OT: Teacher gift ideas, what are you buying?

[DutchsMommy]

I am a gift cert giver as well. I have the Bay, Chapters and Winners to choose from this year (love those Airmiles). I like the idea of the teacher being able to choose for her/him self what they would like to buy. I also like the idea of Scholars' Choice, but unfortunately there aren't as many of those around (although the online catalogue is amazing!).

 

[Torontogal]

I make these cool decorative paint cans and fill them up with stuff. I also include a laminated home made bookmark which has a Teacher Poem on one side. The other side has a photo of my child with a simple note written by them usually thanking the teacher.

 

[PopArtGal]

Thanks! Good to know, and when my kids are in high school I will remember to have them get something for their teachers! High school teachers probably need the boost more than anybody else I know!

But I think the best gift they give me right now is helping me with all the extra projects I do like they help me paint the background to sets I make for the community. Then, for example, I buy them donuts and they are sooooooo happy and thank me a few times during that period.

That is a great gift

But then again I'm talking about the seniors... the rest of the students are not like that hehe

 

[cdndislvr]

Last year my dd's grade one class got together and bought the teacher an Italian charm bracelet and then each of the children bought an individual charm for the bracelet. The children either bought a charm that reminded them of the teacher or would remind the teacher of them. (the only problem was steering the kids away from the typical "teacher" charms) It was a wonderful little keepsake for her.

 

[maddiel]

I saw these ornaments in Walmart this morning. They were only $2.99 and all the proceeds go to Breakfast Clubs of Canada. I would think that that would be a charity that most teachers would approve of and the ornaments are quite pretty.


M.

 

[belle1627]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Last year my kids made the teachers an ornament and of all the bought gifts I have given it was the one they made that I got the most response.

 

[striker3636]

This year the teachers at the school are asking for no gifts and to donate the money on their behalf to one of the charities that the school is supporting this season (coats, mittens, toys for kids or supplies for a school in Africa). In the past I usually give some of my homemade canned goods such as salsa, red pepper jelly, layered muffin/cookie jars etc. Some of the teachers use a lot of the nicely shaped note paper, stickers, and such and I will buy some more for them to use.

 

[dangler]

Hey disers,

I need your help. Another year of wracking my brain trying to figure out what to get my ds/d teachers. One SK and one grade 3 teacher. Any teachers out there to give advice or any good ideas from other parents? I don't want to get the same old stuff, I am sure the collection of mugs and apple related items teachers get must be insane. I want to get something they want/need, any ideas, what are you getting your kids teachers??

TIA,

This year we have gotten the teachers really nice tree ornaments and we are planning to do a 5 dollar donation to the Humaine Society in their name as well. The kids are 7 and 9 and love going into the Humaine Society to play with all the cats so I thought it might be nice for them this year. In previous years we have done gift certificates

 

[perdidochas]

Hey disers,

I need your help. Another year of wracking my brain trying to figure out what to get my ds/d teachers. One SK and one grade 3 teacher. Any teachers out there to give advice or any good ideas from other parents? I don't want to get the same old stuff, I am sure the collection of mugs and apple related items teachers get must be insane. I want to get something they want/need, any ideas, what are you getting your kids teachers??

TIA,

As a teacher's husband, I can tell you they most appreciate either gift certificates or bath supplies (i.e. bubble bath, bath salts, etc.) Unless they are a first year teacher, get them ANYTHING BUT APPLES.

 

[ferris198]

Last year I bought my son's teacher a pair of really noce warm mittens for when she is on yard duty.
Apparently she hadn't received any before, so I think I will so the same this year.
We also buy a book for the classroom at the annual bookfair which is held on interview night.

 

[son3disfan]

I have 2 Great ideas that the teachers loved....
First , I called 10 other parents to go in on a real nice gift certificate ($200.00) for the KEG ( her favorite restaurant).
The other teacher , who has 3 small children , a family pass ( from CAA)
to Famous Players ( MOVIES). I over heard her talking to another teacher about how she wanted to go to the movies over the holidays but it was too expensive. My girlfriend and I went in together ( I mean .. our kids... went in together on the gift. ) It was about $40.00 so we went half..
This year , I was going to buy my son's Grade One teacher a one year subscription to Chick a dee magazine ( so she can use it in the class room too ) What do you think , teachers..

 

[twinz]

What about getting a jar filling it with the dry ingrediants to a recipie (a cookie one) filling the jar up with it then attaching the recipie to the jar with a nice bow....all they have to do is add the wet ingrediants and bake them.
The stamps is a good idea, but I think the pressie should be something for the teacher not the classroom.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Timmies gift cert in a home made card!

 

[briarberry]

I am a teacher (grade 1) and last year I sent home a note asking parents to donate a gift to the class instead of giving me a gift. I have been teaching a long time and do appreciate all the gifts I have received but honestly I have enough candles and mugs to last a lifetime.
Our class received some great items. We got markers, stickers, pencils, books, even a nice soccer ball and basketball for the kids to use at recess. We also got gift certificates that I used to buy books for the room. One child brought a gift certificate for Scholar's Choice.
I have asked parents to do the same thing this year. I know people really like to show their appreciation to us but we really don't need a lot of stuff. That is how I see it anyway. 99% of us are there because we love the kids.
I personally give my daughter's teacher a bottle of wine! My daughter goes to the same school as I teach in so I can slip the bottle in quietly. You'd be surprised how appreciated that is!!!!!!!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

As a teacher myself I hate to think that any of my parents are "hitting their heads against a wall" to come up with a gift for me. For me the nicest gift is the gift of appreciation. It comes in the form of a friendly smile, note or phone call and it doesn't cost you anything but time.

 

[belle1627]

As a teacher myself I hate to think that any of my parents are "hitting their heads against a wall" to come up with a gift for me. For me the nicest gift is the gift of appreciation. It comes in the form of a friendly smile, note or phone call and it doesn't cost you anything but time.

Not hitting my head, I appreciate my kids teachers and want them to know it!!! I just don't want to get them another apple I actually talked with my ds teacher and she said she would love educational board games for the classroom (for rainy days stuck inside). I think that is a great idea!!!!!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I am making a small altered paint can, (where they can later use for holding pens, rulers, markers, scissors, etc) and its not with a teacher theme, its more floral...and inside i have a package of Starbucks coffee, note cards and envelopes, and i am going to pick up either a pen or some biscotti. (big difference, but if i forget to go and get biscotti or other 'coffee treat' then i can always quickly pop out and get funky pens)

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I have 2 Great ideas that the teachers loved....
First , I called 10 other parents to go in on a real nice gift certificate ($200.00) for the KEG ( her favorite restaurant).
The other teacher , who has 3 small children , a family pass ( from CAA)
to Famous Players ( MOVIES). I over heard her talking to another teacher about how she wanted to go to the movies over the holidays but it was too expensive. My girlfriend and I went in together ( I mean .. our kids... went in together on the gift. ) It was about $40.00 so we went half..
This year , I was going to buy my son's Grade One teacher a one year subscription to Chick a dee magazine ( so she can use it in the class room too ) What do you think , teachers..

wow not a teacher but those are all great ideas! like the chick a dee one!

 

[drag n' fly]

I saw these ornaments in Walmart this morning. They were only $2.99 and all the proceeds go to Breakfast Clubs of Canada. I would think that that would be a charity that most teachers would approve of and the ornaments are quite pretty.


M.

Thank you so much for this idea! We bought a lot because the kids have more than one teacher and then the playschool teachers also. They are only 2.99 each here. What I am doing is slipping in a 10 dollar gift card from Starbucks to the home room teachers also with the ornament. I usually give 20 dollar gift cards from Starbucks but I liked the ornament idea better.

 

[marconat]

I bought for my daughter's 1st grade teacher a beautiful apple paperweight.. she often opens the window and papers goes flying around... so I thought it would be cute... for my son's 5th grade teacher I bought Truffle hot chocolate with 2 cups... it's packaged that way...very cute. And for my son's guitar teacher, I got him one of those beautiful arrangement from Tim Horton's. (coffe and cup). And now that all my gifts are made... I'm concentrating on my packing... the trip is coming fast....