it's that time of year

[rainbabies]

gift giving for teachers, end of year stuff.....

who started this trend anyway? i realize not everyone feels this way..but it's just one more thing that i'm (we're) expected to do as parents. (no offense to the teachers here. it's just that dh and i so didn't have ANY love for ds's K teacher this year. but, because we have one starting K next year, i feel like i should gift ds's current teacher and aid)

we LOVE the preschool teachers, that's not a problem.

finances aren't flowing here, as usual...so, what are your thoughts?

last year i made cookies....they're always well received. i thought about making an apron to add to the gift. is that a bad idea? or okay?

thoughts? thanks!!

[Pollyanna]

We don't do teacher gifts. If I really like one of their teachers I will write a personal thank you but I don't do monetary gifts. I just don't think it is necessary.

[HouseofWool]

Here we have already done 2 gifts for the teacher, one for Christmas, one for teacher appreciation week. I am not doing anything for year end.

For teacher appreciation week, I bought a couple of coffee samples (the ones that make a 4 cup pot) and a package of petite ecolier cookies. With a gift bag from home, the total price was about 5 bucks.

[rainbabies]

i think that i won't do anything for the K teacher and aid.

i will do something for the preschool teachers. dd will be going there next year. this will make the third year in a row for our family...and we truly enjoy them.

what about the apron idea? yes? no?

[alison]

I think an apron is a lovely idea!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

As a teacher, I have never really gotten much of anything. Part of that is the difference b/t grade school and high school (I teach HS). I would really appreciate getting a note of thanks from the parent, but especially the student (even the little ones can put their names, or a picture?) I'm also a sucker for any type of food...

Even a small (like $5) giftcard to Starbucks with a nice note would not go unappreciated (by me)

Good luck!

[DCJenn]

I asked Nikolai what if anything he wanted to get for Mr. Jason and this is his answer,

"Beer. maybe wine but definitely beer. and crackers. and a train. a toy train."

Jenn

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Of course - because you'll need something to do while drinking and eating crackers and cheese At least the dude can throw together a decent gift basket

[Deebs]

I can't speak for other grades, but my mom is a preschool teacher. She is the most senior teacher at her school in the Chicago suburbs and makes about $15,000 per year. She spends a lot of money out of pocket on her kids. She basically makes nothing - my dad is the bread winner. Not that money is everything, but especially for these teachers, they are doing it because they LOVE kids. I would definitely do a gift, even if it is a small pot of flowers from the grocery store (we can get those here for about $5 on sale). A small token of appreciation can go a long way. I did gift cards for DD's teachers because we can afford more.

[Meenah]

I did in elementary school, and I always included the crossing guard! OK, this was quite a few years ago.

The room parent in Bryn's class is putting together a memory book for the teacher. It is a nice idea but with it being due tomorrow, one more thing we are trying to squeeze in before the end of the year.

I don't think you should feel obligated to buy something. Maybe Jacob can make a card for her.

[v-girl]

It's so hard for me to figure out teacher gifts at our school. There's the homeroom teacher, the other teacher for that grade will also teach each child a few subjects (they have vocab, math, science, religion, spelling, reading) and then the specials teachers (spanish, computer, art, music and, for some, math lab and language lab). That's up to 8 teachers!!! We can't even afford our tuition (our kids are there as a charity case this year and probably next).

I may bake a bunch of chocolate chip cookies and brownies to put in the teachers' lounge.

I think the cookies and brownies sound like a great idea!

[DCJenn]

SCORE- the PX had Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers for $3.50/bottle. Everyone got one.

Jenn

[lirio]

I'm a teacher and I've only gotten a few gifts for Christmas. I think just a card is fine. Also food, a little bottle of lotion, or flowers are nice gifts.