from the child, and a tag that says, "Enjoy your summer BREAK fast". Also a bit corny, but didn't know how else to combine the two!

 

[KAPTink]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but we had a teacher who actually stopped me in the hallway and asked if we would go ahead and collect cash, since that's what is always done, but instead of putting it into a gift card assortment from the class could we just give her the cash so she could go shopping???
I was shocked!! What if we weren't planning to collect any $$ for a class gift this year?

 

[Lucy2005]

We always did a class collection and gave the teacher a hanging plant for summer and then a gift card to either the bookstore, mall or american express. DD also gave a book to the school library in the teachers name.
I can't believe someone would actually say "cash". They may be thinking it but wow!

 

[IDoDis]

It may sound a little corny, but I got each teacher a KitchenAid pink Susan G Komen ice cream scoop (good deal when on sale at Kohls and since I am walking Breast Cancer 3 day this year, thought it was appropriate).
I attached a 5.00 Cold Stone Cert. with a note that read "thanks for the scoop on learning!"

I do this same thing every year. I never thought of a pink ice cream scooper though. I usually pick them one at Linens-N-Things with the 20% off coupons. I'll check Kohl's for the pink ones. Are they seasonal there? I've never seen them. I gave DS's teacher the Susan Komen lunch tote for Valentine's Day, so I'd love to add to her collection.

 

[Ephany]

We usually do a Target or Walmart gift card or movie gift certificates to the local theater. The movie tickets in particular have always been a big hit. I love the bookstore idea though.

 

[andymattmom]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but we had a teacher who actually stopped me in the hallway and asked if we would go ahead and collect cash, since that's what is always done, but instead of putting it into a gift card assortment from the class could we just give her the cash so she could go shopping???
I was shocked!! What if we weren't planning to collect any $$ for a class gift this year?

I wouldn't give her/him anything except a book on manners! That is terrible.

I agree with the movie cards/gas cars/car wash/ grocery (Walmart, Meijer, etc.). I gave a teacher margarita mix and glasses one year--I knew her well and I just took it and told her to open everything after school when the kids were gone.

I have 2 to buy for as my older son is in middle school. I usually get the secretaries a $5 Panera card and the pricipal and vice principal a $10 one. The teachers I spend a little more on- this year especially since my younger son had fantastic teachers. I am going to have him write a note to them. I also let them know how much as a parent we appreciate what they have done for our kids.

It is hard with $$$ this year but I am going to get things. I think next year each month I will buy 1 card and then it won't hit at the end of the year.
never ends!!!!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I have always collected money from all the parents to give to the teacher. I think right now it's more important that the teacher has the means to get school supplies they need than to have lotion. I know most schools are having big budget cuts for next school year. My older son's teacher had to actually start asking that we send back the little photocopied story books so she can use them next year as she won't have the money to copy all of them again. And she always went over her budget before. So this year I'm again collecting money. It's up to them how they use it, but we usually split it between the teacher store and Target. They can do whatever they want with it, but it's also a way of the students passing something on to the next year's class.