Teacher gift?

[Sabriel]

Can you tell I'm new at this school thing? I'm wondering about getting my daughter's kindergarten teacher a present, because she's the reason my daughter loves school, despite the fact she's had a few problems.

I taught high school, and I would've preferred to get no gifts at all (how many apple gizmos can one handle?), so I'm wondering what the rest of you do about it. The other thing is, her classroom is fairly low-income, and I don't want to make that an issue.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

1. How about having your daughter help you make the teacher

a nice Christmas card? It would be fairly inexpensive for you both to show your appreciation for this teacher.

I was a high school teacher for a short time at low income high school. I got some Christmas cards from some students, which was nice. My husband works a high school in an upper class neighborhood. He received a gift from a student once, but the gift was actually a Christmas gift for our son, who was only two-months-old a the time. The student gave my son a little Winnie the Pooh doll that squeaked. It looked to be a fairly inexpensive toy.

[fortyfeetunder]

2. Make a little scrapbook

It doesn't have to be fancy, along the lines of making a card, with some of these themes:

"I like kindergarten because"
"My teacher makes me smile when.."

Teachers love drawings and little pictures too.

[SW FL Dem]

3. When my son was in elementary school, I always gave his teachers

gift certificates (for dinners, movies, educational supplies etc.) My mom was an elem teacher and I remember her coming home with tons of stinky perfumes, bubble baths and coffee mugs that ended up in the goodwill pile so I tried to get something I know the teacher could use and would appreciate.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

4. A gift certificate is a good idea.

You could discreetly tuck it into a card. None of the other kids would notice.

[cally]

5. I like the gift card idea best

since teachers often buy too many supplies. It is also discreet. At my kids' school, almost everyone bought the teacher a gift. It bothered me. I usually had my daughters decorate an inexpensive pot or we bought a coffee mug. We then filled it with pens and pencils or tea a coffee. I figured they could use it and it wouldn't add to the clutter. I sometimes added stickers or stamps to use on paper.

The best gift my daughter ever gave was a scrapbook for a teacher. She did this with three other friends. They included poems, personal statements, pictures, and remembrances. She did this on her own without any prodding from me. The teacher showed it to everyone. This was her drama teacher and a remarkable man. He had a huge influence on both of my daughters and is one of those teachers that will be remembered and cherished by almost all of his students.

[SW FL Dem]

6. Now that my son is in middle school and has 6 teachers

we do the coffee mug thing and fill it with pens, markers and other stuff for the classroom. We also bake cookies and other goodies and make a small plate for each teacher.

[Sabriel]

7. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Since the teacher has helped my daughter with her writing so much, a holiday card, hand-made, is a neat idea.

[SoCalDem]

8. Pier 1 has some nifty, but very nice gifts

I was just there today, and found several small "thank-you" gifts.. very nice ones for not a lot of $$$$

[davsand]

9. I usually do a gift certificate.

Either to a restaurant or to a craft store or even an educational supply store. One year I even did one for an art supply store...

I've considered ordering some of those personalized pencils for the teacher too--the ones with the teacher's name on them--seems like every kid has to borrow a pencil sooner or later. May as well give the teacher some to give away!

Laura

[LWolf]

10. As a teacher,

my favorite gifts have included:

Cards, especially if they are homemade and/or include a note from the family.
Tea
Gift certificates, especially for Barnes & Noble ;-)
(Since I always give each child a book, that makes it almost like a book exchange!)

house plants (I've had some for 8 years now, and can remember the givers as youngsters) I also have some California poppies that reseed each year, started from a seed packet given by a student, and some miniature roses, lavender, and thyme growing outside that were given by students.

I also have a sign made for me by a first grader 10 years ago. It is on a piece of plywood he found. He painted it white, then used colored paints to write "______________'s Garden" in his childish printing. He knew I loved gardening. He then found another piece of scrap wood for a stake and proudly showed me where he "nailed it himself." I've had to replace the stake a couple of times, but it's been gracing my garden all this time. Eventually, I'll bring it in and hang it on the wall.

I actually like the mugs, but have more than I can find room for in the cupboard. I don't need any more statues, paperweights, candles, or "decorations." And I don't eat candy, so I end up giving it away.

I actually really love anything that brings memories of the student for years down the road. :loveya: