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Teacher Gift Idea?

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Teacher Gift Idea? users admin

Author Message
Danas15146
Member

03-31-2004

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 4:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What do all of you teachers out there REALLY want for Christmas?? Our 1st grade class is chipping in for a GC ($3 each for the teacher and $1 each for the assistant), but I would also like to get something small from my child personally -- and how many World's Greatest Teacher mugs, magnets, etc. can one person use.

Any ideas?

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 5:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Danas, I will try to remember to ask the teachers at school tomorrow for you. I'm sure they'll have some good ideas. LOL

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 6:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gift cards. That is the best.

You are quite right about mugs, magnets, etc... If a gift card seems too impersonal (but believe me, a teacher appreciates them so much more than just about any other gift you can name...) then a little gift bag of cookies or a small bag of gourmet coffee... Heck even a few holiday scratch off lottery tickets.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
gift cards for restaurants are great too

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 6:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think flowers are always a treat, too, because it is the last thing you would buy for yourself on a limited salary. An absolutely beautiful pot of poinsettias (I like the pink ones!), amaryllis or paperwhites fits into any home and helps to warm the atmosphere.

Otherwise, a gift certificate for any kind of self-selected treat is great. Certificates for book stores and restaurants (including ice cream shops and sub and steak houses--or the hottest spot in town in an amount that would cover at least a cocktail and appetizer) are especially welcome and helpful for anyone with a busy lifestyle.

Oops, I just saw that you want to give something small. I would find out what her favorite candy is and get her a small bag of that candy. (For me, it would have been chocolate covered pretzels from the nicest candy store in town.)

Danas15146
Member

03-31-2004

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 7:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I may go for a starbucks gift card and some scratch lottery tickets.

For his art teacher, music, etc - we got a sarris sample box. The gift that gives to me as well -- Samantha was selling for dance!

Keep the ideas coming if you think of anything else. By small - I mean I would like to keep it under $25.

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 7:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok, I had to be rude, and just put a WHOLE BUNCH of teacher gifts on my moving sales.

Go for the gift card for a book store or a favorite lunch place.....or even better, just make a special lunch for the teachers!

Plates of cookies and baked goods are ok....that way I never had to cook for other gatherings and parties.

DON'T get a mug or magnet or stuff like that....a picture frame might be ok, though. However, I really liked a stack of personalized memo pads and a lucite paper weight from one of my piano students. His grandma is a teacher and knew that I would use the stack of paper.

A gift certificate to a teacher supply store would be nice, too. Or just volunteering to help at school!

I like candles and bath gels, and my students know that....I have enough for ten years!

I like to get bulbs for my garden or for pots in the classroom to force.

I'm a music teacher. I don't really like getting little "musical" themed trinkets. Just me....have too many!

Pizza or movie gift certificates are really nice, too.

Once for our school secret santa I made a basket full of different mixes and marinades and that was a big hit.

Lottery tickets are fun!

Bookworm
Member

12-18-2001

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 7:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Since teachers in general spend their own money to purchase things to use in the classroom, a gift certificate for a 'teacher store' is a great thing. Gift certificates to a restaurant, book stores, etc. are also great.

I have enjoyed gifts of candles and candies as well. Write a nice note of appreciation (or have your child), and whatever you give will be well accepted.

I teach 3 and 4 year olds at Head Start, btw. What teachers want the most is to be appreciated.

Knightpatti
Member

12-06-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 8:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
stickers from a scrapbook store

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 9:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My kids know the "best" gift -- Double Stuffed Oreos that I don't have to share! LOL You can always tell when the research papers are due -- they bring them in so they can "whine" in class and not get in trouble! LOL

Seriously -- movie tickets/passes are another fabulous gift. Maybe it's just me, but we rarely have the money to go to the evening movies -- and how many matinees can a teacher get to???

Flowers are a close second -- potted are the best because they can be used at home or at school.

Have fun! :-)

Danas15146
Member

03-31-2004

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for all the ideas! I think that I changed my mind and may get a gift card for Lowes - Justin's teacher did just get married and buy a new home so there may be stuff that they need from there.

We (The PTO) are also having lunch brought in for the teachers the day before school lets out for the holiday.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:28 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Too bad this store isn't everywhere- they have a lot of cool stuff in there.

The Learning Shop




Ohiomobprincess
Member

11-07-2003

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'll agree with the previous posters. Gift cards are great for bookstores or Starbucks. I truly enjoy any gift my students bring in no matter how bizarre.

I'm bringing in bagels and cream cheese for the teachers on my daughter's team this year.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have to say I do not like the idea of a teacher's store gift card. Then the gift really turns out to be for the classroom and not for the teacher. (even if the card ends up saving the teacher money.)

Instead a gift card to anywhere else, a book store, a Target, a home improvement store, can be used for the "person", not necessarily the "teacher."

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
one year we got each of the kids' teachers a beautiful red marble apple paperweight with gold stem and leaf. they were the size of a real apple. whenever i went into the kids' classrooms i would see the apple paperweights on their desks.
my dd made her kindergarten teacher a birdhouse. my dd had won best of show at the fair for it. she let me keep the ribbons, but the birdhouse went to her teacher! we have made duck doorstops (my ds' teacher told me the other day she still uses it at home to keep her library door open, and i'll bet it's been 8 years or so since we gave it to her.)
we make the world's best english toffee, so the teachers always get a ziploc of that, too.

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
oh, i also like the money calendars. they are usually 25 dollars. a lot of parochial schools sell them. in addition to having a calendar, the person gets 365 chances to win at least 25 dollars. some of the dates (christmas, new years, mother's day, etc.) are worth up to 250 dollars. so something practical in the calendar and a 'chance' at winning some money! once a week, 7 stubs are pulled and checks mailed to the winning people. the stubs go back into the barrel, so you can win over and over again.
each year i have purchased calendars for friends or family, they have each won at least one time.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 12:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
A gift certificate for a local dayspa. Find me a teacher that WOULDN'T love a Saturday afternoon massage/mani-pedi...

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
a ziploc of good weed might be good, too. lol
i was just teasing because you never know what people will leave behind in their golf carts when you go to put them away! the other day the two guys musta smoked a lot of wacky weed--when i was putting away their cart, i found a lighter, a set of car keys, two cell phones and a pack of misty ultra light cigarettes. i thought it was kinda feminine for one of these two hulking guys to smoke what looked like a lady's cigarette. but when i opened the package, i saw 2 rolled joints and some roaches in it! they did come back for their stuff, since they could hardly drive home without their car keys! i was laughing and they were embarrassed, wondering if i had opened the cigarette pack, i'm sure.....

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL -- toffee or weed -- this close to the Holidays, most of us wouldn't know the difference!

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 9:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tabby, I used to be a teacher and I am crazy for English Toffee. HINT. HINT.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 11:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
oooooooo Tabby's English Toffee!! yummmm I can only imagine!!

The Food Network is doing a show on good gifts - they just did the spiced walnuts, I'd like to do that with Pecans! Now they are making Cranberry Vinegar... he says about 70 cents a bottle... flavor oils now...

Oh, teacher gifts... I will say dd teacher sent home a letter stating the school policy and asking us to "gift" the classroom if we feel moved to do so, pencils, dry erase markers, etc. I was with her last year when she was opening the gifts, and I will still buy her something special!! (I cant believe how fast that class goes thru pencils, I volunteer once a week and each Friday I sharpen pencils... those kids just destroy the erasers and pencils!!)

Gift Cards are a nice option, but I always end up losing them, so I hate giving them!! (they expire some of them in 3 months, Best Buy is notorious for not loading them up correctly, I always give the receipt with the card!)

This year with the technology in the classroom, I'm giving a pack of blank CD's and CD jackets!!