Teacher gifts

[mieuxmew]

Need some advice…what to buy teachers and what is appropriate to spend? Teachers - what have been your favorite gifts?

Both of my kids are in elementary school. Gift cards (Amazon, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, etc)? Godiva chocolate? Tervis water bottles? Vera Bradley? Movie tickets? Ideas welcome.

 

[meajuly5]

I do gift cards for the specials teachers and staff (usually purchased through school findraiser) and try to have the kids pik something they feel the teacher would like from them.

 

[lucyem]

My kids make homemade chocolate for their teachers. Nothing elaborate, chocolate covered pretzels and so forth. Easily dipped and decorated. I do this for a couple of reasons. First because it is their teachers and I think they should make or do something. Second because my younger DS has 10+ teachers he sees on a just about daily basis. I am under no illusion that everyone eats the candy, but my goal is really the first reason and I do think teachers appreciate that.

 

[kymom99]

I rarely get gifts anymore from students because I work at a school with very poor families, but in the past when I did get something, gift cards were great. Sometimes I get stationery items such as note pads, post-its, etc. Those are nice and inexpensive. I would hesitate to get specific things like Vera Bradley unless you know for sure the teacher likes that sort of thing. That is a lot to spend on something that may not be someone's taste. Gift cards in small denominations to Wendy's, Subway, etc. are nice especially if you are buying for several people. Obviously I appreciate the thought no matter what the gift is.

 

[KayW]

Gift cards and homemade treats are my favorite. Notepads are also good too. As a teacher we cannot accept a gift that is valued at $50 or more. Not sure if that is in every state, but definitely here in MA. We had to take a mini course with certificate of completion.

 

[Happyjen27]

My daughter has 4 teachers in her regular classroom this year! And my son has 2 teachers and 2 support staff. In the interest of ease and usefulness we are giving $10 gift cards to all.

 

[wiigirl]

We ususally get a coffee mug and fill it with gift cards and some candy.

 

[ktlm]

We now do Target gift cards. We usually just put them in a Christmas card and DD writes a message to them. That way we don't have to worry about things like getting a Starbucks gift card for someone who doesn't like coffee, or movie gift cards for someone who doesn't like movies. They always seem to be a big hit with the teachers around here. If they get them from multiple kids they can really ad up. If we know a teacher loves starbucks or movies, we might do something more specific, but you can't go wrong with Target.

We usually do $20 for the main school teacher, and $10 (or maybe $15 depending on who it is and what they do) for specific secondary teachers or outside of school activies teachers. For the gym and music teachers at school - as they get gifts from the whole school- usually we just give them $5 Sonic gift cards because there is one not too far from the school and we figure there is probably something there they will eat or drink.

 

[jen73]

As a teacher we cannot accept a gift that is valued at $50 or more. Not sure if that is in every state, but definitely here in MA. We had to take a mini course with certificate of completion.

wow! That's interesting and I cant imagine being given an amt of which I cannot exceed to give as a gift. what if I found something at a great price, but it's worth more than $50? Not really wanting to know, but just thinking out loud.

For elementary, there were times, we certainly went above that amount in value. I know I once gave a teacher a $100 gift card to her fave restaurant because she and her hubby had 4 kids and I wanted to make sure it was enough for all of them.

Other things I have done, have been bought little caddy bags from 31 with the teacher's names on them and filled them with pencils, supplies, etc

Middle school and high school have always been the same: A Godiva chocolate bar with a $15 gift card to Starbucks, since there's so many teachers now.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

I think these are cute
http://www.thecreativityexchange.co...r-teachers-co-workers-neighbors-and-kids.html

 

[jen73]

I think these are cute
http://www.thecreativityexchange.co...r-teachers-co-workers-neighbors-and-kids.html

wow, those are cute! I think I might be making those for all of my neighbors when we have our neighborhood holiday party. Thanks for the link...

I might be heading to Target later today...lol

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

This year I am giving the teacher's Star Bucks gift cards along with a small something extra. I know some teachers personally, and they say they get way too many mugs and candles. Gift cards are always appreciated OR something hand made by your child..

 

[ckmommy]

I just bought the things I am making for my kids teachers.

I bought a large glass jar with a screw on lid from Hobby Lobby and filled them with pencils. This afternoon, I am going to etch their names on the glass jar.

Will look something like this:
http://gluesticksblog.com/2010/11/acid-etched-jars.html

I have 5 kids--1 in HS 1 in Middle school and 3 in Elem. I would go poor if I bought all the teachers that they have a gift. So, I am making the main teachers gifts for my Elem. boys and then for my 2 older kids I made only made a gift for the teachers that had a special place in my kid's hearts. I know that might be wrong, but, I had to set limits.

 

[DisGirl819]

As a teacher, my favorite gifts were always handwritten/handmade cards from students. Gift cards are great. Small treats are always fun. No mugs or other cheesy "teacher" gifts as every teacher gets a zillion of them. I like to remember my students and so something to remember them by is always great. One of my favorite teacher gifts ever was a restaurant gift card.

 

[KayW]

wow! That's interesting and I cant imagine being given an amt of which I cannot exceed to give as a gift. what if I found something at a great price, but it's worth more than $50? Not really wanting to know, but just thinking out loud.

If we know that it is worth more than $50 we cannot accept. If it is from a whole class it can't exceed $150 I believe. I am a middle school teacher and have never had an issue. I can see it happening more at the elementary level.

 

[kimsuenew]

wow! That's interesting and I cant imagine being given an amt of which I cannot exceed to give as a gift. what if I found something at a great price, but it's worth more than $50? Not really wanting to know, but just thinking out loud.

For elementary, there were times, we certainly went above that amount in value. I know I once gave a teacher a $100 gift card to her fave restaurant because she and her hubby had 4 kids and I wanted to make sure it was enough for all of them.

Other things I have done, have been bought little caddy bags from 31 with the teacher's names on them and filled them with pencils, supplies, etc

Middle school and high school have always been the same: A Godiva chocolate bar with a $15 gift card to Starbucks, since there's so many teachers now.

I teach. It is the "Board" policy that ALL staff cannot receive a gift valued over $25.00 (was $10.00 for years but changed two years ago). That type of gift is only allowed once per year also. Any gift over that value must be shared (e.g. put into break room) between all staff. This policy is very strictly enforced and has stern punishments.

 

[Ladcassidy]

As a teacher, my favorite gifts were always handwritten/handmade cards from students. Gift cards are great. Small treats are always fun. No mugs or other cheesy "teacher" gifts as every teacher gets a zillion of them. I like to remember my students and so something to remember them by is always great. One of my favorite teacher gifts ever was a restaurant gift card.

Restaurant gift cards are my go-to teacher gifts.

 

[MSSANDRA]

All of your ideas sound good. Gifts cards are the all around favorite at our school. Whatever you are comfortable with is perfectly fine. 5.00 to Star Bucks, all the way to 100.00 mall ones. I have gotten 5.00 all the way to 50.00. I have done mini gift card arrangements and they are fun and huge hits. For Christmas, buy a small tree and hang 5.00 gift cards to different places as ornaments. Most places can do you a card in any amount at the location. We did flower pots at the end of the year and each flower was a gift card. I caution home-made foods as many teacher will not eat something from a child's home unless they know the family well.

 

[Arkum]

Last year I picked up the plastic popcorn containers from dollar tree, put a couple of movie size candy boxes and a couple of bags of microwave popcorn in it and attached a gift card for the local movie theatre. Their teachers really seemed to like them.

 

[kymom99]

Over the years I have also received a number of ornaments. I can actually remember who gave each of them to me, and when I hang them on the tree, I think about each child.