Teachers: what percentage of your students give you presents?

[laurajetter]

Since joining the DIS, I have been made aware over the months through many different threads that it is very common for kids to give their teachers gifts. Growing up, my mom never really gave gifts to my teachers, and I didn't notice anyone else giving them, although I'm sure others did, I just didn't see.

So when I first read how some people give gifts to teachers, I figured it was a minority of the class that did so; now I am wondering how many in fact do give gifts? Now that I'm an adult, I see why people give gifts to teachers, I just had not grown up with that tradition.

Teachers, out of all of your students, what percentage would you estimate give you gifts, and for those who do not, are you slightly bothered that they didn't or doesn't it matter to you?

Just curious.

 

[Aurora63]

Of my 19 1st graders, I got gifts from 3. These kids come from poor families, so I was not expecting many. I appreciate being thought of, but I am not offended to not receive a gift. They have many more pressing needs.

 

[SeeDisney]

I'm not a teacher, but today was the party day and my kids said lots and lots of presents were given to the teachers today. My girl said her teacher got A LOT OF CANDLES! I never give teachers candles, knowing that they get more than enough of them.

 

[aprilgail2]

I was also at the class party today and the teacher opened all her gifts in front of the students and she must have gotten 15 gifts out of 22 kids in the class...the kids that gave gifts were all excited seeing her open all the gifts in front of them....not sure how happy the ones that did not bring gifts were feeling about that though!

 

[Princess Tink]

Not a teacher here either. But, it seems about 50%-75% of the kids in my DS's 2nd Grade class had gifts for the teacher. My son loves picking out his teacher gift, I too try to stay away from candles and lotions because they seem to get a lot of that stuff. Besides, we seem to get those little type things for other holidays. My DS said his teach had like 10 candles! He was happy he chose her a really nice Chenille Scarf.

 

[coinkc]

Of my 16 students, 13 brought me gifts this year. They ranged from small ornaments to Target gift cards. I don't make a big deal out of getting the gifts and usually open them right away with the child standing there and not in front of the whole class. I never want a child to feel bad because they didn't give me anything nor do I expect gifts.

I also buy a box of Christmas cards each year and wrote my thank you notes on those sometime during that day. Every kid gets a card...some are thank you notes and some are just holiday wishes. This way nobody knows who did and didn't bring a gift.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I have 12 students (Kindergarten) and of them, 7 brought me a gift. I did not receive a single candle! I received four gift certificates ($40 to a restaurant, $25 Barnes and Noble, $15 Starbucks, and $15 Target), a Bath and Body Works gift basket, a Tinkerbell ornament brought back from Disneyland, and a box of Sees chocolates. I was very grateful for their thoughtfulness and I loved everything.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My sister is a special ed teacher who does not have a regular classroom, but she does see some of the kids more than their regular teachers. She rarely gets gifts from the kids.

I think it's kindof sad, really.

 

[Daxx]

Let me start off by saying that I never expect gifts nor do I feel that I deserve or should receive gifts from my students.

The school I teach in has a lot of poor families (many who are on scholarships donated by the parishioners and/or a special tuition fund set up by the diocese). I was really surprised by the number of gifts I received today. I mean, honestly surprised.

The homeroom mom collected money (I don't know how much per child, nor do I know who gave or how much was collected) and she put together one of those tied fleece throws. The kids tied the knots in it ... the homeroom mom came in the other day and gave me a "break" so they could work on it. The homeroom mom is going to iron each student's photo on the one side of the throw after Christmas. She had some computer difficulties and couldn't print out the photos in time to have it completed ... so she gave me the blanket to take home to show to my family and said to return it after the holiday and she'd finish it for me. I was very touched by such a special gift!!! I love gifts like that!!!

Anyway, only 11 of my students showed up today and 7 gave me a "separate" gift. I was very touched by their kindess and generousity. I am sure many of the gifts came from the $1 store, but they didn't have to do anything and, when it came down to it, they chose to get me a gift. I am so touched by that small gesture ... that a family would give up $1 for me. I'm sure it could have been better spent on some rice or soup or what-have-you ... but they chose to get me a small gift. That means more to me than anyone can imagine.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

When I was an elementary teacher, I would have to bring bags to school knowing I would have so many gifts to bring home. I would also buy some special paper knowing I would have so many thank you notes to write and would get head starts on them...
Since I have gone to middle school it has really dropped off. This year I received presents from 4 of my approx. 70 students. Since we were on a wierd exam schedule, most of them didn't even have me the last day and they just ran it in my room on the way to somewhere else, so I will have thank you notes for them when we get back from the break.
I don't expect gifts at all. It is nice to get them, but not something I even count on.

 

[wilderness01]

For our school 225 families out of 300 families donated to the Christmas monetary fund. It was a very nice gesture and a great gift for the teachers.

 

[janette]

My sister is a special ed teacher who does not have a regular classroom, but she does see some of the kids more than their regular teachers. She rarely gets gifts from the kids.

I think it's kindof sad, really.

That is sad, the special ed teachers have always been the ones that get gifts from me because I know they have worked so much with my DD. She's dyslexic and this year started in the dyslexia classroom so I sent a gift to that teacher this year instead. She only goes to the special ed classroom if she needs help finishing something but isn't there every day anymore and not for any instruction.

 

[jenks0718]

My son is in 1st grade and I would say that 85-90% of students give gifts.

I think I did a major "no, no" though. I gave a candle this year! I guess because I love them so much myself I assumed she would too. Next year I am gonna be original!

 

[grlpwrd]

About 50 to 80% of students in each of my 3 dd's classes gave something to their teacher. Keep in mind not everyone is a Christian or celebrates Christmas as there are Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses, and Jewish people in their classes, too.

Also, around 48% of the school population is classified as "economically disadvantaged."

We're dealing with a heterogeneous population here....and I'd like to thank my teachers for teaching me that word.

 

[mlg32]

I have to say I was touched by my DD's kdg teacher today, I went to the party and brought her gift for my DD to give and the teacher opened it in front of my daughter and thanked her(by the way we gave her a $10 target gc and a 1/2lb gouda cheese, i know the cheese is funny but my Dh is in the dairy industry so everyone gets cheese for Christmas!)she had other gifts on her desk but didn't see her open those?? Anyway the party was made up of different centers of Christmas activities and at the craft center they made a craft and then DD's teacher gave each child a present, the girls were barbies and the boys were toy cars(dollar store items but still). I thought that was so nice but the best was when each kid got a hug and a Merry Christmas as they were leaving. I just thought she was great, I mean my daughter gets plenty of hugs at home but I am sure some kids really need that, not sure why that touched me so much but it did---

 

[mudnuri]

Well,

DD's always pick out their own teachers gifts, sometimes its at walmart, some times its at an expensive store, just depends on what they want to give.

This year, DD8 actually picked out a candle AT THE DOLLAR STORE!!! It was a scented candle, that was for "relaxation" and another that was for "harmony"...she wrote a note to her teacher that said

"mrs. M. i hope you enjoy your relaxation candle over the vacation im sure you need it by now love Danielle"

Mrs. M emailed me last night and said it was a very thoughtful tag to attach to a candle LOL...

DD9 bought her teachers gift cards to dunkin donuts, because they both have coffee's every morning...

Brandy

 

[rockin_rep]

The homeroom mom collected money (I don't know how much per child, nor do I know who gave or how much was collected) and she put together one of those tied fleece throws. The kids tied the knots in it ... the homeroom mom came in the other day and gave me a "break" so they could work on it. The homeroom mom is going to iron each student's photo on the one side of the throw after Christmas. She had some computer difficulties and couldn't print out the photos in time to have it completed ... so she gave me the blanket to take home to show to my family and said to return it after the holiday and she'd finish it for me. I was very touched by such a special gift!!! I love gifts like that!!! .

How wonderful the class MADE something for you! That is likely more meaningful anyway, right?

Here's a little food for thought.....

Our five elementary school principals together decided gifts are NOT permitted to be given to teachers. A memo to that effect is sent home in addition to an article in the newsletter.

Before you freak out, let me explain.

We live in a mostly very upscale suburban community. However, there are few sections where people have much lower incomes. For MANY years there were many parents who went waaaaaay overboard (can you say Tiffany's jewelry, for example???) because, well, because they could!

But at the same time, some of the other children who couldn't afford to bring a present, would make excuses why they didn't, saying "Oh, i forgot mine at home" or "i dropped in on the way and it broke" or something equally as untrue to save face. It was often very sad and the teachers would get very teary eyed seeing their students hurt feelings. I observed that several times as a room mom. I've also seen teachers talking about that very situation, with tears welling up in their eyes. Just think about it.....

So, the principals encourage the room moms to help the kids create something together for the teachers. And they also decided only cards or something very small that fits into an envelope should be given, like a loving picture colored, a note of appreciation written by both the student and parent or small ornament.

At first there were many opposing this but it has worked very well in our community. I know there are still presents sent or dropped off at teachers homes, but now those less fortunate aren't made to feel even sadder at not giving their teacher a present.

You may not agree but it's just some food for thought!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i work at a day care center that there are kids from 6 weeks old to 5 years old..i would say that 75-80 percent of the families give the teachers gifts

 

[tiggerlover]

We have always given gifts to DS's teachers from preschool on up. Now that he is getting older and having more teachers we have to decide how to proceed. This year he has two main teachers, he spends half the day with each teacher so we did buy a GC to Barnes and Noble for each plus a card with a note from both DS and my DH and I. He has specials throughout the week, but each teacher only gets him once a week and I don't even know who they are so I decided not to give gifts to all of them. We do give gifts to his bus driver and his three teachers in his afterschool program, but that is about it. I know when he goes to middle school in a year and a half he will have multiple teachers, but I am not sure what we will do at that time. I have noticed in years past that the teachers have received gifts from a good portion of the students in their class, however, DS said he only noticed a couple this year (but that could be that he was too busy paying attention to something else.)

 

[Kteacher]

About 75% of my students are eligible for free lunch program, so I don't expect or want gifts- instead , I give a gift to each of them. Today we decorated gingerbread cookies I made for them, and they each got a wrapped present with some books, pencils, erasers, stickers, and a few pieces of candy