I need help with ideas for teacher's gifts, please!

[jskarp]

I need some ideas quick........school's coming to an end and I'm running out of ideas. I know we have some teacher's out there.....unless you all want another coffee mug with the World's Best Teacher on it....help me out here! Thanks ~Joy

[ShainaT]

My brother is a PE teacher and I know his favorite gifts are giftcards. He has gotten them from Circuit City, Best Buy and Home Depot. This way he can get what he wants.

[KAMA]

My all-time favorite gift as a teacher was when the parents got together, chipped in, and gave me a gc to staples where i got most of my teaching supplies. you can't begin to imagine the out-of-pocket expenses for supplies that teachers have to get each year.

just edited to mention... i also save all those hand written notes basically telling me how much i was valued.

[whitequeen96]

I need help too! But they have to be low cost, because my son has 1 teacher and 3 aides in his class, plus a speech therapist and an occupational therapist. (He's in a high-functioning autism class.) That's 6 gifts, and I don't have much money. What about home-made almond roca? Is that too cheesey? Any other suggestions?

[lizard_collins]

OK I've got it. I polled some teachers at our local elementary when I was trying to figure out what to give my dd's Kinder teacher and the overwhelming response was...Starbucks gc's! That is of course, if you have a Starbucks in your area. I gave our teacher and room mom each a $5.00 gc, which was enough for a nice big coffee or a fruity slush thing, but not too much to be expensive. I thought of including the school nurse too, and I think I will do that next year.

I think the teacher and room mom liked the gc's because, as my dd put it,

"I got a BIG hug from BOTH of them!."

[kells3]

whitequeen, the home made almondroca sounds like a very nice gift. Its hard when you have so many to buy for. If you need a taste tester send some my way. LOL

I always give the teachers a gift cert. I'm lucky that I don't have a lot of people to buy for. This year we are collecting money to buy my sons kindergarten teacher a gift cert. This way it will save me money (we are all giving $5 and I would have spent more if it was a gift just from us). My dd is in pre-kindergarten and I think I will see if the parents from that class would also like to chip in for a nice gift cert.

Kelly

[rafala]

I really like the idea of gift certificates and i like when someone collects for a large one from the whole class but what do teachers think when they receive a $5 gc for target or borders? I mean it doesnt buy tons and i feel real cheap giving them just a $5 card? If my son gets into prek next year i will definately work with all the classes my kids are in to take up collections.

karen - mom of 3 who is going out tonight to get some of the gifts

[bonniejeanne]

I always take my kids to the Dollar Tree and let them pick out stuff. I really can't afford much of anything, but they have some nice scented candles there that my boys picked out this year and the teachers really loved them.

[hannahsmom]

like the bargains at viking office products a few months ago? or all the free after rebate stuff at office depot? i've got a slew of fun school supplies stashed in my basement closet. a gc obviously gives them more choice, but if you're low on $$, the supplies themselves are an option. and i don't think it's possible to go wrong w/ a home made treat, do you? (especially something as sinful as almond roca!!) now, a mug? NOOOOOOooooooooo!

[rafala]

It seems like I am the only one questioning this but what is almond roca???? wouldnt mind something easy and good to give to the bus drivers, kids are still early years of elementary school so want to be on their good side

thanks,
karen

[bdinalbq]

From a "Teacher's Perspective"

Ok I'm not a teacher (therapist) but here's my take on things if you're interested:

I appreciate anything anyone gives me...a handwritten card is sometimes the most touching thing a parent can do. You don't have to "buy" something.

I have a little collection on my desk....accumulated over 14 years...of "stuff" given to me by students and parents. A jade carved owl, a handmade piece of jewelry, a pretty rock collection, a "made in shop class" coyote pencil holder, etc...just to give you an idea. The point is, I remember EVERY SINGLE STUDENT who gave something to me...ANYthing. A little momento, regardless of it's price or where it came from, indicates you were an important person in the lives of these kids and parents, and THAT'S all I need

[3tbear]

What about a nice canvas tote bag from L.L. Bean if it is a female teacher. They have an online store, and believe me, they really do ship fast! They are great to take to the beach in the summer.

For a male teacher, a Swiss Army knife. Men love gadgets!

A gift certificate to a nice restaurant would be great don't you think?

A gift basket from Harry and David of some goodies to eat, think they have an on-line store. We have an outlet store near us, perhaps you do as well.

[eldo]

Great timing, bdinalbq...we were just discussing this at my kids' school this afternoon.

This year we decided on a beach-bag theme. The other room-mom and I bought a large beach bag. We requested each child contribute something to go into it, which they will bring on the last day of school. I did this idea two years ago with another teacher and it worked out really well. They came up with great ideas: a pair of thongs, beach towel, sunscreen, visor, mister bottle, snack food, paperback novel, etc.! The teacher liked it, and I think the kids liked contributing something of their choice.

This year's teacher will be getting a $100 gift certificate to her favorite store (she's mentioned it occasionally to the kids). We're also giving her a mug with the class group photo printed on it, with the date. It's her last year of teaching, so even though she's undoubtably received lots of mugs before, this will commemorate her final year of teaching.

[kat]

Homemade things are always welcome. I taught middle school for a few years & hubby is a professor, so we still get teacher gifts and the ones that were made by the students have always been the best gifts.

If you don't have a lot to spend and a lot of teachers (like my kids - one had 6 teachers, the other , why not make up some recipes in a jar for the teachers? You can do cookies or soup mixes and they last forever. We did this last year for our youngest (he had been going to a coop daycare with student teachers from the university) and his lead teacher actually made a comment on how nice they were & how much she'd like something like that (yeah, I got a clue & that's what they all got plus a big bowl of fresh made cookies for them to snack on while they did clean up).

Fresh baked breads, cookies, candies, etc. have always gone over well with teachers, bus drivers & even my mailman. You can always get cute tins at the dollar store, yard sales or even the thrift store (just wash out the used ones well & then line them with paper).

[twinsmom]

I usually get the small Yankee candles (votive size) and give each teacher a couple wrapped in cellophane with a bow. Or, next time Victoria's Secret or Bath & Body Works has a sale lotion, buy several and store them away; they always come in handy!