Presents for Teachers?

[MNT568]

What do you get your kids teachers for Christmas?

 

[disykat]

Our school has a bookfair this week, so I'm on my way over to get them gift certificates to buy a book of their choice.

 

[Cindy B]

We usually get something from the room mothers regarding this, but i haven't seen a thing about it.

when I was room mother last year, we gave out a poll, and it was decided that we were on our "own" for the holidays, but we did do a end of year present.

Well, between the three room mothers for my daughter, and the two for my son, I should have heard something by now, since it is only two weeks until school ending...

 

[EROS]

Our son's kindergarten teacher is a single mom with a 5 year old. We're getting her a gift certificate to the UPTOWN GOURMET; it's a restaurant in our town which prepares frozen home cooked meals that working people can pop into the oven on the spur of the moment

 

[JulesMom]

We usually gave gift certificates. My aunt was a teacher for 30+ years and said she had enough ornaments, soaps, candles and etc. to last a lifetime

 

[lulugirl]

I think gift certificates are a wonderful idea! Movie tickets are also nice.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=#006400>I like the idea of gift certificates, also.

 

[MNT568]

Thanks for your ideas. I was thinking of gift certificates, but what is an appropriate amount? I was also playing with the idea of a Bath and Body Works Gift set or maybe the tins filled with cookies from Crate & Barrel. My DS has a teacher and an assistant in his classroom plus they have a reading teacher and a physical ed. teacher.

 

[mom2boys]

I found a great snowman scarf for DS1's teacher. She has a black outfit that she wears different seasonal scaves with. No DS2 is more of a challenge. I can't think of anything for her. She's not the soap/candle type and I don't know where to begin to buy her a gift certificate.

 

[CamColt]

In the past when DS only had 2 teachers I got mall gift certificates or movie passes. Now he has 2 in the classroom, a speech teacher, plus the bus driver so I cant really spend too much on each. I went with(for the teachers) the "Twelve Cocoas Of Christmas" and for the bus driver, 12 coffees(same idea). They are nice little gift packs and I was able to order them from a catalog where they were fairly cheap.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

If you are looking at gift certificates, please consider a local teacher supply store instead of BBW, etc. Elementary teachers are so strapped for cash and there are so many cool things they want for their classrooms. I teach HS so I never get anything except the occasional food item (no problem!) but I know so many elementary teachers who get way too much garbage. BBW is a nice idea, but the teacher supply thing is much more useful.
Robin M.

 

[ugadog99]

I really enjoy receiving gift certificates from my students. One year several students went in together and got a certificate for a local restaurant. Also, one year all the students in my class went in and got one gift check from American Express. That was great because I could use it anywhere.

 

[DVC-Don]

I gave ours early. Back in October I walked into the school district offices and wrote out a check for $3200.00.

 

[whirlsy]

the gift certificate to a school supply store is nice~ but I want to give her something outside of work and something she will use for herself~something personal.

 

[Serena]

Don, I about choked on my drink. Wow!

I bought Kelsea's teacher a nice little candle potpouri thingy.

 

[shortbun]

My friends that are teachers say they prefer
gift certificates to personal items as they don't
have room in drawers/shelves/closets for all
the personal items Also, they are always on
diets so cookies and chocolate are great but
often passed on!
Last year ours was for pizza and this year
we'll do the movie pass thing. At the end of
the year, the whole room bought DS's teacher
a spa day and everyone was encouraged to
have their child write a thankyou letter. We also
buy a book from the bookfair for the room but I
don't consider that a teacher gift. Throughout
the year, I buy glue sticks-tissues-handsoap and
stickers for the room too. The school budget
doesn't include $ for those items.

 

[JESW]

In pre-school, DD has 1 teacher and three aides. The room Mom collected money from parents ($10 maximum) and they will be getting a gc from Toys R Us (teachers request) to buy things for the classroom. I also bought $5 worth of Dunkin Donuts gc for the 4 of them since there is a DD around the corner and I know they go there a lot. ($5 each, not split between the 4 of them!)

DS is in the 2nd grade. The room Moms collected money (again, a $10 max) and they will be getting a gc. Not sure where tho. I also have been buying the teacher rubber stamps when they have been on sale or when I use the 40% off one item coupon from A.C. Moore. Also got her an ink pank and some decorative scissors. I rubber stamp all my notes to the teacher and she has expressed an interest. The stamps I bought can be used for classroom activities and/or papers.

At then end of the year our family gives gc to the teachers for their own personal use. Last year in first grade DS had a WONDERFUL teacher who helped him out sooo much. We gave her a gc to Barnes & Noble for $25 because we knew she loved to read.

I must admit that when DS was first in school we gave the teacher & aides more trinket-like gifts that they probably never used. After talking to some former teachers they gave me better ideas for gifts.

Jill