Teacher gift ideas for under $10??

[KelleyGirl]

Another school year ends, and I have so many teacher gifts to get...

7 school teachers
2 gymnastics teachers
6 dance teachers
Coach collections

The economy being what it is, I need to trim down my gifts this year. Any good ideas for around $10? I like to bake, so may bake a bread or cookies. Any good recipes or themed baked gift ideas?

thanks!

 

[MandM-Mom]

What about doing class gifts, thats what we did this year, each kid gives what they can give and we got a visa gift card for my dd7 teacher. For my dd5 preschool class we did a class gift and we bought the preschool its own digital camera....nice gift and we only put in 10.00 per child

 

[crusoe2]

I teach and can always use small note pads. I usually find them at the various $ stores. At Christmas one year I made up small gift bags for co-workers by dropping some candy into a cellophane gift bag and putting in a small note pad or two and then tied it with pretty ribbon. Or how about a refillable water bottle, some of the individual flavor packets, and a couple other summery items like lip balm with sunscreen and saltwater taffy? You could put the small items inside the water bottle and use ribbon to tie a gift tag around the top.

 

[torinsmom]

As a teacher, a card with a sincere thank you means so much! I had so many parents come to pick up their children yesterday(last day) and just say nothing. It was actually really sad. My favorite gifts were the cards that told how I had impacted their child's life.

If you feel like you really want to give a gift, how about a $5-$10 gift card to Starbucks(for coffee drinkers) or Target/Walmart for others? EVery little bit helps, and it is TRULY the thought that counts. No teacher wants you to take from your family to say thank you, but they do appreciate knowing that you appreciate them.

Marsha

 

[DVCisME]

I know tastefully simple puts together baskets themed for teachers. Maybe you can look at them and then modify them to suit the individual teachers!
Okay I couldn't find them online but dug up some examples. An apple cake or recipe for something similar, two apples and with a note that says "thanks a bushel"-could even add caramel sauce.
A soup bowl and a box of soup- "you are souper"
Brownies- you earn your brownie points for being the best
A $5 movie card and chips/popcorn - enjoy a night at the movies
pound cake and a fruit spread-you make learning berry fun
chips and salsa- you make learning extra spicy!-I like the way you spice of teaching
Hope that helps a little!!

 

[secretpantssam]

I know tastefully simple puts together baskets themed for teachers. Maybe you can look at them and then modify them to suit the individual teachers!
Okay I couldn't find them online but dug up some examples. An apple cake or recipe for something similar, two apples and with a note that says "thanks a bushel"-could even add caramel sauce.
A soup bowl and a box of soup- "you are souper"
Brownies- you earn your brownie points for being the best
A $5 movie card and chips/popcorn - enjoy a night at the movies
pound cake and a fruit spread-you make learning berry fun
chips and salsa- you make learning extra spicy!-I like the way you spice of teaching
Hope that helps a little!!

These ideas are so cute!!

 

[momxx5]

A $5 gift card to Target, Subway, McDonalds, even Walmart, meant a lot to me.

Move git cards, gas cards or a simple child made card waaas worth a lot. It really is the thought that counts.....the idea that you took time enough to find something for us shows kindness and appreciation.

The economy is yucky everywhere and my DH has been out of work since April so I know how hard it can be.
Sadly with a nasty virus going around here, gifts of homemade food are probably not going to be hits this year.

FYI, a fews ago I put together 4th of July baskets and they werre hits.........Dollar Tree for most things which included a pkg of themed paper plates, a red table cloth, blue napkins, some sparking Grape Juice, maybe streamers, etc. A nice basket to get out around the 4th of July and have a cookout without worrying about the dishers.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My default teacher (classroom, dance, Sunday school...) gift is notecards. I have my child draw a nice colorful picture (related to the person- ballerina for her dance teacher, flowers for a gardening classroom teacher...) I scan them into the computer, add "child's name 2009" to the back, and print them out. (I got a bunch of computer-notecards at a local salvage store for $1. Could just use card stock and invitation envelopes...)

I tie 10 of them together with the envelopes. They've always been a big hit. (The dance teacher was upset we didn't make them last year, so we did a double batch for her this year.)

 

[heartsy77]

My 7th grader changes classes, which means 6 teachers. I got each of them Vera Bradley luggage tag. My younger dd has 1 main teacher and one teachers aide. I got her teacher a VB purse and the aid a luggage tag. This is the best I could do because I have been so busy lately! I did not get their dance teachers anything; they are both on competition team so I spend enough $$. I really never thought about the dance teachers; oh well you can't buy for everyone.

 

[IDoDis]

You can buy pretty nice ice cream scoopers at Target or Kohl's (even cheaper with the additional 15, 20 or 30% off specials). Make a little note card for each one that says something like, "Thanks for giving me 'the scoop' in math this year." Cut out the little card with some fancy cropping scissors or just regular scissors, punch a hole it it, attach a ribbon and tie the handle of the scooper. You can then add a $5 gift card to Baskin Robbins or Coldstone.

Makes a great end-of-the year inexpensive gift.

 

[StephMK]

Wow, that's a lot of teachers! For ours, I did something similar to the above. I sent a thank you note and used small gift bags to fill with packs of gum, flavor packets for water, mini candy bars & a Starbucks gift card. I also found these really cute travel size squirt bottles of antibac liquid (looks like a fat pen) came in a multi-pack from Walgreens. I divided everything up among their 3 teachers, did a gift box w/an assortment for the rest of the teachers & one for the afterschool program.

I figured they could use them as snacks while they clean out their rooms, keep in the car, get ready for the next year, whatever. Just little somethings that wouldn't go bad & hopefully showed we appreciate them.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've learned (on these threads) that some people won't eat the baked goods. My gf found some beach towels on sale, and is rolling them up in a pail from the dollar store - very cute. I've made potted herb gardens before. I think I'm going to be lazy, and get $20 target gc's (I only have 4 teachers to buy for this year - dd dances year-round).

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher chiming in

Considering your budget, I would get each teacher a $5.00 gift card to Borders, Dunkin' Donuts, local coffee place, Coldstone, or whatever.

Honestly, I love getting one of those from a student more than a $10.00 plant, candle, picture frame, etc.

 

[yeahdisney]

We live in a small town, the gas station has a pizza thingy in it. They always have special 10 to $12 for a pizza, free litter of pop. So I got the teachers $10 gift cards. They seemed to love it. But now I think I'll have the kids write a card how the teacher improved them last year and mail it to their houses. Thanks for that idea. d

 

[emh1129]

We were *very* limited on funds this month, so for dd's nursery school teachers, I found beautiful lavender roses for $4.99 a dozen. I actually had them split this into 2 bouquets and they wrapped them up beautifully with matching ribbon & everything.

I had dd (4) help me write a nice card, telling her 2 teachers about the wonderful memories she made this year. She and I handed them the bouquets and gave them hugs, letting them know how truly wonderful they have been - and I let them know how thankful that I, as a parent, was that she had received them at teachers. They really went above and beyond.

 

[Pappa Bear]

"My favorite gifts were the cards that told how I had impacted their child's life."

I am a recently retired teacher and I have been cleaning out my files. I have some notes and cards from 35 years ago, some from kids whose kids I taught years later, and I would not take a million dollars for them. A friend of mine called his "blotter notes" because he kept a few under his desk blotter and would pull them out at the end of a really difficult day. I have always filed mine and they sure bring back memories. I would say just a note, especially if it is from the student, is thanks enough and will be treasured for life. That's my opinion. YOMV.

Pappa Bear

 

[Kate and Pete]

"My favorite gifts were the cards that told how I had impacted their child's life."

I am a recently retired teacher and I have been cleaning out my files. I have some notes and cards from 35 years ago, some from kids whose kids I taught years later, and I would not take a million dollars for them. A friend of mine called his "blotter notes" because he kept a few under his desk blotter and would pull them out at the end of a really difficult day. I have always filed mine and they sure bring back memories. I would say just a note, especially if it is from the student, is thanks enough and will be treasured for life. That's my opinion. YOMV.

Pappa Bear

I agree! I keep all my thank you notes from students and parents. I always find myself reading over them at the beginning of the year to get excited about what's to come and at the end of the year when I'm about to lose my sanity!

Those notes have meant far more to me than any gift I've ever received.

 

[KelleyGirl]

These ideas are so good! I can't believe how completely not creative I am! Thanks everyone.

 

[natmurr]

All of the teachers at my kids school get together and pick a charity and ask parents to donate in lieu of gifts. At Christmas we raised over $1500 for Habitat for Humanity. I think parents were more generous with their giving and each family got a tax receipt for their donation. You could also make a donation in the teacher's name.

I am a skating coach and while I love the thought my skaters put into their little gifts I'm not really in need of any more mugs, candles, Christmas decorations etc. Like the PPs said little gift cards are great, but I'd rather see that money go to people/groups in need.

 

[jfoofj]

Each year I have my son write a note himself thanking the teacher for being his teacher, and I write a note too. We usually buy some sort of plant to give to the teachers, and he writes in his note "here's a plant to thank you for helping me grow!". The amount you spend can vary greatly, but it can be done very budget friendly... one teacher we loved and gave her a special rose bush because we knew she grew roses... each time she sees my son she tells him how the roses are doing.

My friend is a teacher, and she comes home with so much stuff at the holidays and end of school and she loves getting plants too (she has a very impressive garden) but she also says that what she really appreciates the most is a thoughtful note. Or red sox tickets ...... (she DID get those one year on the last day of school.... the dad apparently works for the Red Sox corporation somehow and knew she was a fan. Completley unexpected, she was blown away).