Teacher gifts

[runsandjumps]

Last year I bought assorted goodies from trader joes. I think I bought chocolate nuts, coffee cocoas and teas. I figured if they didn't personally like all the stuff they could offer it to guests.

Ana

 

[Lisa71]

Our son's class did group gifts for the teacher the aides ...he is in SDC (special Ed) so it is a lot of people who work extra hard. We did gift cards to the local mall at Christmas and a massage for the teacher with movie cards for the aides at end of year. It worked well and each student did not have to put in money to be on the card. Since it is special Ed we have kids from all over the district and various incomes.

 

[ninecrayons]

I feel like a total Grinch saying this, but as a teacher, I and most teachers I know can be pretty suspect about homemade foods. I will always take them and say thank you, but often they end up in the trash. There's just a sanitary and unknown issue that makes me wary.

Honestly, if you are going to put the effort into making something homemade, maybe something non-edible is best.

If your kids are older - middle school aged, I'm sure they can tell you at least one thing their teacher likes. My entire room is themed with mustaches, so I get lots of little gifties of those. It never matters how much it costs, but the fact that a kid thought of me just makes my day.

Pinterest has lots of great ideas. They are all pretty cute and adorable!

 

[dalyes]

My kids are at a daycare full time - between them they have 5 main teachers and countless assistants. Last year I bought anyone that was ever in their rooms Pottery Barn ornaments that I got on sale. 20 people!

This year I decided to only focus on the 5 teachers and not the helpers because I had to draw the line somewhere. I bought them all Land's End bags. I found really cute ones on sale with an additional 30% off and free shipping. The totes were 12.50 each. One of the teachers I bought a more expensive tote for 17. I figure if they don't like tote bags they can regift.

 

[hops&dreams]

I do gift cards to Starbucks or the local Fro Yo place. This is what they looked like at end of year last year :


We do something similar at Christmas and Valentines day. Because who doesn't like to get a valentine?

Gift cards range between $5 and $25, depending on who it is or what. We also give the fro yo ones for someone who goes out of their way to be awesome, as a thank you. Like a mail person who gets out of her truck in the rain and tucks our package under her coat so it doesn't get wet.

 

[kellia]

I usually do Target gc for main teachers. I have boys and they are usually clueless about what their teacher likes!

Love those jars and cookie platters posted above! I think we might be making those for others on our list.

 

[motherof2boys]

I feel like a total Grinch saying this, but as a teacher, I and most teachers I know can be pretty suspect about homemade foods. I will always take them and say thank you, but often they end up in the trash. There's just a sanitary and unknown issue that makes me wary.

I couldn't agree with this more! I've worked in Preschool for 6 years and have never eaten a homemade gift. It's nothing personal, I love the kiddos I work with & truly appreciate the thought. But I also spend my day telling your child to get his/her hand out of his/her nose, mouth, or pants. It can't hit the trash soon enough when he/she tells me they helped you make it!

 

[motherof2boys]

My kids are at a daycare full time - between them they have 5 main teachers and countless assistants. Last year I bought anyone that was ever in their rooms Pottery Barn ornaments that I got on sale. 20 people!

This year I decided to only focus on the 5 teachers and not the helpers because I had to draw the line somewhere. I bought them all Land's End bags. I found really cute ones on sale with an additional 30% off and free shipping. The totes were 12.50 each. One of the teachers I bought a more expensive tote for 17. I figure if they don't like tote bags they can regift.

I hate to sound like a jerk but leaving out "helpers" is really hurtful to us. I've been a teacher aide for 6 years in the public school system. Often we spend more time one on one with the students than the teacher. Before being in the school system I was in a Daycare. The only difference between the lead teacher & the helpers is one college Child Development class. Having children of your own counts as experience so I was a 24 year old Lead Teacher with my own child. I have worked with children since I was 10 years old, babysitting, camp counselor, ect but b/c I chose not to go to school to teach doesn't mean I don't deserve a thank you. I'm not judging or flaming you. Please don't feel that way!! All I'm saying is if possible find a way to thank all who take care of your child. Even a box-of-joe & muffins one morning with a thank you card would be greatly appreciated!

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I'd say no food----you don't know their food allergies or their families.
I'd say no candles, lotions, body soap, etc...you don't know if they like a certain scent or if perfume smells can bother them.
As someone else said "teacher is no. 1" stuff is often given (think number of years teacher has taught by lots of kids giving over the years).
Gift cards, classroom books, classroom items (teachers often buy stuff from own pocket), offer to volunteer in your childs class!

 

[mcuoghi]

Seems silly but how about an umbrella? I got a nice one from a student one year and i still use it to this day.

 

[irishsharon]

Do you give gifts to middle school teachers.....if so all of them?

 

[KaLyn]

As a previous teacher, if you want to guarantee it gets used get a gift card, a visa one is always a winner.

I've thrown away so many candles, lotions, candies, chocolates, etc because they weren't my liking.

 

[KaLyn]

...I feel like a total Grinch saying this, but as a teacher, I and most teachers I know can be pretty suspect about homemade foods. I will always take them and say thank you, but often they end up in the trash. There's just a sanitary and unknown issue that makes me wary.

Honestly, if you are going to put the effort into making something homemade, maybe something non-edible is best...

This is soooo true!!! I had a family who every year, for 10 years, made each teacher 2 dozen homemade cookies. Each year for those 10 years all 2 dozen cookies were pitched.

 

[kelconic]

My kids go to a small private school and most of their classes get together and do a small tree full of gift cards. Everyone picks up whatever $5 or $10 gift cards they want, and then one of the parents will hang them all on the tree.

 

[DCbride]

My favorite teacher gift was given to DH 2 years ago. His room mom asked for a $5 donation and bought him a $150 Disney gift card!! Yay!!

I must confess that I too do not eat homemade food given as a gift. I spend all day with kids who often have unsanitary habits .,. A $5 gift card to any place, Target, BN, Etc is perfect.

Since I am a teacher I usually give my children's teachers a $20 GC to Target. When they reached junior high they could pick the one teacher at Christmas and a different teacher in June to give a gift. The year I went through a divorce one make teacher was such a great role model for my son I gave him a $75 gift card when my sin graduated jr high as a thank you.

 

[momtosam]

Last year I gave a little carry all caddy from Thirty-One with a small poinsettia in it. On the front there is an elastic pocket and I stuck a gift card in there. I work in my son's school, so I could find out the teacher's initials and have them embroidered on. It was really cute!

 

[njpyro]

As a teacher, I have to agree with the general consensus. No homemade baked goods please. Teachers spend half of their day asking kids to take their hands out of their mouth/ nose/ pants, so they certainly won't eat something that your kids may have helped make. Its truly nothing personal.
I'm happy to get a hand written note from a student, sans gift. (Although a $5 coffee gift card certainly brightens my day!)

 

[AZMermaid]

I teach and I agree, gift cards are good. I get a lot of Starbucks cards (we get a small gift per month) but I don't drink coffee. $50 so far this year, my husband takes them and I regift them. So, I don't get coffee for my own kids' teachers unless I know they drink it!

The best (and shocking) gift card was last year I got $150 Disney store and $25 Ann Taylor from a kid at the end of the year. I'm still floored by that one!

 

[cjbcam]

I hate to sound like a jerk but leaving out "helpers" is really hurtful to us. I've been a teacher aide for 6 years in the public school system. Often we spend more time one on one with the students than the teacher. Before being in the school system I was in a Daycare. The only difference between the lead teacher & the helpers is one college Child Development class. Having children of your own counts as experience so I was a 24 year old Lead Teacher with my own child. I have worked with children since I was 10 years old, babysitting, camp counselor, ect but b/c I chose not to go to school to teach doesn't mean I don't deserve a thank you. I'm not judging or flaming you. Please don't feel that way!! All I'm saying is if possible find a way to thank all who take care of your child. Even a box-of-joe & muffins one morning with a thank you card would be greatly appreciated!

I'm sorry you feel that way but if some families were to give to everyone that helps it would be way too expensive. I have 4 kids 3 year old in preschool, 5 year old in kindergarten, DD in grade 3 and DD in grade 5. Excluding the preschooler they all have multiple teachers plus helpers in the classroom ( I think the helpers mostly help with special needs kids most of the time. ) For us it's not financially feasible. I honestly wish I could come up with a gift that all teachers in the class could share but can't think of anything.

 

[dismom115]

For those wanting to do something for all the teachers in a preschool, etc. consider asking if you could bring in bagels and fruit one morning or a tray of cookies from a local bakery, maybe even have pizza and salad delivered for lunch.... Whatever fits your budget but could include everyone.