What are you getting the teachers this Christmas?

[wishesuponastar]

My middle daughter was in 7th grade last year and wanted to give a gift to her teachers. Since I was making something homemade (beaded bookmark) we could afford to do it. I haven't asked her if she is giving this year but if she wants to I am going to make it clear that we can only give the bookmarks or the thermal mug for $2 at Kohl's (if they still have them)
Did I read a pp that someone gives $20 gc to the teachers, wow! I could never afford that much.

 

[jaminmd]

I see a lot of posters buying VB for teachers. Am I the only one who thinks VB stuff is ugly? I'd never carry it and it would go in the donation pile. It sounds ungrateful but I'm being honest.

A a PP said, we see this thread every year and there are still lots of mugs, cups, dollar store stuff and homemade treats - all stuff we've repeatedly heard that teachers don't want.

I know this is the BB but it seems like some posters buy whatever they find on clearance thinking it'll make a great gift. Most teachers truly appreciate letters from students thanking them. They'd rather have that than clearance trinkets. JMO.

 

[smidgy]

teachers do NOT want yet another mug!!! organize a "whole class" gift. buy the teacher gift cards, to a nice restaurant, movies, etc.

 

[torinsmom]

I appreciate everything I get, from the handmade card to the $25 gift cards and everything in between. That being said, if you don't know the teacher's personal preferences, you can easily waste your money. For instance, I can't do candles because I am sensitive to fragrances AND I have 4 cats. I don't drink coffee, so the Starbuck's gcs and mugs end up being given away. Lotion and body wash is a problem, also because of fragrances. Plants.....well, I am the kiss of death for plants, LOL. Many of my parents know I love chocolate and Disney, and some of them also know I have a second job(teacher pay in NC is low). I tend to get chocolate, Disney trinkets and gift cards from that group. When I get something I can't use, I am still very appreciative, but I put it in the teacher's lounge for someone who can use it. I always hate to think of the money the parent wasted though.

I find it sad that middle school kids(who are 10-14 and still kids) aren't expected to have parties. My son's middle school was 7th and 8th grade and they always had parties. The kids organized them and just brought in whatever(no big mom organization) and they had a blast! And those teachers have a harder job than mine, IMHO. I always sent in gift cards. I even do that for his high school teachers. I just drop them in the office and the secretary puts them in their box. $10 per teacher is my usual.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
I'm no help for ideas but I just wanted to mention to those who stop buying gifts in Middle School that I actually prefer to buy gifts for those teachers because they are so grateful. They don't get a ton of candles, soaps etc. that end up in a yard sale!

One year, I did monogrammed, embroidered hand towels for all the Middle School teachers (yes, I own an embroidery machine) and put a $5.00 gift card with it. Last year, I embroided their last initial with a simple, elegant design on throws with a gift card. Can I tell you the incredible thank you notes we received? I thought the PE, middle school, teacher was going to cry. I don't think anyone had ever remembered her at Christmas before. This year two of my son's middle school teachers have new babies so I'm going to make a personalized bib and burb cloth with a gift card. I haven't figured out what to make the rest of them yet. The elementary school teachers will get a gift card!

 

[mjkacmom]

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.

Middle school and junior high are the same thing, right? Here, both words are used equally. Question for the PP - how do they have room moms? Ours have homeroom, and then 7 more periods, with different teachers. What class has the party? Homeroom is much shorter than the other periods.

 

[mafibisha]

Hi:
I'm no help for ideas but I just wanted to mention to those who stop buying gifts in Middle School that I actually prefer to buy gifts for those teachers because they are so grateful. They don't get a ton of candles, soaps etc. that end up in a yard sale!
One year, I did monogrammed, embroidered hand towels for all the Middle School teachers (yes, I own an embroidery machine) and put a $5.00 gift card with it. Last year, I embroided their last initial with a simple, elegant design on throws with a gift card. Can I tell you the incredible thank you notes we received? I thought the PE, middle school, teacher was going to cry. I don't think anyone had ever remembered her at Christmas before. This year two of my son's middle school teachers have new babies so I'm going to make a personalized bib and burb cloth with a gift card. I haven't figured out what to make the rest of them yet. The elementary school teachers will get a gift card!

ITA!

I LOVE buying for our older kids' teachers! Middle school and HS teachers have quite a job and get very few tokens of recognition from parents (as compared to elementary) And when they do, they're very grateful.
I drop something off in the main office so my kids don't have to carry it in, unless they want to (DD does with a couple). Even the receptionist is grateful that *her* teachers are being appreciated. I will also take her a little gift, a small box of chocolates from our local, amazing chocolate- candy company.

 

[ilovejack02]

$15 gc to our local grocery store .. it is about 3 minutes from school, the teachers sometimes run to grab lunch from the deli. They also have a really nice wine department, I figure sometimes teachers need a glass or 4 ; ) after work. They are always thrilled to receive . I have 3 teachers and bus driver. Next year will be our last year , so I will include the principal next year. Last year I had found adorable christmas beaded bags on clearance to put cards in.. The teachers with little DD's handed them down. Not sure what I put them in this year, prob just a little gift bag with nice chocolates in it too.

I also do bus driver.

 

[Marionnette]

Middle school and junior high are the same thing, right? Here, both words are used equally. Question for the PP - how do they have room moms? Ours have homeroom, and then 7 more periods, with different teachers. What class has the party? Homeroom is much shorter than the other periods.

Not the PP, but in our middle school the teachers are grouped in teams. The kids change classes within their team of core teachers (math, science, English and social studies) and then rotate to their "specials" together based on whatever day of the week it is. So if a team decides to do a service project, cross-curriculum lessons or even a party, it can be accomplished much easier than if they needed to involve the entire grade level.

 

[Marionnette]

And while I'm not buying teachers' gifts anymore, I'll say that I used to put together mid-year supplies in a decorated basket for the teachers. Pencils, pens, markers, dry erase markers, baby wipes (for cleaning the dry erase board), post it notes, motivational ink stamps, stickers, etc. I also added a gift card for Wawa (our local version of 7-Eleven or Sheetz but sooooo much better! ). Almost everyone stops at Wawa at least once a week for gas, coffee or a snack. The teachers seemed to appreciate the gift and like a PP, I would just drop off the gifts for the middle school teachers rather than send them in with my kids.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I bought Vera Bradley totes this summer for $10 each for my kids teachers. I am comfortable with that being their only gifts - but then we found the staplers that are REALLY easy to use on sale at Office Depot for $5 last week - so I bought those to put in the bags.

They are called Paperpro staplers and you can literally staple up to 15 papers with one finger!! I bought them for everyone in our house as well. I should have saved them as stocking stuffers b/c the kids were so excited for them!!

 

[azdizzymom]

I have high school kids and don't do gifts.....after reading here maybe a small gift card would be appropriate for them.

Will go out with everyone and say no soap, perfume, body spray, mugs, candles, ornaments, homemade treats, 'teacher' themed items, etc. I am a sub and go in different classes all the times....I can't tell you how many teachers have a closet full of mugs---- do you really think the teacher wants another teacher ornament (imagine if 10 kids per year over the course of several years there could be 100+ ornaments), anything with a smell is a personal preference....you might love body spray, lotion, candles, etc. but do you know what the gift recipient really likes (or doesn't like---or has an allergy or a family member with an allergy). The homemade foods---do you know if teacher or family has food allergy---lactose intolerant, peanut allergy, etc. etc. Is the teacher a diabetic or have a family member on a restricted diet?

There are so many well meaning gifts out there but unless you personally are BFF's with a teacher the soap, perfumes, candles, homemade foods (drink mixes etc) are probably not a good idea. Gift cards or school supplies are great---we have done movie and gas gift cards....or generic Walmart, etc. Books for the classroom or book store gift cards.

Don't just give a teacher a gift because you got a great price on it (the soaps, candles, etc)---along with the mugs there are stashes of lotions, etc.

 

[lovehoney]

Our PTO has a Christmas Fund that you can donate to that is split evenly among the teachers. I usually just donate to that.

Last year in addition to the Christmas fund I made homemade boxes out of magazine pages and put in the small pocket antibacterial gel from bath and body works. The boys and I wrote a poem to go with it. It was a fun activity and the boys were able to actually hand their teacher something. I think I spent about $15 on pocket bacs and donated $40 to the fund. The 2nd grader has 6 teachers and the 5th grader has 7 or 8 - i've lost count.

This year, I might just have them write a poem and donate to the fund.

 

[reagan75]

I sell JuJu Belle jewelry and will be giving a necklace or bracelet with school colors to each teacher.

 

[badblackpug]

I see a lot of posters buying VB for teachers. Am I the only one who thinks VB stuff is ugly? I'd never carry it and it would go in the donation pile. It sounds ungrateful but I'm being honest.

A a PP said, we see this thread every year and there are still lots of mugs, cups, dollar store stuff and homemade treats - all stuff we've repeatedly heard that teachers don't want.

I know this is the BB but it seems like some posters buy whatever they find on clearance thinking it'll make a great gift. Most teachers truly appreciate letters from students thanking them. They'd rather have that than clearance trinkets. JMO.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I think Vera Bradley is some of the ugliest stuff out there. I would never carry it, even my 14 year old wouldn't carry it.

I think I am the only person on the DIS who DOESN'T buy teacher gifts.

 

[azdizzymom]

Should also mention....teacher is going to say the LOVE any gift....just like we all do. No teacher is ever going to tell you they don't like the smelly stuff, food, VB bag,etc.etc. I know I would never say I don't like a gift---even my kids know to say thank you very much...I love it!

 

[mjantz]

Another teacher here that does not like VB. Its not ugly but its just totally not my style. I just took a not small paycut to spend more time at home so giftcards, even in small amounts, would be great. I'm missing being able to go to Starbucks as often as I use to & even $10 would be awesome.

 

[walkdmc]

I see a lot of posters buying VB for teachers. Am I the only one who thinks VB stuff is ugly? I'd never carry it and it would go in the donation pile. It sounds ungrateful but I'm being honest.

A a PP said, we see this thread every year and there are still lots of mugs, cups, dollar store stuff and homemade treats - all stuff we've repeatedly heard that teachers don't want.

I know this is the BB but it seems like some posters buy whatever they find on clearance thinking it'll make a great gift. Most teachers truly appreciate letters from students thanking them. They'd rather have that than clearance trinkets. JMO.

Well, Jam, why don't you tell us how you really feel?

 

[AnjieNet]

A PP mentioned Walmart gift cards. In the past we've done the personalized gift cards from Walmart and the teachers got a kick out of them. We take a pic with DD and her teacher at meet the teacher night or a special event then use that pic to have a gift card made. Come out real cute. Not sure if they still do this though. May have to go look!

 

[sammielynn]

When I taught elementary school I got tons of Avon perfume. Yuck, it has improved but still yuck. But my Grandmother and her Sister just loved seeing me coming after school was out, they loved all the different perfumes. so it made me happy to be able to make them happy.