Teacher gifts....How much to spend?

[grlpwrd]

After reading and discussing on the DIS and other forums, now I don't give homemade goodies, knick knacks, mugs, candles, lotions and potions, and anything too personal.

Yes, some people are allergic, but also many people don't trust where the food is cooked or whether it was sanitary or not. Knick knacks and mugs are clutter to people and candles and lotions and potions can be too overpowering, overdone, or there may be allergies. I don't give personalized items because it's ... well, too personal. lol

I have given gift cards like to Starbucks or Target, candycane reindeer (glue gun googly eyes and a fluffy noce and then wrap pipe cleaner for antlers), school supplies, ordered requested books for the class, and other things.

Yes, I have also remembered the custodians, school office staff, cafeteria staff, and other support staff. For example, I have given group gifts, like boxes of good chocolate for all to share or a fruit and nut basket I organized myself.

This year we are making reindeer candy jars, lavender gifts, and homemade note cards for the teachers.

 

[familyS]

At least 7 years ago our school district started sending out letters every year about teaching our children charity.

They request that IF we are inclined to purchase a gift for a teacher, could we please send in a new hat, scarf, gloves, or mittens instead for the school's giving tree. All items are sent to charity.

If someone wants to spend more, they can "adopt" a child from the school's Angel Tree and send in an unwrapped gift for that anonymous individual. Every year all of the Angles have been adopted at the Elementary, Middle, and High Schools that my children attended.

It takes place early enough to cover children of all faiths .


(If we were to give material gifts to their teachers, it would be something they made or wrote.)

 

[dpuck1998]

What's your job?

Does it matter?? Am I less deserving?

 

[daisyduck123]

Does it matter?? Am I less deserving?

Sure it matters. I wouldn't get a waitress at the Sizzler (using that as an example) a Christmas gift.

The only people that spend more hours with a child than a teacher are his/her parents. Teachers play "mother, nurse, referee, counselor, and the list goes on & on" to each child. Teachers touch a child's life much more than say a "letter carrier, retail salesclerk, or whatever else your job could be. Many parents show their thanks by sending in a gift.

And btw....no one here has said that a teacher is "deserving" of a gift.
People do it because they want to.

 

[barkley]

Sure it matters. I wouldn't get a waitress at the Sizzler (using that as an example) a Christmas gift.

The only people that spend more hours with a child than a teacher are his/her parents. Teachers play "mother, nurse, referee, counselor, and the list goes on & on" to each child. Teachers touch a child's life much more than say a "letter carrier, retail salesclerk, or whatever else your job could be. Many parents show their thanks by sending in a gift.

And btw....no one here has said that a teacher is "deserving" of a gift.
People do it because they want to.

there are others who touch children's lives in ways most could never fathom. they are those who may never come into personal 'face to face' contact with parents or children but work in jobs that ensure the health, welfare and safety of children, families AND teachers.

many years ago i was a teacher, and part of being able to play all of those roles expected of me depended on my trust and reliance on the competance and support of others whom i could trust and depend upon to do their jobs such that i could do mine.

'whatever your job could be' in dpuck1998's case could be a myriad of occupations that absent of which a teacher would be unable to successfully and competantly do a job that any parent would be recognizing of and appreciative enough of to choose to say 'thanks' via a gift or otherwise.

 

[beattyfamily]

What's your job?

My guess, he posted that because your post seem a bit unappreciatie of some of the gifts you've gotten from your students. That maybe getting something is better than getting nothing. That maybe it's the thought that counts.

I could be wrong but that was my take on his post.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[kimsuenew]

At the school I was an aide in for years, we (teacher, aide, bus driver, principal, and so on) were not allowed (Board policy) to accept a gift with a value of more than $10.00 so you may want to check policy at your child's school!

 

[kimsuenew]

At least 7 years ago our school district started sending out letters every year about teaching our children charity.

They request that IF we are inclined to purchase a gift for a teacher, could we please send in a new hat, scarf, gloves, or mittens instead for the school's giving tree. All items are sent to charity.

If someone wants to spend more, they can "adopt" a child from the school's Angel Tree and send in an unwrapped gift for that anonymous individual. Every year all of the Angles have been adopted at the Elementary, Middle, and High Schools that my children attended.

It takes place early enough to cover children of all faiths .


(If we were to give material gifts to their teachers, it would be something they made or wrote.)

That is an absolutely wonderful policy!

 

[dpuck1998]

My guess, he posted that because your post seem a bit unappreciatie of some of the gifts you've gotten from your students. That maybe getting something is better than getting nothing. That maybe it's the thought that counts.

I could be wrong but that was my take on his post.

btw, not only do I work at a school (HS/MS/3 Elementaries) I also coach 3 sports every year! I wasn't addressing what I do and if I should get something, but if/when I do get something I take it and smile....something about a gift horse?? JMHO

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

btw, not only do I work at a school (HS/MS/3 Elementaries) I also coach 3 sports every year! I wasn't addressing what I do and if I should get something, but if/when I do get something I take it and smile....something about a gift horse?? JMHO

Well, I do the same thing. Of course I accept my gifts graciously. If I won't/can't use it (I can't drink caffeine, and I got a coffee set, for example), I'm not going to just let it sit in my house and gather dust. I'll re-gift it, donate it or sell it in a yard sale. I don't think that's unappreciative. This way the money that went into the gift isn't wasted since I won't use the gift. With the exception of the teacher who put someone "in charge of making sure they got good gifts," I don't think anyone is being unappreciative.

PS, I do that with any gift I receive that won't be put to good use, not just gifts from my school families.


By the way, although we get amazing gifts, one of my favorites was a pair of socks from the dollar bins at Target, and the little girl decorated the gift bag with pictures of her and me. Too cute!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I don't think anyone is being unappreciative.

There's nothing wrong with (and there's a tactful way of) telling the folks on the DIS what gifts are really appreciated by teachers and what gifts teachers get one too many of, but one post in particular kind felt 'unappreciative' of their gifts and could kind of hurt the feelings of those who have given Yankee Candles in the past.

I don't know maybe it's just me but it really rubbed me the wrong way.

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.

I think we know now the deal on candles, thanks!

 

[RachaelRol]

There's nothing wrong with (and there's a tactful way of) telling the folks on the DIS what gifts are really appreciated by teachers and what gifts teachers get one too many of, but one post in particular kind felt 'unappreciative' of their gifts and could kind of hurt the feelings of those who have given Yankee Candles in the past.

I don't know maybe it's just me but it really rubbed me the wrong way.



I think we know now the deal on candles, thanks!

I agree and for the record,Yankee Candles are not CHEAP.

Ds teacher is male which makes the gift giving a little more difficult. I was thinking of a gift card to the movies or a restaurant for lunch?

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Oh, I know! I don't do candles because we had a house fire a few years back, and I am super paranoid, but we had an array of Yankee Candles. They were great!
It's hard to read people over the internet, so I can see where things could be interpreted in different ways.
Well, I'm in the school of "It's the thought that counts." Parents, don't feel like you have to spend a certain amount or even spend anything at all. There's a lot to be said for handmade cards from the kids!!

 

[dpuck1998]

I agree and for the record,Yankee Candles are not CHEAP.

Ds teacher is male which makes the gift giving a little more difficult. I was thinking of a gift card to the movies or a restaurant for lunch?

Gift Cert. to Cabella/Gander Moutain or a good steak place!! Pefect for Male Teachers/Coaches!!

 

[kimsuenew]

When I was a teachers aide (for 12+ years, recently quit to go to college, nearly at age 40 to become a teacher) we got gifts from our kids at Christmas. (I would have LOVED a Yankee Candle by the way ). Some of the most memorable gifts for me were the ones that came straight from the heart! I had one little guy that knew I loved snowmen (I always had snowman pins on or snowmen shirts) and he picked me out a snowman ornament, his mom said he just knew "Ms. Kim will love it")! Another was a little girl we had. Her family was very poor, yet that mom took $1.00 (which to them was a lot) and let her little girl pick me out a dollar store pin/broach. Was it something that I would have bought myself? No, of course not, but you know what? I opened this gift, she was so proud to have given, and teared up, put the pin on, thanked her a million times, and still have that pin! It warmed my heart! I tear up just writing this post! The best gifts do not have to be expensive, they are appreciated. I loved cards, ecspecially homemade ones! I loved picture the kids drew or receiving a Christmas picture the parents had taken somewhere. Pens and pencils, antibacterial gel or hand lotions, ornaments, or anything cheaper like that is fine! Don't spend a fortune. Better yet, make a donation in the teacher/aide/workers name to a good cause! Please don't feel that you have to give gifts... times are tough and the holiday season is expensive.

 

[barkley]

When I was a teachers aide (for 12+ years, recently quit to go to college, nearly at age 40 to become a teacher) we got gifts from our kids at Christmas. (I would have LOVED a Yankee Candle by the way ). Some of the most memorable gifts for me were the ones that came straight from the heart! I had one little guy that knew I loved snowmen (I always had snowman pins on or snowmen shirts) and he picked me out a snowman ornament, his mom said he just knew "Ms. Kim will love it")! Another was a little girl we had. Her family was very poor, yet that mom took $1.00 (which to them was a lot) and let her little girl pick me out a dollar store pin/broach. Was it something that I would have bought myself? No, of course not, but you know what? I opened this gift, she was so proud to have given, and teared up, put the pin on, thanked her a million times, and still have that pin! It warmed my heart! I tear up just writing this post! The best gifts do not have to be expensive, they are appreciated. I loved cards, ecspecially homemade ones! I loved picture the kids drew or receiving a Christmas picture the parents had taken somewhere. Pens and pencils, antibacterial gel or hand lotions, ornaments, or anything cheaper like that is fine! Don't spend a fortune. Better yet, make a donation in the teacher/aide/workers name to a good cause! Please don't feel that you have to give gifts... times are tough and the holiday season is expensive.

i so agree. i have'nt taught in over 20 years, and while those candles and other gifts were appreciated, the only ones i still have and hold dear are the homemade cards and crafts.

i have to add-i am so supportive of schools endorsing making a donation in lieu of a personal gift to a teacher. i've seen far too many children hurt by virtue of not being able to gift a teacher. i am also reminded on this subject of a late aunt of mine who was an incredibly loved teacher in a southern california school district that spanned the very wealthy to the poorest of the poor-she actualy would have preferred her school had a policy against gifts-but when one was given, no matter the gift-it was privatly and descretly honored and appreciated the same as all others. one year on the first day of school following christmas break she was saddened to see that one of her students-VERY poor, but very intent on being successful in her education was not in attendance. when my aunt questioned where the young girl was she learned that she was in juvinile hall-apprehended after the fact, for stealing the gift she had given my aunt-and held because she would not disclose the location of the modest gift-a gift her parents could not pay for such to have the charges dropped. my aunt took action to return the item such that charges could be dropped-and from there forth made it known that she did not accept gifts.

def. not a smart move on the child's part-but it was a child responding to the 'gift giving' frenzy that (to my mind) far too many teachers and schools encourage between students and staff

 

[daisyduck123]

My guess, he posted that because your post seem a bit unappreciatie of some of the gifts you've gotten from your students. That maybe getting something is better than getting nothing. That maybe it's the thought that counts.

I could be wrong but that was my take on his post.

I'm sorry if you took it that way.
If you go back thru all the posts, you'll see that there was more than one other poster besides myself that mentioned that teachers receive way too many candles...but I won't mention it again.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

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

ooh, good idea! I got Target gift cards for the main teachers....still deciding on all the aides, specials teachers, etc....there's more than 10 of them, and I might just do something very small...not sure what yet.

 

[REW91599]

My sons foirst grade teacher requested that there would be no student-student or student-teacher exchange in his classroom BUT if you wanted to get a gift only classroom gifts would be accepted. (She sat in a circle and each gift was opened with all students getting to see their new classroom supplies). Some ideas are: butterfly gardens, new crayons and pencils, craft sets,puzzles and games for indoor recess. Since that year I have tried to take this approach with teachers gifts. They seem to find something they would like and can use without costing them extra.