Teachers - What do you get your room moms?

[meliss8599]

This is the first year I've actually had room moms - yay! I'd like to give them some type of gift either at Christmas time or at the end of the year. What have you done? How much have you spent?

 

[disykat]

This is probably not what you're looking for, but I have never given a room mom anything for Christmas. I've also been a room mom (maybe 5 times?) and received gifts twice from teachers. The first time I was actually kind of taken aback. It made me uncomfortable.

Personally I'd be more comfortable with the end of the year, but even then I usually just write a heartful note.

 

[golfgal]

As a former many time room mom, I would never expect a gift from the teacher. Her gift to me was doing a great job educating my children. Maybe a kind note or something if you want to do something but I think most room moms would be embarrassed to get a gift from the teacher.

 

[kacaju]

I have gotten a few gifts from teachers for being room mom, but honestly I never expected it.
If you really feel you want to, get a small box of chocolate.at the end of the year.
I would much rather have a small treat, then a candle or other type of gift

 

[krcit]

I have been a class mom every year for the past 10 years and have never gotten a gift. Honestly, there was one teacher who asked so much of me that I was resentful that she didn't even give me a thank you note. Other than that, I never expect anything but would have been thrilled with a nice card at the end of the year.

 

[luvmy3]

As a room mom I've gotten things like little note pads, or chocolates but it was never necessary. I always thought of it as a priveledge to be able to come in and spend time with my child and the other kids. I would have been happy with a simple "thank you for all the help" comment

 

[lovetoscrap]

I agree with the others, a nice thank you note is the best. We know that you work hard and put so much into teaching our children and we want to help and support you.

My dd's K teacher did get a small wooden box from a craft store and painted it very simply and had my dd make a special picture to put into it and then the thank you note from the teacher went in there. I have it sitting on my dresser still to store "treasures" from DD in. Something very simple and sweet like that, or a simple (handcrafted?) picture frame with a photo of you and the child, or the whole class, or thank you notes from the rest of the class to the room mom (great educational activity!) would all be appreciated.

 

[powellrj]

I never received a gift for being room mother, but I did get flowers a few times when I was a PTO officer.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

I always gave my room moms a thank you note and a bouquet of flowers on the last day of school. And thank you notes only for the regularbclassroom volunteers.

 

[aprilgail2]

I was class mom for three years while my daughter was in grade school-
first year I got at Christmas a box of chocolate and end of the year a 20.00 starbucks gift card

second year I got bottle of win at Christmas and at the end of the year a gift cert for a mani/pedi

last year..5th grade....teacher gave me 25.00 gift cert to Applebees for Christmas and 50.00 gift certificate to the diner ---I was shocked at that one, never expected so much.

each class has two class parents...

 

[daisyduck123]

I've done several things different years:

* small plant

* box of chocolate

* pin that said something like "Volunteers are #1".

* one year I had DH make a nice photo collage out of many of the digital pics I'd taken over the year (made sure to include a lot of pics of the room mom's child). DH added some graphics/text. We framed it & I gave it to her.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our school encourages parent participation so a teacher could have as many as 20 or more volunteers in the classroom each week. Our teachers tend to give each parent helper a small gift at Christmas. One of my favorites was from my son's 5th grade teacher last year. She put the kids to work bagging up Hershey's Kisses (about 10 for each) and had the kids write thank you notes to the parent volunteers. We each received a note signed by the teacher and one or two students with the baggie of kisses. It was very simple, but very nice. I especially liked reading the heartfelt note from a student. No parent got the note from their own child. And the kids didn't know who would get their notes so they just spoke from the heart about how much they appreciate the parent volunteers.

From one teacher, I received a cookie and a teabag with a nice note inviting us to "take a break." One teacher gave us a bag of microwave popcorn with a poem about how parent volunteers make her classroom "pop." None of these things are expensive, but all were meaningful and much appreciated.

 

[quentina]

This is the first year I've actually had room moms - yay! I'd like to give them some type of gift either at Christmas time or at the end of the year. What have you done? How much have you spent?

I've been a room mom many times, the gift is the pleasure the kids get from the parties and events I organized. I was never given present of any type. I did make some friendships with teachers that have lasted many years.

 

[poohfriend77]

I was room mom for DD's class in kindy and 1st grade. The first teacher gave me a plate of homemade muffins and $20 movie gift card for Christmas. I was very surprised that she would spend money on me! It was nice, but unnecessary. She also sent a thank you card for almost anything I did.

The next year, the teacher got me two kitchen towels with snowmen and a spatula for Christmas. It was thoughtful, useful, but inexpensive so I didn't feel awkward accepting it. She got me a hanging flower basket at the end of the year.

 

[Ceila]

The one year I was a room mom the teacher gave me a potted plant at the end of the school year. It was completely unexpected but so sweet of her.

 

[meliss8599]

Oh, wow, thanks for all the replies and ideas. I really like the suggestion of having each of the students write a thank you note and I will write one myself.

It's nice to hear there are other parents out there so happy and willing to participate in their child's school life. It's wonderful and benefits all parties involved--parents, children, and teacher.

 

[Talking Hands]

Never expected anything for being a room Mom. Most I have eveer gotten was a certificate of appreciation. We did not just have room Moms, but a room Dad.