Teacher gifts....How much to spend?

[slduck]

With all this talk of gift cards and donations, I was wondering how much everyone spends on teacher gifts.

I have 5 to purchase when you add the teachers and assistants.

 

[daisyduck123]

We have always gotten DS9's teacher (elem. school) a $25.00 gift card.
He never has any aides, so none to buy for.

**Sometimes, with the elem. school, a room mom takes up a collection. Then we donate $20.00 or $25.00 to that.

When DD got to middle school, we would get each teacher (7 of them) a $5.00 gift card to Starbuck's. There was usually one or two special teachers that she really loved, that we'd give more to.

Now that DD is in high school (8 teachers), we'll give each a $5.00 gift card.

 

[Aliceacc]

Each of my 3 kids has a teacher. The 2 older ones have Religion teachers and a bus driver. The youngest has an aide in her Pre-K class, as well as a speech teacher. I always chip in to the class collections as well as getting a gift on the side.

The first time an adult has one of my kids, I get him or her a $10 fleece throw. (Who doesn't love a warm blanket on a cold night?) If I have to get more creative, I still try to keep it in the $10-$15 range-- that still puts me in the $100 ballpark for those gifts, aside from whatever the class has collected.

And, by the way, I'm a teacher. Last year was my first teaching kids as young as middle school; I was astounded by the generosity. (By high school, teachers normally don't get Christmas gifts.) But those $5 Dunkin Donuts gift certificates were great... I could get my family a box of Munchkins.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

I usually spend around $5. My oldest has a teacher and 3 aides in his class, a bus driver and a bus aide a speech and occupational therapist. I've done Dunkin donuts gift cert., Walmart & blockbuster. I've bought Hersheys Pot of Gold box of Choc. (when they are on sale) and Christmas ornaments if I know they celebrate it. I have a friend who is a bus driver and has a closet filled with candles she has received as gifts, she likes when she gets a Dunkin Donuts gift cert. I work as a teachers aide and I appreciate when I receive a little something even just a nice sentiment in a card thanking me, a little gift can go a long way. I think when giving a teacher a gift a cert. from the whole class is an easy gift to give and put to good use for something they would like to buy. Linda

 

[Tootles]

I was thinking...that I would like to buy my DS8 (3rd GR) and DS5 (1st GR) teacher's gift while at WDW. Any ideas of teacher's gifts at WDW for between $5-$10?

 

[dougsmom98]

I try to spend between $5-$10 per teacher/aid. This year I bought a bunch of extra school supplies at the beginning of the school year at fantastic prices and I will add a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card in there for the teacher's personal use. Last year I bought draft dodgers (long skinny plush like things to go in the crease of a drafty window or door) for everyone. In New England, everyone has a drafty window or door so I thought it would be useful and unique. They were really nice and cost about $10 on sale. The year before I bought snowman and moose shelf sitters for $7.

 

[momxx5]

I LOVE WDW food items ....Mickey shaped pasta, with pasta spoon added, cookie cutters, choc pretzels in character shapes, etc.

 

[Tootles]

I LOVE WDW food items ....Mickey shaped pasta, with pasta spoon added, cookie cutters, choc pretzels in character shapes, etc.

Great ideas-and who doesn't like food, right? How unique!

 

[Karmel96]

As a parent, we spend anywhere from $15-$25 on my DD's teacher. If there are a lot of aides working in the room too, we bring the cost down so that we can get something for everyone. We've always done gift certificates- dinner, video, movies, bookstore- unless we know of something personal the teacher will like. NO apples or ornaments!
I'm also a teacher and LOVE the gift certificates . One of my favorites that I've given and received is one for a video store. With it, we've put microwave popcorn and movie candy (we base the variety on what kind of family the teacher has).

 

[foreverprincess]

A word of caution about food gifts. There are diabetic teachers out there and it is a shame to give them really nice food gifts that they can't enjoy.
I love gift cards. Gift cards to the Disney Store would make me REALLY HAPPY! My parents know I love Disney as my room is completely decorated in it!

 

[Princess Roo]

With my son's two daycare teachers, we will spend $50 each (Target cards), but that's mostly because we really feel they work hard and also don't get paid enough. Last year there were some class assistants and the cook also had to work with us some on the menu for his allergies and we gave each of them $10.

When I taught high school a few years ago, gifts ranged from things that were obviously from the dollar store up to $100 from a family that I had two of their children in both class and math team! Most people didn't give anything or gave $5 or $10 giftcards (Borders, Starbucks, Office Depot, etc.). Another nice inexpensive gift was small packages of Godiva or Ghiradelli chocolate. And, as I mentioned on another thread, a few parents did donations to charities in my honor.

I think it really depends on the area, too. My mom teaches K in a rural area and it is REALLY rare for a parent to spend more than $5 on a gift (and we didn't for our teachers growing up, either...she would usually do baked goods/candy), while $20-25+ on elementary teacher gifts are pretty common here in suburban Atlanta.

 

[reelmom]

We usually get a $10.00 gift card to our local bookstore and put it with a Christmas Ornament.

 

[beattyfamily]

$10

 

[dandelion]

This is DD's first year in middle school, she wants to give something to her 4 core teachers and guidance counselor. I'm planning on $5 gc to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

DS teacher (grade 3) typically sends a letter asking us to send gifts to a charity she names instead of giving her anything. I will follow that advice for her - but hope DS will at least draw her a picture or write a sweet note.

The person I really want to gift is the security guy that directs traffic outside the middle school. He definitely makes my life easier every day. I'll try to hand him a card with $5 or 10.

If only he could instruct some of the parents that the marked drop-off lane is for "dropping off," not parking for 5 minutes while your little darling finishes their homework.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

I forgot to mention that along with a gift I sometimes put a lottery ticket in the card. Linda

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

My son's preschool teacher approached me the other day about this very subject. She told me that I was "in charge" of making sure that they got a good gift this year. "I'm tired of candles, ornaments and nic-nacs". I'm working as a teaching assistant in another class while my son is there, so I guess she felt she could come to me. She requested that I convince the other parents to get a gift certificate to the local spa.

As a former teacher, I NEVER expected lavish gifts from my students. NEVER. I got my teaching degree because I love children and know how important they are to our future.

I understand that his teacher is hard working and gets paid next to nothing. I don't mind contributing towards a gift . . . a healthy sum, even. Just don't TELL me that you don't want this or that. I'm sure parents went to a lot of trouble to select those candles or nic-nacs just for her.

UGH!

 

[sahm1000]

My son's preschool teacher approached me the other day about this very subject. She told me that I was "in charge" of making sure that they got a good gift this year. "I'm tired of candles, ornaments and nic-nacs". I'm working as a teaching assistant in another class while my son is there, so I guess she felt she could come to me. She requested that I convince the other parents to get a gift certificate to the local spa.

As a former teacher, I NEVER expected lavish gifts from my students. NEVER. I got my teaching degree because I love children and know how important they are to our future.

I understand that his teacher is hard working and gets paid next to nothing. I don't mind contributing towards a gift . . . a healthy sum, even. Just don't TELL me that you don't want this or that. I'm sure parents went to a lot of trouble to select those candles or nic-nacs just for her.

UGH!

As a former teacher and now a mother I can't ever imagine being that rude. I worked in an inner city school for several years and received very little from my middle schoolers and what I did receive I knew it came from the heart even if it wasn't very expensive or nice and I treasured it just the same.

For my children's preschool teachers I try to suggest to the parents that we go together and get a gift card for them from American Express (this way it doesn't make them stick to a store). I also send in homemade goodies for them if I know they would appreciate it. We usually contribute around $20 for each child (this is for the aide and the teacher as well as music and Spanish). The primary teacher does get the most, the aide next and music and Spanish get the same. I think the division is 10 for the teacher, 5 for the aide, 2.50 for music and Spanish. It might seem cheap that the music and Spanish teachers only get 2.50 but they get it from every class, not just one. I think it works out in the end.

Throughout the year I also periodically send in supplies for the teachers. My four year old has a treasure chest that they get to pick out a treat from at the end of the week so I will send in things for that, tissues, diaper wipes (good for lots of things, not just bottoms!), shaving cream (to clean and practice writing with) as well as the usual crayons, markers, glue sticks, etc. My husband used to be furious that I would spend so much money on my kids when I taught (probably close to $600 at the start of the year) so I understand that everything helps. Parents, please don't forget that teachers work for very little money and love your children. Everything that you see in their rooms is usually from their own wallet - the bulletin board displays, calendars, posters, rugs, special comfy chairs, books, etc. It all adds up! Help them out when you can, it is truly appreciated.

 

[luvtogo12]

My son's preschool teacher approached me the other day about this very subject. She told me that I was "in charge" of making sure that they got a good gift this year. "I'm tired of candles, ornaments and nic-nacs". I'm working as a teaching assistant in another class while my son is there, so I guess she felt she could come to me. She requested that I convince the other parents to get a gift certificate to the local spa.

As a former teacher, I NEVER expected lavish gifts from my students. NEVER. I got my teaching degree because I love children and know how important they are to our future.

I understand that his teacher is hard working and gets paid next to nothing. I don't mind contributing towards a gift . . . a healthy sum, even. Just don't TELL me that you don't want this or that. I'm sure parents went to a lot of trouble to select those candles or nic-nacs just for her.

UGH!

How Rude.

 

[Gillian]

Oh is it time for teacher gifts again? It seems like yesterday that we were getting together gifts for the end of the year! DD's school is difficult because she has one main teacher & aide, but everyone works with all the kids for a total of about 8. DS has a lot of teachers, but we will probably just do his main teacher.

Last year a few moms got together and chipped in for restaurant gift certificates for the preschool teachers & aides. It was nice to be able to give something a little larger. I always wonder if the 5 or 10 gift certificates get used.

 

[Aliceacc]

Oh is it time for teacher gifts again? It seems like yesterday that we were getting together gifts for the end of the year! DD's school is difficult because she has one main teacher & aide, but everyone works with all the kids for a total of about 8. DS has a lot of teachers, but we will probably just do his main teacher.

Last year a few moms got together and chipped in for restaurant gift certificates for the preschool teachers & aides. It was nice to be able to give something a little larger. I always wonder if the 5 or 10 gift certificates get used.

You could always make up a basket of candies or something for the faculty room and cover all DS's teachers at once.

And, yes, last year I used each of the $5 Dunkin Donut gift certs I got. I'm not a coffee drinker, but my kids love Munchkins!!!