Teacher gifts....How much to spend?

[Princess Roo]

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.

Another nice thing a parent did for the high school teachers (we were a small school) that could work for you was to let the director know that you were bringing in breakfast for the teachers one morning. They brought Panera bagels, cream cheese, fruit, OJ, and coffee and we felt so spoiled! Plus got to sleep in a few extra minutes since breakfast was at school!

I always wonder if the 5 or 10 gift certificates get used.

I think the $5 gift cards are used WAY more than the $5 worth of candles/mugs/ornaments/etc. that so many parents buy. I used all of mine, but ended up putting most of the candles & mugs in the teachers' room for others to take and most of those eventually got thrown away. I can't even imagine how many candles and mugs someone who has been teaching 20 years would have if they kept them all!

 

[ptlycloudy]

I was thinking of a $20 gc to Target for my dd teacher. I have been saving up the $5 gc you get with purchases from Target and I was thinking of giving those the the people that work in the office, lunchroom, and the janitor. Does that sound ok? I realize $5 isn't much but I thought everyone shops at Target. We don't have a Dunkin Donuts and not everyone drinks coffee.

 

[dandelion]

Oh is it time for teacher gifts again? It seems like yesterday that we were getting together gifts for the end of the year!

I think the $5 gift cards are used WAY more than the $5 worth of candles/mugs/ornaments/etc. that so many parents buy. I used all of mine, but ended up putting most of the candles & mugs in the teachers' room for others to take and most of those eventually got thrown away.

I volunteer in the lunchroom at my son's school, and in the kitchen there is a shelf area of about 2 feet by 2 feet, filled with teacher gift mugs. We use them to drink our morning coffee as we work on getting lunch together. As you said, I think very few of the mugs get used as intended, unfortunately.

I was thinking of a $20 gc to Target for my dd teacher. I have been saving up the $5 gc you get with purchases from Target and I was thinking of giving those the the people that work in the office, lunchroom, and the janitor. Does that sound ok? I realize $5 isn't much but I thought everyone shops at Target. We don't have a Dunkin Donuts and not everyone drinks coffee.

I think the janitor, lunchladies and office staff will be happy to be remembered at all. That's why I want to give something to the security guy directing traffic.

 

[daisyduck123]

I always wonder if the 5 or 10 gift certificates get used.

I always use them!! Yes!

 

[KayW]

Love the gift cards. Last year I think I ended up with $45 to DD and was able to get enough coffee and munchkins for a good 2-3 months!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I'm a preschool teacher in Oklahoma, and here the parents go all out!! I've gotten spa days, $25+ gift cards, Bath and Body Works sets and of course, the usual CHOCOLATE!!

My little one goes to the preschool where I teach. Last year was his first year, and we absolutely loved his teacher (and I loved her as a co-worker). We got her a Pendleton purse (she loves anything Native American). Those run about $75+. We got the aides (mostly college-aged ed majors) Bath and Body Works sets and candy.

It depends on how well you like the teacher and how she/he's helping your child. Are they going to extra mile, etc. We'll probably stick in the $15-20 range this year. I think that's pretty reasonable these days!! Haha!!

 

[sweetpeakaris]

We normally get everybody a $10 Panera Bread Gift Card. I figure they could go and have a nice lunch with that.

 

[dpuck1998]

We let the kids decide on the resturant and get $50 gift cards for them. Right now we have two kids in El. School so only two teachers to buy stuff for right now. Also, don't forget your building secertary! I think they are the hardest working people in the building and we always get her something special.

 

[Cowboysfan]

send the teacher on a disney vacation.

This may also ensure good grades, and if word gets around, the next couple of teachers will give good grades too, just hoping to get such a thoughtful gift. you may have to repeat in a couple years, just to keep the ones that don't get it hoping.

i give $10.00 donation towards their disney vacation (or whatever they choose - like there is anything cooler).

 

[barkley]

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!

does the place you're working as an aide even permit employees to solicit for gifts from parents (even if it's for another teacher)? any school or preschool i've ever worked for did'nt permit anyone who worked with the children in any capacity to do this. at the preschool my kids went to if one of parents of a child in the school worked there-they could be a 'room parent', but they had to exclude themselves from the entire 'gift for the teacher' process-it had to be handled from ideas for gift to choice to soliciting for funds....by another parent. you might want to check what the school's policy is.

btw-that teacher is tacky.

 

[2kids1dog]

I give each of my children's teachers a $25 AmEx gift certificate.

 

[Micka Mouse]

I went on YankeeCandle.com tonight and bought their gifts. For DD5's K teacher, I bought a large candle, and will be sending her a fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements. Then I went to the $9.99 and under section . DD5 also has 2 aides in the room, 2 different bus drivers, and a dance teacher and aid. DD2 has 3 teachers in daycare. It definetly adds up. They were advertising $6 shipping for orders under $100. Unfortunetly, I was over the mark, so I paid a little more. Guess it beats going to the mall and carrying what I'm sure will be an extremely heavy box/bag from the mall to the car .

 

[ptlycloudy]

Any interesting ways to present a gift card? I was wanted something other than handing them just an envelope. I thought maybe my dd should make something that we could attach the card to.

 

[thedizwizkid]

Gift cards, they usually like such as, some from a store like barns and noble , or even a craft store.. Usually my parents don't spend alot. She usually likes to make things for the teachers.



hope this is great advice

 

[leight]

I'm not sure why, but room moms don't seem to exist in my dds' school. I much prefered having a room mom who collected for a large gift cert/card then doing individual gifts. This year I bought two gift certificates for a really popular pizza place ($20 each thru the 1/2 price offers via clear channel so I paid $10 ea) and will give that with a note from each of my kids. I also collected a bunch of the free silver jewelry (when shipping was $3.99) so they will give a pair of earrings or pendant too. After xmas I collect the $10-$20 gift sets at walmart/kmart/target at 70-90% off. These I use to make up the week of gifts for teachers' apppreciation week. It is in may (would much prefer it to be in march to break up the gift giving from year end). Year end I usually give a generic gift card and something personal- last year's teacher was a young mom so I made up pool gift bag: floats, pail/shuvels and dive toys with a $10 target gift card. I try to keep it in the $15 range each teacher.

 

[ryka]

I'm a teacher's aide in a K class. Any present is greatly appreciated but I can tell you the candles that I receive as presents I give away. I get really bad headaches from the smell of them that I can't keep in my house. The same goes for some of the fragrant lotions.

I give my kid's teachers gift cards either to target or someplace they can eat. This year besides a gift card we are going to make them those tie blankets and give those as presents so they always have something to remember my children.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm a teacher's aide in a K class. Any present is greatly appreciated but I can tell you the candles that I receive as presents I give away.

The ones I receive end up in my annual yard sale.
I wish parents would know that we receive waaayyyyy too many candles.
I can usually get $3.00 a piece for the Yankee candles.

 

[princesssfws]

Any interesting ways to present a gift card? I was wanted something other than handing them just an envelope. I thought maybe my dd should make something that we could attach the card to.

I present my gift cards in homemade felt bags. Last year we made a snowman shape, cut out 2 of the same shape, then glue down the sides with ribbon sandwiched inbetween for the handle. You could do any shape you want just leave a big enough opening at the top to slip the card in.

 

[dpuck1998]

The ones I receive end up in my annual yard sale.
I wish parents would know that we receive waaayyyyy too many candles.
I can usually get $3.00 a piece for the Yankee candles.

Sure beats nothing......thats what I get in my job.....

 

[daisyduck123]

Sure beats nothing......thats what I get in my job.....

What's your job?