OT: teacher end of year gift?

[daisyduck123]

I guess cash is always useful?

Yes...cash does work

Checks too....(one time a 2nd grader gave me a coffee mug for Christmas - I looked at & admired it.
Then she told me "Look inside" ---there was a check for $100.00!!)

 

[torinsmom]

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas was a card with a booklet of movie certficates in them. They could be used for tickets or refreshments at any Carmike Cinema theater. I like the popcorn bucket idea someone shared as well. And yes, cash would work, maybe with a card handmade by your child, asking them to please spend the money on something that will bring them as much joy as they have given your child this year.


Oh, and to everyone, if your child's teacher is doing a great job, take a few minutes just to tell him or her so. You will never know how much that means to us!


Marsha

 

[Nolcrest]

I decided to have DD make her own appreciation cards and give something else, but not sure what

Just to give you an idea: I really LOVED my ticket to the movie theatre, which previous posters have mentioned. On the practical side I also like note cards/thank you cards & stationery (which you can pick up at the dollar store) because I am always using them throughout the school year.

 

[sk!mom]

Yes...cash does work

Checks too....(one time a 2nd grader gave me a coffee mug for Christmas - I looked at & admired it.
Then she told me "Look inside" ---there was a check for $100.00!!)

Cash- especially that much cash would make me uncomfortable and would be frowned upon by admin. in my District.

 

[zookeeper]

Every year I've done teacher gifts for my girls. This year, all I feel like giving my youngest daughter's teacher is A BROOM.
Sorry, just had to vent...

I hear you! There have been some years where it's been difficult to give a gift to a teacher you feel isn't doing a great job. I have nothing against teachers in general (overworked and underpaid without a doubt), but just like any other profession there are some teachers that are better than others. The way I've always dealt with it is to give a token gift, nothing extravagant, but a gift nonetheless. On the other hand, when my kids have had amazing teachers I respond with a nicer gift.

 

[daisyduck123]

Cash- especially that much cash would make me uncomfortable and would be frowned upon by admin. in my District.

It didn't make me feel uncomfortable, just thrilled, & I did let my principal know that day....and she said "of course you can take it, there's nothing written anywhere about teachers not being able to receive gifts, of any amount".

 

[torinsmom]

Nothing at our school says we can't accept gifts either. We are not allowed to ask parents for money, of course(who would?) but a gift is a gift. I would never think of not giving a good teacher something to show I appreciated him/her. Teachers have made a difference in my sons' life and to this day, I remember, Ms Aiken, my 4th grade teacher, and Ms Morrison, my 7th grade teacher. They influenced my life in a fantastic way! My family was not rich, but I remember my mom making homemade blackberry jam for my teachers in school.

Marsha

 

[tatooed goofy]

As an elementary teacher, the best gift I ever received at the end of the year was a picture painted for me by one of my students. The mom bought a frame at Walmart for $3 and framed it. I still have it in my classroom to this day. I teach 4th and he is a junior in college. I just love the gift. Everytime I look at it, I think of Sam. It came from the heart, not the wallet. Something to think of.......
I know a lot of teachers like the gift cards. Maybe I am just different.

 

[hollyb]

We are asked to give $25 per child for an end of year gift. I think its a great idea. What can you buy for $25 not much. I also get the teacher a small personal gift from kids.

 

[marcyinPA]

We are asked to give $25 per child for an end of year gift. I think its a great idea. What can you buy for $25 not much. I also get the teacher a small personal gift from kids.

Wow...$25 per child? That's alot of money! My kids have great teachers, but I couldn't afford to give $50 for end of year gifts! Heck, I don't even spend $25 on my family members! Not that I wouldn't like to, but money is pretty tight these days!

 

[HopingforAMiracle]

Hi~
I was just reading through the board and thought I'd just add:

I'm the "Class Mom" at my son's Preschool.
The class of 11 students is there three days per week for 2 hours each day.
There is one Head Teacher, three Assistant Teachers and one Music Teacher that comes once per week.
For the "Holiday Gifts" in December, the moms decided (I wasn't even there for the discussion, though) that we would give (only parents who wanted to contribute to a group gift):
$20 for the Head Teacher
$15 for each Assistant Teacher
$10 for the Music Teacher
So...each student contributed $75 a piece toward the group Holiday Gifts.

There were a couple of parents from kids who had the teachers on other days that also asked to contribute.
In the end....
Head Teacher received a VISA Gift Card for $215
Each assistant received a VISA Gift Card for $160
The Music Teacher received a VISA Gift Card for $115

I didn't think that $75 was too much to spend for gifts for four different people. None of the parents that I spoke to had a problem with it. In fact, a few contributed to the group gift but also gave an additional gift on their own.