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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Teacher Gifts, Already?

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Yes, it's that time of year again! The end of the school year is looming just around the corner. Sooner for some than others.

It hit me yesterday. My youngest son's last day of school in on Monday.

And not only did I not have any teacher gifts, I had no idea what to get!

I'm going to make a confession here... I hate buying teacher gifts! I never know what to get! And to top it off, I have so many that I need to get!

My youngest is three and has two teachers in his pre-K program. And not to be "cheap" but I don't really feel the need to go out and spend a fortune on each of the teachers. Plus, my oldest, in first grade, has three teachers I need to buy for. And I'm not even talking about "specials" teachers (like Art, Music, Gym, Spanish, etc...).

I'm a stay at home mom. We're a one income family. I don't have an extra $100 laying around the house to spend on teacher gifts.

So, I've been trying to think of teacher gift ideas that would work.

Obviously, there is the "Home Baked" gift. At Christmas time, each teacher received an assortment of cookies that I had made along with a coffee cup and some coffee. I thought about baking something, but seriously -- I have so much going on right now, baking is pretty far down the list of something I'd want to do, let alone have time to do.

Then, there is the Home Made gift. I'm not crafty. I can't draw or sew. My sister is a wonderful potter with her own kiln so her daughters always get home made pottery. And my mom can sew like nobody's business. I have some really lovely purses that she made for me. Perhaps I should have her start making some now for next year? I do knit, but time is of the essence here and I just didn't think far enough in advance to knit something up for them. And again, I have too much going on right now to do something I'd be happy with giving as a gift. Note to self: begin knitting Christmas gifts NOW.

Logically then, we're moving on to something store bought. I could do a gift card of some sort, but honestly, I always feel a bit cheap giving a gift card for less than $10. And where do I get it from? Not everyone drinks coffee (gasp!) or shops at the same shops as me. So, while they are great if you know the teacher a bit better, I just don't.

Of course there are some things I could do, like lotions and candles, but they just don't do it for me. I did consider a potted plant and may have to remember that one for later.

In the end, I decided on something I'd like to get. You see, I am a reusable shopping bag junkie. I loved these bags suggested by Charlene from the Shine staff, but again -- the whole "time" issue with ordering and all. So I began my search for a reusable shopping bag that was nice enough to use as a pre-school teacher gift.

I had to go to Harry's Farmer's Market this morning (Whole Foods) and I saw these adorable bags. At $7.99 they were a bit more expensive than the $.99 ones, but they are bigger and more substantial.

I bought a bar of my favorite, Lindt Chocolate and wrapped them up with ribbon.


So, what do you think?



And any ideas for teacher gifts for my son's First Grade Teacher, his Reading Teacher and ALP teacher would be greatly appreciated. I have 2 more weeks to prepare!






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Comments 1-10 of 17
  • Mrs. A's Avatar
    Posted by Mrs. A Fri May 9, 2008 3:35pm PDT

    As a high school teacher I don't often receive gifts anymore, but I think a gift certificate to a book store or teacher supply store would be appreciated. Perhaps even a collection of consumable supplies or a book for the classroom might be appropriate. (Teachers often spend their own money on things like this.) I will say thanks for thinking about us teachers!!

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  • PamelaL's Avatar
    Posted by PamelaL Fri May 9, 2008 3:54pm PDT

    I have heard alot that teachers most appreciate a note or letter. I have three kids and I am planning to have them use the letters in TEACHER to express their thanks to them. I will then add a basket of cookies and call it good. My initial investment is the time spent baking the cookies. :) Being a daycare provider, I know that I would love a gift like this from one of my kids.

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  • April Hughes's Avatar
    Posted by April Hughes Fri May 9, 2008 6:19pm PDT

    I work at a school, and someone gave me a block of paper. Woohoo. Teachers hate lotion and candles, and a lot of people are allergic or hate certain scents. Just a note of appreciation would be great. Or cash.

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  • Mimi-pz's Avatar
    Posted by Mimi-pz Fri May 9, 2008 6:19pm PDT

    What a great ideas! I really like the classroom gift idea. I often struggle with if that is appropriate or not.

    I am also the room mom for the 1st graders class and am always using class funds for gift certificates and class gifts. I struggle with what is appropriate for "the regular" gift.

    Thanks ladies!

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  • Kev's Avatar
    Posted by Kev Fri May 9, 2008 7:43pm PDT

    just a student to show how much he/she appreciates ya would b the best gift, i wouldn't want parents sendin junk

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  • Nancy's Avatar
    Posted by Nancy Sat May 10, 2008 5:56am PDT

    First let me say Good Morning, It is Saturday. Wow what a article. Last Week was Teacher Appreciation Week. My administrators and the PTO appreciated us in all week, from breakfast to lunch to gifts. But at lunch a colleague mentioned she sent a gift into her daughter's teacher as a thank you. It was a goodie bag filled with all kinds of desk /teacher supplies. Being a teacher, I said what a great idea! All teachers need desk supplies (stickie notes, pens, pads to write passes, all kinds of stuff you find at a office supply store). I thought it was a great idea. As the school year comes to end think about useful gifts, gift card to the local coffee shop or sandwich shop. The reusuable bag and candy bar is a great idea! Most teachers are bag ladies! (both male and female) and the candy bar is a great reenergizer. Keep it simple and useful.

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  • Mimi-pz's Avatar
    Posted by Mimi-pz Sat May 10, 2008 10:30am PDT

    Thanks StrayMoon... It's great to get a comment from a teacher about what you would actually like!

    We are giving the 1st grade teacher a class gift -- a Visa Gift Card.

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  • Harlan's Avatar
    Posted by Harlan Sat May 10, 2008 12:09pm PDT

    Stellar ideas folks.

    Me - I'm going to school on Tuesday to observe everyone of my son's 8th grade classes beause the teacher sent me a note asking me to ensure that my son bring his notebook to class and not his sketch book. Oh and then the other teacher who joined the class jocularity when someone took my son's water bottle - wasted class time until it was returned and then no consequences to the other child who took it. I put my confidence and trust in teachers and they have failed me in Fairfax for years. My present will be the giving of one's self. ;-D

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  • tacy's Avatar
    Posted by tacy Sat May 10, 2008 9:21pm PDT

    The best gift I every received as a teacher was a homemade dinner- bag of salad, bottle of dressing, sourdough baguette, aluminum baking dish of lasagna with instructions for baking time, and a bottle of wine. It was wonderful to have dinner already made after a tiring day.

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  • TW's Avatar
    Posted by TW Sun May 11, 2008 5:30am PDT

    I get LOTS of lotion (so much that I can't use it all). Some ideas are: food/drinks or gifts cards for those items (I thought it was great getting a $5 Subway card!), gift cards for book stores (that way teachers can get books, magazines, or music) or office supply items. We can always use more post-its etc! Many schools don't supply these things to the teachers or they are in limited supply. On the last day of school, I usually have several teacher bags of big items like lotions or figurines from the dollar store. I make a couple of trips to the car...gift cards would be the BOMB for me :)

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