Teacher gift ideas for Christmas

[TN Traveler]

I need some ideas and suggestions. Between my 3 girls, we have alot of Sunday School teachers, school teachers and other adults my girls would like to get gifts for a Christmas. In the last several years I always made small loaves of banana nut bread and cookies. However, I'm really going to be pressed for time this year and won't have alot of free time to bake things plus I
think everyone is getting tired of food. What do y'all get for your teacher gifts? Between the 3 girls I have 6 Sunday School teachers, 3 choir directors, 4 Wed night teachers, a computer instructor, an art teacher, a school music teacher, their bus driver and of course the regular teachers and assistants. I have thought about Christmas ornaments and/or candles but they're $5 or more each. I thought about letting the girls make something but I'll be gone for 5 days 12/1-12/5 and really won't have the time. Plus I can't think of anything the teachers could use or would really like. My girls are 5, 8 and 13.

HELP!! Any ideas/suggestions is apprecaited.

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[Daisymae26]

you could make little soaps with different scents and tie them up in a pretty package.
have your daughters decrorate notecards for the teachers.
check the dollar store for mugs and fill them with hot chocolate mix or coffee or tea. you can add a choclate covered stirrer spoon and wrap it in cellophane.
i probably have a million other ideas, i just can't think right now.

 

[Jeannie]

Since you have a lot of people to give gifts to, how about making one donation (in an amount you feel comfortable with) in all of their names. Local charities or those specializing in helping children might be good to donate to. You can make up certificates that your children can color and/or decorate to present to each teacher.

"A donation to ______ has been made in your name. Enjoy this season of caring and sharing."

Years ago our local elementary school did this and it was a huge success.

Happy holidays!
Jeannie

 

[Spinning]

we did the no sew pillow.

buy fleece cut two pieces to the size pillow you want. Then cut small strips about 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches deep (so remember to make you pillow about 6 inches bigger than you actually want it)
then tie the two pieces together...do this all they way around the pillow. Stuff it.
hope that makes sense.

 

[magic]

I asked one of my friends who is a teacher and two of my sisters who are teachers a few years ago this same question. They all said they enjoyed food, but also liked: candles, bath and body works (a small lotion is good), books, dish towels, really anything is nice, they said it was just so sweet to be remembered.

 

[nicurn]

there was a thread on this subject on the 2peas site, I saved it but the darn board is being snarky and won't actually open it right at the moment, I'll try later and post it. there were some cute ideas though. maggie

 

[pattyT]

with my older dd - i have found out what the teachers use a lot of - that they most likely pay for out of their own pocket and I am going to buy that stuff (candy, prizes, craft stuff)
and for my ds they actually just sent out a Wish List with the items the class needs (as simple as old magazines and tissues to watercolor sets and a tape player with headphones)
I will make a paint bucket for the items I buy too!

 

[PigletsPal]

What was a big hit with my childrens teachers was: Clear plastic frames that I placed puzzle pieces 2 layers overlapping each other glued on then I took the package of buttons that you can get at Michaels, Rag shop and Joann's that have themes: Music buttons for the choir ext. I used the 4x6 and 5x7 frames. One year I even took a picture of all the kids and put it in the frame.

 

[Suzy Mouse]

If you have a Target near you....there are these adorable holiday tins at the $1 spot....all different colors. I plan on making candy to put in them and wrap them up.

One treat that I make which is EXTREMELY popular....

Pretzel M&Ms
Lay pretzels on waz paper. Melt chocolate and pour a bit on each pretzel. Then place 2 M&M's on chocolate and let harden. You can use red and green ones.

 

[TinkerPixxie]

I have several friends that are teachers and they all seem to like getting that no wash antibacterial hand gel. Little kids..germs.

Also one year I did the mason jars with the cookie mixes in them. Takes no time to make, i printed the labels with directions and i believe i got the mason jars at a dollar store. Very affordable to make.

good luck

Tink

 

[TN Traveler]

Thanks to everyone for these awesome ideas. I like the ideas of the picture frames, the coffee mugs w/chocolate stir spoons, and the soaps. I also like the idea of giving the teachers something special for them in their class rooms. I might ask if they have a "wish list" and take it from there. What about bus drivers?
I may go w/small loaves of banana nut bread for some and other ideas for teachers.
Keep the ideas coming!!
Karen

 

[PigletsPal]

Originally posted by Suzy Mouse
If you have a Target near you....there are these adorable holiday tins at the $1 spot....all different colors. I plan on making candy to put in them and wrap them up.

One treat that I make which is EXTREMELY popular....

Pretzel M&Ms
Lay pretzels on waz paper. Melt chocolate and pour a bit on each pretzel. Then place 2 M&M's on chocolate and let harden. You can use red and green ones.

I like this idea and the kids could help you also. I'm going to us this to give to the staff of my drs. I wasn't up to doing much last year.

 

[impsbandaide]

Melt vanilla almond bark and stir in crushed candy canes. Spread it on waxed paper and let it harden, then break into pieces. Very simple and yummy.

Taper candles wrapped with a piece of Christmas ribbon always makes a nice gift. You could insert a little plastic candy cane or ornament for added color.

Holiday dish towels or hand towels, oven mitts, etc are all useful and appreciated.

 

[shelbyjosh]

I have given a nice coffee mug filled with Kisses wrapped in cellophane to catechism teachers and bus drivers. I don't think there are too many people that don't like chocolate! I have also done some of the nice gift sets from Bath and Body Works for teachers.

 

[FINFAN]

We give "movie night" Buy the popcorn bucket at Walmart...$1, a $5 Blockbuster card, a package of M&m's, twizzlers and a red or green Fruitopia juice. I place it all in the bucket and buy cheap tulle from the fabric store, wrap it up, tie w/a ribbon and every year it is it hit. The hardest part is carrying all of these to school!

Pam

 

[yummy72]

I'm the teacher appreciation coordinator for my daughter's school...So far this year I've made them little pumpkins that you put together from sections of orange slice candy...wrapped in cellophane and tied with green ribbon...Leftover Turkey soup mix for Thanksgiving...

Now onto some Christmas ideas--

I found some really cute holiday dish towels at Big Lots this year. They had a cookie recipe on them, and a cookie cutter tied to them also.
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One year I found some mason type jars with handles at the Dollar General store and put homemade cocoa mix in them.

You can do homemade cookie mixes in jars, cocoa mixes, soup mixes, etc... pretty cheap, especially if you have several to make, and get the stuff in bulk at Sams

Here are a couple of websites with recipes:
http://www.budget101.com/Mixes/Mug Mixes.htm
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/holiday-recipes/holiday-food-gift-mix-recipes.html


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Snowman Soup is a cute idea...You can put it in mugs, bags or whatever...Put a pack of cocoa mix, a candy cane, some marshmallows and a couple of hershey's kisses and attach the following poem:

SNOWMAN SOUP

Was told you’ve been real good this year,
Always glad to hear it…

With freezing weather drawing near,
You’ll need to warm the spirit…

So here’s a little Snowman Soup,
Complete with stirring stick…

Add hot water and sip it slow,
It’s sure to do the trick.

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A candle (You can find pretty inexpensive ones at Target, Dollar Store, etc... attach the following poem:

Where there is no knowledge, there is darkness.
Where there is no involvement, there is no hope.
Where there is no striving, there can be no excellence.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, getting involved, and striving for excellence in our children.

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Movie Mania Fun Kit

(I've done several variations on this one...they can be as inexpensive as a small teddy bear and bowl from the dollar store, to a really nice pottery bowl and big teddy bear, lots of candy, etc...)

In a contain of your choice (bowl, bucket, something to put popped popcorn in) place:

(I usually make a little tag that says the following

A Teddy Bear for a Scary Movie
Kleenex for a Sad Movie
Candle for a Romantic Movie

also include microwave popcorn, movie candy and a movie rental gift card.

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If you have a CD burner, and CD label maker you could make your own holiday music CD's...
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I found this list online, it had some cute sayings to go with little gifts:

http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1884.html

I thought this was a cute one to attach to something like soap, lotion, bubble bath, etc...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
No Santa, no reindeer, not even and elf…
Could it be? Mrs. Claus had the house to herself?


along the same line as the bath type stuff:

Candy Cane Bath Salts:

2 cups epsom salts
1/2 c. sea salt
4-6 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red food coloring.
Place one cup of epsom and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil.
Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes.
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I found this one online...I think it sounds so cute...I might let DD make them into little ornaments for the grandparents:

A Priceless Gift

The best inexpensive Christmas gift I ever received was from my son when he was in Kindergarten. The class took empty boxes (hair color, toothpaste, whatever) and wrapped them in wrapping paper and tied them with a ribbon. Attached to the box was this note

"I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a special gift
And wrapped it carefully
But please don't ever open it
Just leave the ribbon tied
And hold it tightly near your heart
Because my love for you's inside

 

[TN Traveler]

Yummy-----WOW!! What awesome ideas!! Thank you so much!!
I really like think candle idea and verse as well as the movie idea.
I'm going to get working on these different ideas this weekend so I can have everything ready by the 15th.

Thank you so much!!
Karen

 

[TN Traveler]

Hey Everyone!
I just wanted to send a great big thank you to all of you that replied to this post. Today was the last day of school for my girls. I gave the 3 main teachers Christmas candles that I found on sale at Kohl's and then printed out the poem about shedding the light, sharing knowledge etc in a really neat font. Put it on some good card stock, accented w/some Christmas stickers and tucked it in the bag w/their candle. RAVE REVIEWS!! Teachers liked the candle but really liked the poem. A friend of mine was looking for an idea too so told her about the movie night. She gave one of her teachers a large plastic bowl, filled it w/microwave popcorn, some M & Ms, other candies and a $10 gift card to Blockbuster. Teacher was thrilled. She loves
renting movies especially during the cold weather and promised she'd put this idea to use quick!!
Thanks again for sharing. You made teacher gift giving so much easier!! Now if I could just get everyone else done!!!

Have a blessed holiday!!

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[Kapp]

and the brother and brother in law of teachers, the one piece of advise I can give you is to NO gifts with "apples" and "1# Teacher", etc. Teachers get a ton of these and after their first year of teaching...they get very old! A great teacher gift (and what we get our kids' teachers) are gift cards for a bookstore (so they can get book for themselves or their class) or from a nice resturant. Teachers are bombarded with knick-knacks (just imagine what you get and than times it by 20+!) so something different is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[yummy72]

Kapp, I have to agree. One of my best friends is a teacher and she said though she loves everything she receives, the apple thing does get old. She said she's received gift cards (even in the amount of $5.00) and she really appreciates those, to all kinds of different places, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Barnes and Noble, etc... alot of times she gets things she needs for the classroom. Another popular one here is a card for a free treat at our local frozen custard shop. (thats only a couple of bucks.) The teacher's at my daughter's school also really seem to appreciate food, especially the homemade things like candy, cookies and jam, etc...I'm sure some of them are so busy tthis time of year, they don't oftem get the chance to prepare some of those things. On a side note, the "leftover turkey soup mixes" I gave them for Thanksgiving were a huge hit.