teacher gifts

[Marcie]

Anyone have creative ideas? Teachers, what did you like to receive from your classes at the end of the year?

ETA, I was thinking of something like this tote bag: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94013948...vas?ref=&sref=

And then inside, maybe a picture of each student, with a note on the back saying what they liked most about the teacher? (We are talking 3-year-olds, so the responses may be silly...) Do you think a preschool teacher would like something like that, or should we just do a gift card or something?

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

as a teacher, i would prefer a gift card but if u dont want to do a gift card, that bag is nice. i would have liked it, too. you are very thoughtful

[Marcie]

as a teacher, i would prefer a gift card but if u dont want to do a gift card, that bag is nice. i would have liked it, too. you are very thoughtful

Thanks, I appreciate the response - I can totally see her preferring a gift card, since I know they are more useful! I just didn't want it to seem impersonal. Maybe I will do something little and then a gift card for most of it.

[preciousnd98]

The bag is very cute and I definitely would have used it for my school stuff. I was always very grateful for all gifts I received, so please don't take this like I am complaining!! But I received so much stuff with apples on it, as well as a ton of lotions and candles, every year. So unless she is a new teacher, you might want to shy away from those because they are such common gifts. Maybe a flower or some other cute little picture on the bag would definitely be appreciated I think!

[Jai]

That bag is super cute!

I'm not a teacher, but Pinterest has a bunch of really cute gift ideas. I just searched teacher appreciation and have a bunch of ideas.

I think what we're going to do for Peytons teacher is get a plant and either put a card in it on a stick, or maybe paint it on the side.. "Thank you for helping me grow" and probably put Peytons name and school year on the bottom.

[Jai]

Oh and I found this.. kind of like what you mentioned.. http://www.southernmamas.com/2009/th...-for-teachers/ SUPER CUTE!

[macksmom]

My mom is a teacher and would sometimes get overwhelmed by so many "knick knacky" type gifts. The bag is VERY cute but imagine if every child or every class gave a gift like that - the teachers would be overwhelmed with items. I remember my mom coming home with tons of things around xmas and the end of the year - she was always very grateful but felt like after a while she didn't know what to do with all these things anymore. DH is an SLP and has gotten gifts from kids like a mug with the kid's picture on it or even worse a t-shirt! He felt awful but he was NOT about to wear a t-shirt with another person's child on it!!!

So while some of the items are memorable and sweet I would suggest something very small and a gift card or a homemade card and a gift card. Or something consumable. I don't see it as impersonal and I think they appreciate it more than items they feel obligated to use or have no where to put....

[Marcie]

Ok, so it sounds like the consensus is to just get a gift card? Idk why it just sits weird with me. We do birthday, Christmas and end of the year gifts for DD's two teachers. As a class, we do gift cards for Christmas and end of the year (and I did an additional Christmas gift card to each). I just thought for birthdays it would be nice to get them a gift. I feel sort of odd to keep giving them what is essentially money. But if that's what people think they want (especially former teachers), so be it!

[misfit]

I'm still brainstorming this, but I think I will get each of Sam's teachers a bottle of the Bath and Body Works Hand Soap. Who doesn't wash their hands? Less likely to sit around like lotion (at least if you are like me) I think I did lotion and hand sanitizer for Christmas. And then I am not sure what else I will do. I need to figure it out because the end of the year is almost here. I keep it small though. I can't afford much.

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

you know, my favorite gifts were stuff that students made for me themselves. Even if it was a card, but a student wrote a little note. I did teach older kids, though. So, I still like the idea of doing a pic with them telling what they liked. I loved those type of things. I taught lower income students, so most of the time time, if I got a gift, it was something like that, and I loved it. So, that is a way to make a gift card more personal.

[jazzmom]

I'm not a teacher but I think gift cards are a winner. If you can find out where the teacher likes to eat, get coffee or shop maybe making a point to get a cert. from those places will make it seem a little less impersonal.

I'm also all about useful gifts. Can you bring homemade items? Cookies or maybe one of those jars of layered brownie/cookie mix?

Thx for this thread, btw. I need to come up with something for M's teacher!

[babykenny]

Anyone have creative ideas? Teachers, what did you like to receive from your classes at the end of the year?

ETA, I was thinking of something like this tote bag: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94013948...vas?ref=&sref=

And then inside, maybe a picture of each student, with a note on the back saying what they liked most about the teacher? (We are talking 3-year-olds, so the responses may be silly...) Do you think a preschool teacher would like something like that, or should we just do a gift card or something?

I love that you are even thinking of giving a teacher gift. I'm a teacher, and just the thought means so much. I love gift cards, or a manicure gift certificate...but have a couple other ideas: what about putting the kids pictures in a photo book or album? I love stuff that helps me remember students. Actually, I took pictures from my student teaching and made them into a book for my cooperating teacher (that mentored me) and she seemed to love it. Would the other moms want to go in on that with you? Groupon and Living Social have a lot of deals for photo books all the time.

The bag is very cute and I definitely would have used it for my school stuff. I was always very grateful for all gifts I received, so please don't take this like I am complaining!! But I received so much stuff with apples on it, as well as a ton of lotions and candles, every year. So unless she is a new teacher, you might want to shy away from those because they are such common gifts. Maybe a flower or some other cute little picture on the bag would definitely be appreciated I think!

I agree. I have enough lotion and candles that my body/house will be smelling good for the next 1,000 yrs! It is the default gift...and while appreciated, it is common. I agree about apples too. Ever seen "Portlandia"? Put a bird on it!!! Hee hee.

Ok, so it sounds like the consensus is to just get a gift card? Idk why it just sits weird with me. We do birthday, Christmas and end of the year gifts for DD's two teachers. As a class, we do gift cards for Christmas and end of the year (and I did an additional Christmas gift card to each). I just thought for birthdays it would be nice to get them a gift. I feel sort of odd to keep giving them what is essentially money. But if that's what people think they want (especially former teachers), so be it!

A simple spa service (manicure?) can be like that put doesn't always have to have the monetary value on it. Also, if she drinks coffee, a Starbucks card is always appreciated!

[babykenny]

Oh and I found this.. kind of like what you mentioned.. http://www.southernmamas.com/2009/th...-for-teachers/ SUPER CUTE!

I adore this! You can even make a small photo poster, or frame this!!!!

[moosh34]

Dh is a teacher and likes gift cards. He's a man though and doesn't care if it's personal as long as it's useful. He does like when he gets a nice note from a student. It usually means a lot coming from a 6th grader.

On another note, as his wife, I don't really like when he gets keepsake items because I usually have to find a place to put them. His classroom is pretty packed. We don't really have room to store those kind of things at home. It can be very overwhelming.

[hanvan2]

I taught first grade and I always liked gift cards too but one of my best gifts ever was a diet coke and a box of my favorite candy. I never told the kids (or parents) what my favorites were but this sweet child noticed and remembered. It was very thoughtful. I also got a garden thing-of a golden retriever. I had one who was literally my baby-and this mama got me something she thought I liked. I still have it. So, maybe instead of getting a gc you could get one of their "favorite" somethings as a symbol of thanks. And that bag is cute-maybe instead of an apple just a letter of her last/first name. That way it could be used for other things besides school things? My bags always got used A LOT so a new one would be great.

[lindsay1981]

I really like the bag but can see the issue with getting so much stuff like that. Who couldn't use another bag though, I use them all the time! I do think that maybe her initial or a flower or something might better than the apple.

[babykenny]

I taught first grade and I always liked gift cards too but one of my best gifts ever was a diet coke and a box of my favorite candy. I never told the kids (or parents) what my favorites were but this sweet child noticed and remembered. It was very thoughtful. I also got a garden thing-of a golden retriever. I had one who was literally my baby-and this mama got me something she thought I liked. I still have it. So, maybe instead of getting a gc you could get one of their "favorite" somethings as a symbol of thanks. And that bag is cute-maybe instead of an apple just a letter of her last/first name. That way it could be used for other things besides school things? My bags always got used A LOT so a new one would be great.

Yes! This!

[tmbg1022]

Sorry, I didn't read other responses.

A teacher friend of mine sells 31 gifts. Here's a link to the 'thirty-one' site: http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog#/34-35 . As a teacher she loves the "Organizing Utility Tote". She said it is perfect for carrying files, papers, etc. Every time I see her with work from school it is in that tote. She takes it to meetings. Loves it.

Whoops, just reread your post and it's for a preschool teacher. Maybe that idea will be great in a few years. I just gave DD's teachers a teacher appreciation week gift. We baked banana bread, I took a pic of DD mashing bananas, printed pic, wrote a nice card, DD put some special stickers on it and then I bought a Chico Bag (collapsible, reusable shopping bag) and put the bread and card in it. They were really touched, DD got to help make the gift, they talked about how much their kids love banana bread and for a couple dollars more than a disposable gift bag they have a useful bag.

[SarahBaby1]

We're doing potted plants with a sign that says "Thank you for helping Lizzie bloom". Found it on pinterest. Love that website!

[Gwenn]

I just have to vote for no appliqued apple products. Tote bags are a great idea, but as a "professional non-teacher" who has worked in schools with elementary and preschool age (take that for what it's worth) apple designs for teachers just seem really cliched to me. I'm not a fan. My mom is a retired teacher and she had a ton of apple things (even shirts with appliqued apples) so I think that's part of it - it just seems really old-ladyish to me. I don't see teachers even 10 years younger than she is wearing appliqued apples on their clothing anymore.

Tote bags are great, though! I can always find a use for another bag.

[1stgradeteach]

As a teacher I loved gift cards. But most importantly I loved when parents took the time to write me a real handwritten note in a card with any gift.

Honestly I know one thing for sure, teachers really don't need any more "teacher" decorations...mugs, plaques, cute teacher looking boyds bear figurines.

I agree with Jai, Pinterest has super cute ideas: beach towel, magazine, small gift card, and bottle of sunscreen!

[Marcie]

My goodness, I did not realize how awful the apple was! For shame. I usually dont have such bad taste, I swear. Imust admit, I am wishing I didn't agree to be in charge of this. We are going with a plain, monogrammed tote bag with her initials and a photo book. Gift cards for the end of the year. :-)

[babykenny]

We're doing potted plants with a sign that says "Thank you for helping Lizzie bloom". Found it on pinterest. Love that website!

I love this! I'm a garden person though!

I just have to vote for no appliqued apple products. Tote bags are a great idea, but as a "professional non-teacher" who has worked in schools with elementary and preschool age (take that for what it's worth) apple designs for teachers just seem really cliched to me. I'm not a fan. My mom is a retired teacher and she had a ton of apple things (even shirts with appliqued apples) so I think that's part of it - it just seems really old-ladyish to me. I don't see teachers even 10 years younger than she is wearing appliqued apples on their clothing anymore.

Tote bags are great, though! I can always find a use for another bag.

Amen!

[babykenny]

My goodness, I did not realize how awful the apple was! For shame. I usually dont have such bad taste, I swear. Imust admit, I am wishing I didn't agree to be in charge of this. We are going with a plain, monogrammed tote bag with her initials and a photo book. Gift cards for the end of the year. :-)

Great choices!

Dont worry...apples aren't that bad...they are just classic! Hee hee.....

[preciousnd98]

Great choices!

Dont worry...apples aren't that bad...they are just classic! Hee hee.....

I agree - and I think I was the first to bring up the apple thing. It wasn't that I didn't like them (and the one on that bag is really cute!) it was just that I got so many things with apples on them that it got a little old, KWIM?

[lindsay1981]

My goodness, I did not realize how awful the apple was! For shame. I usually dont have such bad taste, I swear. Imust admit, I am wishing I didn't agree to be in charge of this. We are going with a plain, monogrammed tote bag with her initials and a photo book. Gift cards for the end of the year. :-)

great choice. again, I love tote bags. i use them all.the.time!

[catccc]

I like the monogrammed tote bag idea, I think I would enjoy it, too, if I were a teacher. I'm also a new thirty one consultant and I'm having an online kick-off party and giving everyone 20% off! Check out www.mythirtyone.com/31byCatwww.mythirtyone/31byCat if you are interested!

[Rae_1478]

My mom was a teacher at a very small school and she had a VERY small salary. She always says the best gift she ever got was a whole ham from a local farmer (who also couldn't afford a monetary gift) with a lovely note attached. It was a very small community though where people knew details about others' finances that I don't think are normal to know.

I think thoughtfulness is key though.

[MichelleA]

I love that you are even thinking of giving a teacher gift. I'm a teacher, and just the thought means so much. I love gift cards, or a manicure gift certificate...but have a couple other ideas: what about putting the kids pictures in a photo book or album? I love stuff that helps me remember students. Actually, I took pictures from my student teaching and made them into a book for my cooperating teacher (that mentored me) and she seemed to love it. Would the other moms want to go in on that with you? Groupon and Living Social have a lot of deals for photo books all the time.

I personally really like the photo book idea. I think it's a neat personal gift to help her remember the year. If you decide to go that route Shutterfly has a great tool to make custom photo books. I've sent them to the grandparents as gifts before, and I used them to organize our last vacations photos. I've always been really pleased with the quality! HTH, good luck!

[TripMomma]

The trio helped make these terra cotta pots for their teachers last year...they were a huge hit. The teachers saw the kids on their first day back this year (they are in a different class this year) and they brought up how awesome their flowers are doing
http://tripmomma.blogspot.com/2012/0...thank-you.html