Need reasonable present idea for teachers...

mommalah ↓

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 4:41 pm

So my kids' last day of school is tomorrow. Being the procrastinator that I am, I am completely unprepared to give their teachers' an end of year thank you gift. I can go to Target or Walmart tonight to find something and need help. There are 8 teachers between the two kids. I am on a really tight budget but want to give SOMETHING as a token of my appreciation for all they've done for my children this past year. Any ideas??
I can spend maybe $50 in total. Is this an impossibility?

costanza

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 4:44 pm

Does your kids' school have a library? Maybe you can donate the full $50 to the library and have a card sent to them informing them that you have bought books in their honour. I think htese teachers get enough $5 - $10 gifts. Do tthey really need them? You want to show your appreciation and I think a donation is the best way. You could also buy a siddur or chumash and have it donated to the school.

ffbmom ↓

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 7:10 pm

I'm so glad you asked this. I've been a teacher for a good many years. We always get gifts at the end of the year. I know parents spent money on the gifts; some spent some time thinking about what to buy, and it seems as if some just went to the nearest Walmart and bought whatever. Here's what I'd like to share. The best gifts I've ever received were gift certificates to a large mall or book store, so that I could choose whatever I wanted. I got a good many gifts last year that were expensive and I didn't need, so, knowing the store, I returned them. However, there usually isn't that many things at exactly that price, so I left spending twenty or more dollars of my own, and I thought that was just stupid of me.

If your budget is tight, here is a great suggestion. Buy a book for the class or a game. I have yet to visit a class that has enough reading material, be it Hebrew or English. The very best book I received was a parent who bought me a book entitled, "Thank you, Mr. Faulkner" by Patricia Pollacco. Basically an autobiography about how this girl couldn't learn, read, etc. and how she owed it all to her teacher. I LOVE to get new books for my classroom.

Another suggestion is just write a thank you card, straight from the heart, and skip the gift altogether. I'd much rather have that than anything.

Barbara

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 8:09 pm

ffbmom wrote:

Hey, that's what I always give!

You could also do a gift card for consumables -- the local pizza place, coffee shop, whatever, esp if you know that the teacher goes there. I know that some teachers in lower grades give out little prizes to kids, so a gift card to a website like Oriental Trading would be good for them.

SZ mother

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 9:02 pm

This year I hope I did good, we actually never know what the teachers are in the mood for, but I LOVE MANICURE AND PEDICURE, so I shared with another mom to give a gift certificate to a manicure and pedicure with a certain lady that is awsome!!!!
For others we spent the same amount on a gift cert. from target. I supose it was greatly apreciated.

Mimisinger

Wed, Jun 18 2008, 9:51 pm

I taught in a public school so I got a variety of gifts, from LOTS of chocolate and bath things to $100 gift certificates.

Depending on the school/derech of teacher, a very cheap gift is a $5 gift card to Blockbuster taped to a microwave poppcorn.

$5 gift card to Starbucks ( I didn't drink coffee, but others loved this)

Gift cards to any store - they can always be added to, coffee shop, manicure.

The chachkas, no one wants, and they end up getting thrown out. If I could tell you how much bath junk, chocolate and candles I got over the years!!!! Btw, I don't take baths, the chocolate was treif and I'm allergic to smelly candles.

mummiedearest

Thu, Jun 19 2008, 12:12 am

please don't give those awful teacher throws, pillows, plastic apples, etc. they're SO annoying and go straight out. unless the teacher wears those ABC denim jumpers to work. then you can give those teacher thingies and she might appreciate it.

one of my favorite parents (the only class parent who seemed normal and I actually liked...) gave us each a beautiful long stemmed rose. the expensive kind. one to each assistant, and a book to the teacher (who had no intention of reading it. I would have loved that book, but she has no appreciation for mark twain). the roses were lovely, made a cheery decoration, and did not last long, so I was ok with throwing it out when it died. I did not feel horrible throwing it out as I felt about the pillow, bookends, hanging sign, etc. I prefer not to have other people give me things to decorate my home with. but flowers I can handle.

leomom

Thu, Jun 19 2008, 12:49 am

Well, I was going to mention a particular gift that I appreciated this year, but that could give away my identity to some people, and I can't post anonymously! Oh, well.

I will say that I do appreciate a simple note of appreciation.

cookielady

Thu, Jun 19 2008, 1:07 am

AS of recently I give either amazon gift cards or visa gift cards. That way the teacher can buy herself something she can enjoy that she wouldnt buy for herself. I like this better than trying to guess.

But a note expressing your thanks is most valuable to a teacher who has worked so hard to help educate your children.

manhattanmom

Mon, Jun 23 2008, 11:53 am

mommalah wrote:

op here

I ended up giving a starbucks gift card and a really long thank you note. It took me about an hour to write them all out. I hope this went well.
Thanks everyone for all your responses.

That was going to be my suggestion. I'd take a Starbucks card any day!

lamplighter

Mon, Jun 23 2008, 5:11 pm

I hate starbucks and Ive gotten 1 too many gift cards, DH and I use them to buy bottled water or stuff when we travel. personally $25 in a book shop/amazon etc is way more practical than $25 of coffee. I guess its personal.

↑ ffbmom

Mon, Jun 23 2008, 5:35 pm

Well, so far I got two Starbucks cards and two book store cards. I love coffee (the kids know if you do or not); I never eat chocolate (I just give it away), and I love to read. I also got expensive soap, which I never use. I'd rather read or have coffee. I also got a Coach wallet (WOW!!). But the most appreciated gift is a nice letter or card.

willow

Tue, Jun 24 2008, 2:32 am

One of the end of year gifts I got when I taught was from the series "chicken soup for the soul" the pregnant addition. I had just gotten married and I was so embarrassed and a bit insulted (gosh can't a girl gain a few pounds without everyone jumping to conclusions)
Although it did make for a good read.