Teacher holiday gifts

[cats mom]

Are you all doing personal gifts in addition to a class gift, or is no one heading up a collection for a group gift?

I'm not a room mom this year, so I don't know what they're planning yet, but I thought the donation amount they asked for for teacher gifts was a bit excessive this year ($40 - $50 per child) so whatever they come up with for the group gift will be it for us.


One year I gave DD's teacher a big box of binding combs.
She loved having the kids make books, and I was tired of digging through the scrap box in the workroom trying to find big enough pieces of recycled combs to put them together. Our school stopped providing them.
I guess some would think that was not much of a gift either, but we both had a good laugh when she opened it, and I know she guarded that box like it was gold.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS10's elementary school specifically asked that families not buy gifts for teachers this year. They asked for families to make a charitable contribution in the teacher's name instead. This is coming from the principal, and I'm assuming that all the teachers were on board with this decision...maybe not?

 

[hockeyprincess]

Great thread!!

What do you guys think about Mrs Prindable's, they are giant apples coated in carmel and then rolled in candies or chocolate, like m & m's, crushed oreo's, nuts, etc? Today on QVC there's TSV that has 8 apples, individually wrapped, and I'm thinking, I have 2 teachers to buy for, grandparents, etc. These would be perfect for gift-giving, and broken down even with shipping is about $5 each apple. AND they are delicious!! We got these last year as a gift ourselves.

SOOOOO Teachers, what do you think of this idea??

Thanks!!

ETA I am talking one apple per teacher, they are sweet enough and big enough to last several days or to be shared with their family. I'm just thinking of all the people that would appreciate a little "something" at the holidays and I just love this idea. But want to see what you all think of it!

 

[marcyinPA]

Great thread!!

What do you guys think about Mrs Prindable's, they are giant apples coated in carmel and then rolled in candies or chocolate, like m & m's, crushed oreo's, nuts, etc? Today on QVC there's TSV that has 8 apples, individually wrapped, and I'm thinking, I have 2 teachers to buy for, grandparents, etc. These would be perfect for gift-giving, and broken down even with shipping is about $5 each apple. AND they are delicious!! We got these last year as a gift ourselves.

SOOOOO Teachers, what do you think of this idea??

Thanks!!

ETA I am talking one apple per teacher, they are sweet enough and big enough to last several days or to be shared with their family. I'm just thinking of all the people that would appreciate a little "something" at the holidays and I just love this idea. But want to see what you all think of it!

I've had them, and they are very yummy. I'd be Ok with getting one of these!

 

[Vacation Lover]

This year my DS hit middle school and he has 6 teachers...plus 2 more for DD4 and 2 for DD10 and that's 8 teachers. I decided to to do Barnes & Noble gift cards. They have a deal where you get a free $10 gift card with the purchase of $100, so I added a few more cards for some other gifts I need to buy and the free $10 goes in DH's stocking.

I'm also giving them this "hot cream cone," which will be fun to make with the kids. http://www.designswithheart.net/jar_gifts/HotCreamCones.html

If you go the gift card route, remember to look for special deals that some companies are offering this year...like the free coupon calendar with $20 Chick Fil A gift cards, $20 gift card with $100 purchase from Outback, Bonefish or Carrabbas, etc.

 

[tzolkin]

Are you all doing personal gifts in addition to a class gift, or is no one heading up a collection for a group gift?

I'm not a room mom this year, so I don't know what they're planning yet, but I thought the donation amount they asked for for teacher gifts was a bit excessive this year ($40 - $50 per child) so whatever they come up with for the group gift will be it for us.

We don't do class gifts. Most of the kids would not be able to participate. We live in a poor rural area and almost all the kids get free breakfast and lunch. Most of these kids only get donated gifts for Christmas, so their parents really can't really be expected to buy a gift for a teacher when they can't afford one for their own child. The school has never asked us for money for anything-- all field trips, etc are free.

$5 would be excessive at our school, but I think $50 would be quite a lot anywhere. I assume there are at least 15 kids in the class. That's a $750 gift.

 

[Schachteles]

Great thread!!

What do you guys think about Mrs Prindable's, they are giant apples coated in carmel and then rolled in candies or chocolate, like m & m's, crushed oreo's, nuts, etc? Today on QVC there's TSV that has 8 apples, individually wrapped, and I'm thinking, I have 2 teachers to buy for, grandparents, etc. These would be perfect for gift-giving, and broken down even with shipping is about $5 each apple. AND they are delicious!! We got these last year as a gift ourselves.

SOOOOO Teachers, what do you think of this idea??

Thanks!!

ETA I am talking one apple per teacher, they are sweet enough and big enough to last several days or to be shared with their family. I'm just thinking of all the people that would appreciate a little "something" at the holidays and I just love this idea. But want to see what you all think of it!

I have always wanted to try these!! So at that deal, I ordered two of the 8 packs (one for ME) and one for my DDs teacher that we are absolutely in love with, hopefully she will like it!

 

[CBCJ1979]

Between my 2 kids, we have 19 teachers that get gifts. This includes classroom teachers, speech therapist, librarian, art teacher, music teacher, gym teacher, nurse, principal, asst principal, orchestra guy, band director, conflict resolution teacher, computer teacher, gifted ed teacher, so that’s a lot of folks who we want to acknowledge. All of them are getting hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works, a home made Christmas card from the kids and a glass ornament that we crafted with paint.

In addition, my son’s teacher asked specifically for items needed in the classroom, so she’s getting a goody bag of pipe cleaners, pompoms, googly eyes, disinfectant wipes and disposable camera. My daughter’s teacher is getting Trouble to add to the classroom games, pencils and crayons.

 

[Lovin' Disney]

While we were at Downtown Disney this summer, we bought DS's 1st grade teacher the mickey hat with the mouse ears and had her name embroidered on the back. Definitely a unique gift....hopefully she doesn't have one yet. She's really great, full of enthusiasm, and we knew she'd get a kick out of it.

 

[C.Ann]

GC's for Dunkin Donuts or some such place or a nice box of assorted chocolates..

 

[lecach]

At DS's daycare last year I asked the other parents if they'd like to go in on a gift - and ended up in charge of the collection.

This year another parent that was in the same class last year asked if I was doing it again. So I emailed everyone and out of 10 families, 9 have stated they want to. We'll split the money between the two teachers and give Visa gift cards.

We dont keep track of who gives what or suggest an amount. Although I would like to . I was shocked last year when a few gave $5 or even just $10 to be split between two teachers. This daycare is in a somewhat affluent area and costs $950 a month. Most of the parents have jobs at the university or in the medical field. Heck I probably make less than any of them but I will give around $20 per teacher. I value them greatly.

 

[daisyduck123]

Great thread!!

What do you guys think about Mrs Prindable's, they are giant apples coated in carmel and then rolled in candies or chocolate, like m & m's, crushed oreo's, nuts, etc? Today on QVC there's TSV that has 8 apples, individually wrapped, and I'm thinking, I have 2 teachers to buy for, grandparents, etc. These would be perfect for gift-giving, and broken down even with shipping is about $5 each apple. AND they are delicious!! We got these last year as a gift ourselves.

SOOOOO Teachers, what do you think of this idea??

Thanks!!

ETA I am talking one apple per teacher, they are sweet enough and big enough to last several days or to be shared with their family. I'm just thinking of all the people that would appreciate a little "something" at the holidays and I just love this idea. But want to see what you all think of it!

It sounds nice, but honestly, I would much rather have a $5.00gc rather than the $5.00 apple. (1st grade teacher for 20 years now).

 

[daisyduck123]

Wanted to add - if you have kids in HS, those teachers REALLY appreciate being remembered. By then many parents are burnt out and forget these teachers. So when they're remembered, even with something little, its appreciated even more!

Yep! We just purchased 8 Starbucks gift cards for DD15's teachers.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We had a child that was at our preschool for 4 years and he got those apples every year for all the teachers. They are yummy. He would pick which one for which teacher. He is not there this year and we will miss them!!!

 

[mad_for_mickey]

I'd love to hear teacher feedback on my idea for this year. Gift certificates to a car wash that is very near the school. I love this car wash, you just put your car in neutral and ride through, and come out with a sparkling clean car. I'm giving everyone (from classroom teachers, to specialists, to custodians, to the lunch lady) a certificate for a free wash ($8 value) enclosed in a letter on which I write a few lines of thanks, then each of my kids writes their own message of thanks.

Last year, I gave sugar cookies to a diabetic! Oof! (I didn't know he was diabetic until after I gave the cookies.) Am I doing better this year?

 

[krcit]

Are you all doing personal gifts in addition to a class gift, or is no one heading up a collection for a group gift?

I'm not a room mom this year, so I don't know what they're planning yet, but I thought the donation amount they asked for for teacher gifts was a bit excessive this year ($40 - $50 per child) so whatever they come up with for the group gift will be it for us.


One year I gave DD's teacher a big box of binding combs.
She loved having the kids make books, and I was tired of digging through the scrap box in the workroom trying to find big enough pieces of recycled combs to put them together. Our school stopped providing them.
I guess some would think that was not much of a gift either, but we both had a good laugh when she opened it, and I know she guarded that box like it was gold.

$40 or $50 is INSANE!!! My kids school does a class collection. We are not allowed to ask for more than $5 per child, no matter how many teachers/aids are in the room. This year there is his main teacher and then a special ed teacher so I will give $10.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'd love to hear teacher feedback on my idea for this year. Gift certificates to a car wash that is very near the school. I love this car wash, you just put your car in neutral and ride through, and come out with a sparkling clean car. I'm giving everyone (from classroom teachers, to specialists, to custodians, to the lunch lady) a certificate for a free wash ($8 value) enclosed in a letter on which I write a few lines of thanks, then each of my kids writes their own message of thanks.

Last year, I gave sugar cookies to a diabetic! Oof! (I didn't know he was diabetic until after I gave the cookies.) Am I doing better this year?

Considering my van rarely gets washed, I'd be thrilled with this!

 

[cats mom]

$40 or $50 is INSANE!!! My kids school does a class collection. We are not allowed to ask for more than $5 per child, no matter how many teachers/aids are in the room. This year there is his main teacher and then a special ed teacher so I will give $10.

We don't do class gifts. Most of the kids would not be able to participate. We live in a poor rural area and almost all the kids get free breakfast and lunch. Most of these kids only get donated gifts for Christmas, so their parents really can't really be expected to buy a gift for a teacher when they can't afford one for their own child. The school has never asked us for money for anything-- all field trips, etc are free.

$5 would be excessive at our school, but I think $50 would be quite a lot anywhere. I assume there are at least 15 kids in the class. That's a $750 gift.

I thought it was a bit excessive too.
To be fair, the money is to be split between Christmas, Teacher Appreciation Week, and End of Year gifts. But there are 32 kids in the class and just one teacher; so if they all donated the suggested $40-$50, that's quite a chunk of change for teacher gifts.

We do live in a fairly affluent area, only about 3% of the student body qualify for free or reduced lunch, but I still thought the suggested amount was presumptuous. All the room mom's idea BTW.

I think there are some great ideas on this thread!

 

[mafibisha]

Wanted to add - if you have kids in HS, those teachers REALLY appreciate being remembered. By then many parents are burnt out and forget these teachers. So when they're remembered, even with something little, its appreciated even more!

Yep! We just purchased 8 Starbucks gift cards for DD15's teachers.

I thought of this thread at the basketball game tonight. Someone mentioned the teachers that were helping out with the students and concessions and how they should be thanked, or remembered at Christmas along with the coaches. I think I'll get some Starbucks gift cards too, good idea!

 

[vhartwell]

As a teacher...this is what I would like: Sharpie Markers, crayons, colored pencils, paper...anything for my classroom.

I am always spending money for supplies for my students and would LOVE it if someone would bring in supplies for me.