What are you getting the teachers this Christmas?

[mandynee22]

I get them soaps/bath stuff from hyena cart shops. I figure everyone uses soap... right?

 

[jstbcuz]

My son is in KDG and his teacher likes to go to Sonic for a drink, so I might get a GC from there.

 

[brymolmom]

I have ds in 4th and dd in 3rd. Last year both male teachers and I am sorry but they are more difficult to buy gifts for - so I'm GLAD to say both teachers this year are female.

I have a ton of stuff in my gift closet. I will likely give at least one of them a holiday hand-towel set. I got a bunch of them after x-mas a few years ago and gave them as holiday presents to teachers that year...I think I have one or two left. If not those - I might do mini-stockings with a anti-bacterial lotion from BBW in it - and then attach a $5 gift card to the local coffee shop.

 

[englishteacha]

For those with kids in middle/high school, even if you don't give the teacher a gift, they'd love a holiday card. It's hard to work with teens, and middle/high school teachers rarely get recognized by anyone for their work.

Just a hint.

 

[ccgirl]

I go the gc route. Something that is usable that they haven't gotten fifty million of. I know most of the teachers in my DD's school end up donating the soaps,towels, and personal hygiene items to the food pantry. One year I did a movie theme basket with gc to the movies for a teacher I know likes to go with her children. ANother time I did a Dunkin Donuts basket with a reusable coffee mug, coffee, and a D&D gift card. I'm kind of liking the Vera Bradley bags though. I wonder if her teachers would actually use them.

 

[trinchick]

Question: for classes where the room parent collects money for a gift card, do you also send a gift specifically from your child? Last year DD was in kindergarten, and families were asked to send in money (a relatively small amount like $10) but I didn't know if most people gave a separate gift as well. DD of course didn't notice if other kids brought in gifts. I'd appreciate some advice, as I anticipate this may happen again this year.

 

[mom2rose&john]

If I don't know the teacher real well I go the gift card route. Last year during field days my dd teacher was talking about her new keurig and how she loved hazelnut flavored coffee so dd gave her the pods. She loved it.

This years teachers have families so I am thinking of movie theater gift cards. Our bus driver also receives a gift card. IMHO they are deserving of a gift, I can hardly handle two loud kids in my backseat. I can not imagine 65

Ann Marie

 

[mjkacmom]

Question: for classes where the room parent collects money for a gift card, do you also send a gift specifically from your child? Last year DD was in kindergarten, and families were asked to send in money (a relatively small amount like $10) but I didn't know if most people gave a separate gift as well. DD of course didn't notice if other kids brought in gifts. I'd appreciate some advice, as I anticipate this may happen again this year.

Everyone I know contributes to the group gift (only $5), and gives a gift (usually a gc). It might be different elsewhere. Just ask around.

 

[mbf]

I also gift the bus drivers! IMO, they probably deserve thanks more than anyone. IDK how they do it everyday. I usually give them a card and a container of homemade candy. Maybe this year I will put a scratch off on as well.

 

[CTdiznymom]

This seems to be a recurring theme each year. What do we get the teacher??? Yesterday I received a brochure in the mail that gave a suggestion. It was from Heifer International. For a small contribution of $10 you can donate to a cause that provides animals to the needy to be raised and farmed. Why not check it out? www.heifer.org

This can be done individually or maybe as a class. As a mom of a teacher, I've seen how many coffee mugs, ornaments, and home made baked goods (that have gone directly in the trash) my dd comes home with. All greatly appreciated, but they end up in a yard sale or goodwill.

This is not only a great gift, but a lesson in truly helping those less fortunate.
I know my dd would be thrilled with such a gift.
Just a thought...

 

[AnjieNet]

The PTA for our school purchased iPods and docks for all the teachers in our school last year. So I'll do an iTues gift card again this year so she can download music for the classroom. Probably $10 or $20 depending on how my Christmas budget turns out. Always gift the bus driver with a $20 gift card as well. He is great with the kids and gives each child little gifts on Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's, Easter and the last day of school.

 

[Swimalie]

Question: for classes where the room parent collects money for a gift card, do you also send a gift specifically from your child? Last year DD was in kindergarten, and families were asked to send in money (a relatively small amount like $10) but I didn't know if most people gave a separate gift as well. DD of course didn't notice if other kids brought in gifts. I'd appreciate some advice, as I anticipate this may happen again this year.

In the past, I have donated to the general gift and also given a separate gift.

Today was the school's book fair and my son's teacher mentioned she loves Titanic stuff. They have a set of 3 books that tell the story of the sailing and sinking. I think I'll get those for her. They will be something she likes and supporting the school's library at the same time.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

If I don't know the teacher real well I go the gift card route. Last year during field days my dd teacher was talking about her new keurig and how she loved hazelnut flavored coffee so dd gave her the pods. She loved it.

This years teachers have families so I am thinking of movie theater gift cards. Our bus driver also receives a gift card. IMHO they are deserving of a gift, I can hardly handle two loud kids in my backseat. I can not imagine 65Ann Marie

AMEN! One year I gave our bus drivers fleece throw blankets and one driver used hers on the bus, every chilly morning she would have it covering her legs and the kids were thrilled to see that she used their gift. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for them this year, we have 3.

For the teachers I will probably do gift cards to Walmart or Target. I don't know, though, the second grade teacher is a techy and they have ipads in their classroom so I'm thinking maybe an itunes card for her. Do the teachers have to pay for apps out of pocket?

 

[sherry7]

DD is in daycare, and has 4 teachers. Last month, Kohl's had their regularly $10 thermal cups on clearance for $2, and I bought a few. I'm going to fill each cup with red and green Hershey's Kisses and tuck a Walmart gift card in as well. I haven't decided on the amount of the gift card yet, but I'm thinking around $20 per teacher.

I'll also take in a disposable pan of my homemade peanut butter fudge to put in the kitchen and share.

 

[scootch]

We usually just give cash. They spend so much money out of their own pockets and have gotten so many trinkets over the years. Hubby is a high school teacher so rarely gets anything but even with that, we have a ton of mugs and such. My kids go to a catholic school also and I know they are the lowest paid teachers around. Every year they seem very appreciative.

 

[mafibisha]

This seems to be a recurring theme each year. What do we get the teacher??? Yesterday I received a brochure in the mail that gave a suggestion. It was from Heifer International. For a small contribution of $10 you can donate to a cause that provides animals to the needy to be raised and farmed. Why not check it out? www.heifer.org

This can be done individually or maybe as a class. As a mom of a teacher, I've seen how many coffee mugs, ornaments, and home made baked goods (that have gone directly in the trash) my dd comes home with. All greatly appreciated, but they end up in a yard sale or goodwill.

This is not only a great gift, but a lesson in truly helping those less fortunate.
I know my dd would be thrilled with such a gift.
Just a thought...

Thanks for a great idea in the Heifer Project. I heard of it before but hadn't checked it out.

Also, the bolded part above that you wrote is VERY important. Way too many people make (most likely delicious) treats for teachers, only to have them thrown out. I read that in several other DIS threads and have heard it elsewhere.

It seems like such a waste of time, effort and money, so I'm glad you mentioned it again. Thank you.

 

[Scrappin'Maniac]

I'm doing Thirty-One bags. Each month they have a customer special, so I've taken advantage of that. They are each getting an organizing tote that I had personalized. It's a good size for them to take papers/ supplies back and forth.

(Disclaimer... I am a Thirty-One consultant. )

 

[DizneyLizzy]

My son is in KDG and his teacher likes to go to Sonic for a drink, so I might get a GC from there.

Let me just say that as a teacher, this is one of the most thoughtful things you can do. One of my students gave me a gift card to Royal Farms one year (our convenience store/gas station type of place, sort of like a Wawa, Sheetz, etc) because he said he and his mom often saw me stopping off there before school for gas/coffee. That $5 gift card meant so much to me because it was personal

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I thought I was done with teachers gifts when my DD hit middle school this year. I was so happy.

Suddenly a list comes home of the teachers favorite things along with a note from the Room Mother's saying the list is for teacher's gifts and teacher appreciation days. I guess this particular group of Room Mother's want to continue the teacher gift thing.

We never did this before in Middle School when my son was there.

The only thing the teacher will be getting from me is winter supplies - kleenex, hand santizer, paper towels, lysol/clorox wipes - The things the teacher normally asks for the classroom.

I wrote a note back to the room mothers regarding their "holiday Parties" portion of their letter. Middle school should not have holiday parties - those are elementary school things and should not be continued into middle school. They never had them in the past and were not missed.

I'm sure I'm going to be real popular with this set of Room Mothers.........

 

[Pigeon]

We don't have middle school, but have jr. high instead for 7th and 8th. They don't even have room mothers, let alone holiday parties.