Teacher holiday gifts

[NYCDiane]

My DD has 4 teachers this year --- all who have gone above and beyond to help her in any way they can. I want to get each of them a holiday gift but, like most people, money is tight.

What does everyone think an appopriate amount to spend is? Is it okay to just give smaller, inexpensive gifts?

I don't think anything homemade is appropriate --- I don't bake (and most people don't want foods from people they don't truly 'know') and I'm not very handy at putting together baskets and stuff like that.

 

[pandora174]

I'm in the same boat. DS has 2 wonderful teachers & a therapist. All 3 are wonderful. Last year economically was better (slightly) than this year. DH has lost almost all work this year but my job (knock on wood is solid). That being said I've been shopping deals like crazy for all of us. & will only buy for DH or DS or any relative only if on sale.

Last year I gave each teacher & his therapist a $25 gc to Publix + a homemade card by DS . But I can't swing $75 this year. So I got in the Walgreens Black Friday these great candles, buy 1, get 2 free. I'm going to get $10 GC to go along with the candle & homemade card by DS.

For other ideas I always check amazon.com & coldwater creek.com. Last year I got my DH nieces & SIL gifts there when stuff comes out on clearance & they always do. I remember from coldwater I got a lovey box of expensive potpourri reduced from $30 for $9.99 & deals like that ! Also I'm always checking Marshalls, Kohls etc for great gifts that don't hurt the pocketbook so much.

Good luck ! & a nice homemade card by DS is always appreciated I'm sure !

 

[lisaross]

how about hitting Marshalls, or a store like that for 210 desk calendars or organizers..i picked up two desk calendars for 6.99 real nice about 5x7 in size -nice sayings..they ha lots of stuff like that !

 

[JennSaint]

When i was a preschool teacher and there was four of us in one classroom some children/parents gave us each a $5 Dunkin Donuts card. Please don't go out and buy small trinkets, candles etc. Not that those gifts aren't appreciated it's just that teachers get so much of that stuff half the time they can't even use it all. I use to donate alot of the gifts I got to a nonprofit organization. They would have a fundraiser every year and raffle off baskets and use some of the stuff I had. There is no way year after year that teachers can keep all the stuff they get. If you have AAA you can get a 4 pack of movie passes for around $31.00 then split them up amongst the four teachers. I would much rather have gotten movie passes then more candles etc.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher chiming in

I suggest $5.00 gift cards to Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, or some similar place.

Please do not get any calendars, ornaments, picture frames, candles, etc.(all that stuff ends up in my annual spring yard sale). I would MUCH RATHER have a $5.00gc rather than a $20.00 candle or ornament.

The $5.00 gift card will be put to use & greatly appreciated.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree with a small gift card. Starbucks, Fast food, doughnuts etc are great choices!!!


If you know the teacher well it is fine to give a more personal gift that does not cost a lot. Some of my favorites were those fuzzy socks, christmas socks, a christmas shirt and boxes of candy.

I am fine gettting homemade stuff from our small upper end school but agree that in most situations that is not a great choice.

 

[smacky1]

DD coffee is on sale right now 4 lbs for $20. We are giving that and some lindt chocolates.

 

[NYCDiane]

To the teachers who replied (thank you!)

What about a $5 Dunkin or Starbucks gift card along with a key chain (each teacher has a different interest -- sports team, etc), put in a homemade card from my DD?

To all the other replies: Thank you for all your great ideas and thanks for replying!

 

[JennSaint]

To the teachers who replied (thank you!)

What about a $5 Dunkin or Starbucks gift card along with a key chain (each teacher has a different interest -- sports team, etc), put in a homemade card from my DD?

To all the other replies: Thank you for all your great ideas and thanks for replying!

If you know of a teacher's special interest then the key chain is ok along the with the $5 gift card.

 

[mafibisha]

when i was a preschool teacher and there was four of us in one classroom some children/parents gave us each a $5 dunkin donuts card. Please don't go out and buy small trinkets, candles etc. Not that those gifts aren't appreciated it's just that teachers get so much of that stuff half the time they can't even use it all. i use to donate alot of the gifts i got to a nonprofit organization. They would have a fundraiser every year and raffle off baskets and use some of the stuff i had. There is no way year after year that teachers can keep all the stuff they get. If you have aaa you can get a 4 pack of movie passes for around $31.00 then split them up amongst the four teachers. i would much rather have gotten movie passes then more candles etc.

yessssssss!!!

hi! 1st grade teacher chiming in

i suggest $5.00 gift cards to starbucks, dunkin' donuts, or some similar place.

please do not get any calendars, ornaments, picture frames, candles, etc.(all that stuff ends up in my annual spring yard sale). i would much rather have a $5.00gc rather than a $20.00 candle or ornament.

the $5.00 gift card will be put to use & greatly appreciated.

yesssssssss!!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

Hi! 1st grade teacher chiming in

I suggest $5.00 gift cards to Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, or some similar place.

Please do not get any calendars, ornaments, picture frames, candles, etc.(all that stuff ends up in my annual spring yard sale). I would MUCH RATHER have a $5.00gc rather than a $20.00 candle or ornament.

The $5.00 gift card will be put to use & greatly appreciated.

Preschool teacher of 40 children here...I totally agree!!!! 100%!!! I can't begin to tell you have many candles, ornaments, picture frames, planners, etc. that I have collected over the years. One can only use so many of these things. Not that they aren't appreciated, because they are, but they do end up in my yard sale every year.

A $5 gift card to anywhere is a perfect gift...

 

[daughtersrus]

My DD is in a self-contained special ed classroom. There is the teacher, her 1:1 aid, 6 other aids in the class, her therapists (6 all together ~~2PT 2OT and 2Speech), the vision teacher and the hearing teacher. Add to that a bus driver and 2 aids on the bus and I have a total of 17 people that work with her.

There's no way that I can afford to buy for them all this time of year so I buy the gifts after Christmas when I can get them 75% or 90% off is even better.

Her school is big on having parents bring food for parties so I know that they eat what parents bring. I usually make homemade candy and I've had many comments on how good it is. One years I just didn't have the time and I heard about it.

I'd say to give whatever you can and I'm sure that they will appreciate it.

I would say DD is better than Starbucks because not everyone likes coffee but most people would like a doughnut or muffin.

 

[SnowWhite607]

and please no coffee mugs....between me and DH (who also teaches) we have about 400 mugs that say "Teacher" on them.

 

[torinsmom]

Yeah, a $5 gc is much better than a candle or mug. I don't drink coffee, tea or anything else that needs a mug and I have FOUR cats and migraines, so candles are not something I can use either. Homemade cards or letters of appreciation are nice, whether you can afford a gift or not. It is nice to know we are appreciated at Christmas and anytime throughout the year.

DS15's teachers and bus drivers are getting $15 gcs to Walmart.

Marsha

 

[mafibisha]

Preschool teacher of 40 children here...I totally agree!!!! 100%!!! I can't begin to tell you have many candles, ornaments, picture frames, planners, etc. that I have collected over the years. One can only use so many of these things. Not that they aren't appreciated, because they are, but they do end up in my yard sale every year.

A $5 gift card to anywhere is a perfect gift...

Very true. I see dozens, all brand new (many in boxes) at garage sales, that are then probably purchased by parents to give at Christmas! Well, at least they're recycling as they re-gift !

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

teacher here

a note saying thank you is probably the best gift I ever got.

I do spend a little bit on my classroom every time I go to Walmart; stickers, snacks, post-its, kleenex, you name it! A small gift card to Walmart or anywhere, really is much appreciated, and helps offset the $ I put into my classroom a little.

Thanks for thinking of your childrens' teachers!!

 

[englishteacha]

My most appreciated gift? A letter from a mom telling me how much she appreciated the help I gave her son. I still have it. A gift card for $5, a homemade card with a note, or a favorite candy would all be appreciated by me. (My students know I'm nuts for Milky Way candy bars!) A gift I got my first year teaching is a down throw. It gets used every day on the sofa while I watch TV. It was one of the bargain ones from Black Friday, so I know it wasn't expensive. Maybe one of the fuzzy blankets they have now would be a good gift. I know I would like it!

 

[KKB]

Gift cards are WONDERFUL; homemade treat are GREAT--IF they are from a trusted family! I like lotions & such--those are nice to keep in my desk for use at school. The kindfelt thank you notes--I keep those forever!
I try to spend $5-10/gift. More than that is excess.
For several years our children went to the school where I worked. Those years I found holiday mugs at 75% off after Xmas & saved them for the next year. Fill them w/ chocolates, wrap in that holiday saran wrap like cellophane, tie a box, and sometimes add an inexpensive ornament (again gotten at 75% off the year before). Those were well received. Cost maybe $1 each.
I also scour those after Xmas sales for other items. One year I found holiday fleece throws 75% off--around $1.25 each. Another big hit.
It really is the thought that counts, but items that I can USE, not set around are the best.

 

[MickQuinn]

I agree with the handwritten note or homemade card from the child. I keep a "happy box" of notes and cards in my desk. It really helps to read a few after an especially challenging day.

I know others don't agree, but I love to get ornaments from students, especially homemade. After teaching over 1500 students over the years I have quite a collection. I put the child's name and the year on every ornament. It is brings back nice memories every year as we decorate our tree.

 

[brandip22]

Hi! I am a Kindergarten teacher. It's my first year, but I can say that I'd prefer GCs as well. I spend a fortune on my classroom and would use those GCs on my students anyway. I think I'd love homemade ornaments as well, though as that'd be a good memory. Plus, as I have more, I could start a classroom little tree and put them up. I think just them thinking of me is so nice though, so I am not picky this year!