Teacher gifts

[OceanAnnie]

What gifts are you giving your children's teachers for Christmas? I'm looking for ideas. I usually give GC, but I really want to avoid that this year.

I'm thinking maybe a Yankee candle and an ornament with a nice card from the kids.

 

[java]

My friends that are teachers have all told me that gift card is the way to go. They have closets full of candles and apple things. But a Nice Card is always appreciated!

 

[OceanAnnie]

My friends that are teachers have all told me that gift card is the way to go. They have closets full of candles and apple things. But a Nice Card is always appreciated!

Yeah. I know GC are preferred. I'm trying to economize, but still have a nice gift. Maybe the candle isn't the way to go.

 

[java]

Yeah. I know GC are preferred. I'm trying to economize, but still have a nice gift. Maybe the candle isn't the way to go.

You know why not ask the class mom- or you can do it- if you can all chip in $5 and get her a nice gift certicate for someplace. Economical and it's still a great gift for the teacher.

 

[OceanAnnie]

You know why not ask the class mom- or you can do it- if you can all chip in $5 and get her a nice gift certicate for someplace. Economical and it's still a great gift for the teacher.

The HR moms do a group gift. I usually chip in and get an additional gift. The kids like to hand them something. It's a little more personal to them.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Bath and Body Works. Even if it is a scent they do not care for, they can exchange it for one they like, no questions asked! I taught for years and always loved that as a gift. And, I worked at Bath and Body one Christmas and found out about the return/exchange policy.

I also loved nice ornaments. I have some on my tree still and every year when we get the ornaments out I remember the student who bought me the ornament as I hang it.

Also loved, homemade fudge, fleece blankets (really cheap right now), yummy cookies, a nice pen. Gift cards were always nice, but I rarely got them.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Bath and Body Works. Even if it is a scent they do not care for, they can exchange it for one they like, no questions asked! I taught for years and always loved that as a gift. And, I worked at Bath and Body one Christmas and found out about the return/exchange policy.

I also loved nice ornaments. I have some on my tree still and every year when we get the ornaments out I remember the student who bought me the ornament as I hang it.

Also loved, homemade fudge, fleece blankets (really cheap right now), yummy cookies, a nice pen. Gift cards were always nice, but I rarely got them.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[puffkin]

I got my son's preschool teacher one of those Yankee Candle plug in nightlight/airfresheners. It has a snowflake on it and is a pretty classic sparkling cinnamon scent so I thought that would be good to last through the winter. I know she has a toddler, so I thought something smelly that wasn't a candle would be a safe way to go. It was on sale for $10 at Bed Bath and Beyond plus used a 20% coupon so pretty cheap. I also got a free tin of butter toffee candy at the card store with my purchase so I will give that to her as well. I plan on having DS make here a card and then will have a nice little package to give her that only cost me about $8!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

One more idea...those soft stay at home socks. I live in them. Bath and Body has really nice ones on sale for $4 of $5. Belk's are 6.99. I have tons of them and love them!

 

[christa112]

I always buy them something Christmas/winter related. I usually pick it up at Hallmark the year before when their stuff goes to 75% off.

 

[horseshowmom]

Bath and Body Works. Even if it is a scent they do not care for, they can exchange it for one they like, no questions asked! I taught for years and always loved that as a gift. And, I worked at Bath and Body one Christmas and found out about the return/exchange policy.

I also loved nice ornaments. I have some on my tree still and every year when we get the ornaments out I remember the student who bought me the ornament as I hang it.

Also loved, homemade fudge, fleece blankets (really cheap right now), yummy cookies, a nice pen. Gift cards were always nice, but I rarely got them.

One more idea...those soft stay at home socks. I live in them. Bath and Body has really nice ones on sale for $4 of $5. Belk's are 6.99. I have tons of them and love them!

I completely understand budget! The fleece blankets can be picked up lots of places for around $5 (both solid colors and prints). And I'm another one who LOVES those soft socks. I've seen them lots of places (including JCPenney and Walmart). Personally, I like candles, but I guess some people may like some scents better than others.

 

[mafibisha]

Here's another current thread on teacher gifts with some EXCELLENT posts!!!

Check it out!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2340679&page=4

 

[Crystal0608]

DD's main teacher is getting B&BW full size antibacterial hand soap (@ $2.25 ea after q) & a Pierre Cardin pen w/ case ($2- 75% staples bts clearance) and her two other teachers are getting the same pen set, different colors and some tangerine hard candy (can only find once a year, its gooood).

DS's main teacher is getting 2 nutcrackers (she collects them) & B&BW antibacterial hand soap, assistant is getting same soap plus Lipton green tea mix (her fave), and speech teacher is getting B&BW hand lotion. All gifts were less than $5 other than the nutcracker gift, so very budget.

In the past I've done small Walmart cards, soft gloves, chocolates, popcorn & snacks, school supplies, and mostly B&BW stuff.

I usually figure out better custom gifts by end of the school year, for example dd's teacher last year dd saw reece cups & coke on her desk all year, so her end of year was a Target gc, reeces, and a cold coke. Maybe ask your kid if they know anything the teacher really likes, snacks on, etc...

 

[mjkacmom]

What I've learned from these threads is - NO ornaments, candles, mugs, homemade goodies, #1 teacher anything. What I've also learned is the most treasured gifts are letters/cards from the student/parent.

 

[tink_lover]

We have always gone the GC route too but not this year. We ended up spending over $100 in GC with all the various teachers, bus drivers, etc. So this year, I ordered a few of the Avon gift sets with hand lotion and SPF lip stuff and got some cute little notepads. We are really trying to cut back this Christmas and dh and I decided we are going to hold off on getting the kids a computer until we can find a GREAT deal.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I have to say, to this day, my most prized gift is a small box of trinkets a little girl named Marissa gave me while I was student teaching a long time ago. Is is just some string with beads on it, an old bracelet and a few other tiny things. She was so proud to give it to me and when I question things in life I still take it out and look at it. I am getting teary eyed right now just thinking of that little girl and the hardships she went through.

Teachers appeciate anything they get. At least a good, caring teaching will. I never expected things at Christmas and appreciated everything I got. Mugs, ornaments, baked goods (of course I knew which ones I could eat, and which ones not too, but I still apprecitated it), candles. I loved it all. Especially the items that the students themselves picked out or made. One year I got a toy matchbox car. I knew the little boy picked it out himself and I loved it.

I may not keep everything I got, does anyone keep everything they ever got as gifts?, but I do have things scattered here and there that remind me I once touched the life of a child.

 

[CzyDsnyFan92]

Our teachers have been asking for classroom gifts. They want books, games, puzzles or movies. They have classroom libraries and when they can't play outside for recess the kids get to play games or watch movies. So this year I bought my son's teachers The 39 Clues card game and will probably get them 1 or 2 of the books for their libraries. As for DD's teachers they are getting LeapFrog movies. They each asked what she was using to learn her letters, numbers and reading since she is doing so well so I figured it can't hurt to get them each some for the classroom.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have to say, to this day, my most prized gift is a small box of trinkets a little girl named Marissa gave me while I was student teaching a long time ago. Is is just some string with beads on it, an old bracelet and a few other tiny things. She was so proud to give it to me and when I question things in life I still take it out and look at it. I am getting teary eyed right now just thinking of that little girl and the hardships she went through.

Teachers appeciate anything they get. At least a good, caring teaching will. I never expected things at Christmas and appreciated everything I got. Mugs, ornaments, baked goods (of course I knew which ones I could eat, and which ones not too, but I still apprecitated it), candles. I loved it all. Especially the items that the students themselves picked out or made. One year I got a toy matchbox car. I knew the little boy picked it out himself and I loved it.

I may not keep everything I got, does anyone keep everything they ever got as gifts?, but I do have things scattered here and there that remind me I once touched the life of a child.

Thank you for sharing the sweet story and sweet sentiments! It really does put things into perspective. I'm sure your students treasure you.

 

[sau418]

For my preschool DD's teachers they are getting a B&BW hand sanitizer thing and a gift card to either Border's or Barnes and Noble. With all the gross things that preschooler's do I thought a nice hand sanitizer would be appreciated. They can then either use the gift card for themselves or for the classroom.

 

[hockeyprincess]

Posted this idea on another thread but wanted to see what you all thought as well!!

QVC has Mrs Prindables caramel covered apples as TSV today. They are giant apples, covered with thick layers of caramel, then rolled in candies, crushed cookies (ie: m & m's, crushed oreos, etc) some have baking chips, like chocolate/peanut butter chips, some have nuts... anyway you get 8 of them and I was thinking I have 2 teachers to buy for.... plus some could go to grandparents, etc. Anyway the point is, they are big enough to share with their families, and EVER so yummy!!! We got them as a gift last year and we LOVED them! Even after shipping/tax it breaks down to about $5 per apple. They are individually wrapped, so add a bow and I'm thinking that's a pretty nice gift, that will get eaten rather than re-gifted!!

What do you guys think?