Christmas Gifts for Teachers

Several years ago, my room mom got together with the other moms/dads and they started me a charm bracelet. Some students brought a few dollars each to help pay for the bracelet, and some brought a charm to put on it.

Through the years, my students have often brought me charms to add to it. I have every sort of charm... some are James Avery, and some are from the quarter machine at Walmart. I add them all with the same pride and enjoyment. It makes a great opener at the begining of the year. I use the charm bracelet on the first day of school to tell my kids about who I am.

:-) T.

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I like my kids to feel and show appreciation for all staff, especially those who often get left out at gift time - custodian, cafeteria staff, computer lab teacher, nurse, crossing guard. So we bake some goodies, try to make them unique, and everybody gets a small goodie bag. They don't need a big one - they may get lots of sweets at holidays anyway! Just enough to let them know they are appreciated. then for the classroom teacher I let each child (Kinder, 2nd) choose a gift for their teacher - and THEY choose it, so it may be something kind of odd, but totally from them. I usually give them a $10 budget, though sometimes they find something quirky and fun for just $3! I like to let them shop at craft fair type events since that gives them lots of unique options and often benefits some kind of group.

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Find a great cookie recipe, and bake a huge number of cookies. Arrange plates laden with cookies for each teacher, covered in cellophane, tied with a raffia or streamer-type ribbon and a card for each, 'signed' by the mother and child, and take them in to the teachers. If they come in a little bit early, before the big rush on the last day before the holidays, in early December, they will be a welcome surprise, immensely enjoyed and remembered. Your cost will be the ingredients, plus your labor getting it ready, and you can get your kids to help you with different parts of the task, which helps them begin to get a sense of "doing unto others", becoming a "giver" rather than only a "receiver", so you'll be building memories and skills with your own children also. You will probably be able to bring down the cost per gift to much less than $5.00 per, and it will be very special for all. We teachers get gifted with mugs, lotions, candles, candies, trinkets...so much stuff that it becomes hard to find places for all of it. While they are all wonderful expressions of love, something special, homemade, and consumable is deeply appreciated.

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I always made gifts for the daycare teachers. I made chocolate truffles or cake balls, wrapped them in a decorative box or bag with a home made tag. It shows that you care but it didn't cost as much as they think. If you need recipies contact me ____@____.com. I also do this for family since I have 2 brothers, 2 sisters my parent, my husbands parents who are divorced and hid brother. It can get expensive so I do this as family gifts. I started it about 6 years ago and everyone seems to appreciate it, I spent time not money on each one. You could also dip fruit. I do these things as a side business as well.

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I always did something for all my kid's teachers. PE, Art, Music, etc. would typically get something like 2 tickets to the movies, a gift card to wal-mart, hobby lobby, target, etc. I wouldn't ever spend more than $10 because you are right, it does add up. I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate their influence on my kids.

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Just to add to the thought of something being homebaked:

A friend of mine says you should always bring your home baked goodies on a real plate/platter. Cheap and easy to do: pick up one up at the Dollar Tree (or dollar store). It doesn't matter if it matches her decor or not, but it sure looks nice! And, then, the next time the teacher wants to give a gift of something home baked, they can use that plate to give away.

Good luck!
W. in Carrollton

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Great responses! This is such a great group of mommies! I do the homemade gift, too. I make a wonderful homemade Pimento Cheese, jar it and right after christmas every year I stock up on cheese spreaders when they are deeply discounted so I tie one onto each jar. It's become quite an expected treat from both my daughters and I NEVER give out the recipie (it's so easy I'm ashamed to receive so many compliments...lol!!)

I also try to thank each specials teacher following something big that occurs in their specific area. I just bought a (very small) potted plant for the music teacher following a holiday show (I know it's early, it was during a junior league market show) The art teacher will have a district wide art show in the spring and PE will have field day at the end of the year. It spreads the giving out through the year and the teachers enjoy being thanked for something they worked very hard on.

Good luck, and remember it's the spirit of giving that we want to teach, so don't get pulled into the how much you spent war.

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Having been a teacher, I can tell you that there's just so many trinkets, notecards, Christmas ornaments, etc., one can have. The best gifts are those that will be used up. I always appreciated the homemade treats, and later gave mini-fruitcakes to my children's teachers. It was a super recipe, and made a bunch very cheaply. I have a pan that makes 6 mini-bundt cakes at once. I put the little cakes on small paper plates and wrapped them in colored plastic wrap with a bow. I nearly always received a phone call asking for the recipe. You may have a good poundcake recipe that will do just as well. I have both. I'll be glad to share with anyone who messages me.

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I am curious about this also. What do others do about the Director/Principal and admins.

I am at Primrose with 4 teachers and 2 wonderful people in the office... last year I put together SIX gifts.

Thanks for asking, I will check back :-)
E.

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As people have mentioned, the room moms will probably do a class gift to the main teacher in K. If you want to do a little extra, and personal, then I suggest something made by the child, or a gift card to someplace they like. They get so many knick-knacks that they just become clutter. A card or cookie for the specials teachers is more than most people give, so those would be much appreciated. For the preschool teachers, you could ask if others want to go in with you to get a bigger gift card / certificate, or just do it on your own. Again, I'd steer clear of knick knacks and junk and stick with the homemade art from your child, baked goods from you, or a gift card. You are so on the ball with thinking ahead. Kudos!

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I only buy gifts for my son's homeroom teacher, and for the on in preschool with 2 teachers, they each get a gift. During Teacher Appreciation Week, I'll give the PE, art, music, and library teachers a gift. Last year, I put a 20 oz. bottle of soda, a candy bar, and a bag of microwave popcorn into a little bundle for the. Cost me very little each, but they seemed to enjoy it.

I have been teaching for eleven years. I have several favorites that have already been mentioned. Small gift cards are always nice, school supplies are great (we always need glue, colored pens, and stickers), gifts that parents go in together to get, or a bag of candy (if you showed up to school with a Route 44 of your teacher's favorite drink, she would be grateful! Good Luck!

MDO teachers, I'd say get them a sonic or starbucks card for $5. Teachers at the school, I'd go a little higher, maybe $10 ea. Stick with hoemroom teacher. OR (shameless plug coming) you can get them scentsy!!! A..scentsy.com
HTH

A gift just for the homeroom teacher is fine. It's not expected but always appreciated.
L.

When my children were in public school, what I would do the first of every year was have the teacher fill out a questionaire of favorite things, bath & body, home decor, collections, beverage, sweet snack, savory snack, restaurant, classroom wish list, etc. (I was usually Room Mom) Throughout the year, I always knew what a perfect inexpensive gift would be for a variety of occasions. Later as a private school admininstrator, I would do the same thing on behalf of the teachers, giving the wish list to the Room Mom.

A gift I always appreciated was a blockbuster gift card (enough for one movie), a bag of microwave popcorn, a box of candy - Movie night.

My sister is a fairly new kindergarten teacher & I was SHOCKED to learn that they buy a LOT of their own supplies out of their own pocket.

She appreciates Gift Cards that she can use to help use for the classroom.
- LakeShore Learning
- Teachers Supply Stores
- Target
- WalMart
- Half Price Books (she had to & continuously has to re-stock her own reading corner!)

And then sometimes it's just nice to be able to spend a few dollars on herself without feeling totally guilty about it (because don't we all?) So even though $10 doesn't sound like a lot it's still a cute little pair of earrings or a new lipstick that she normally wouldn't have bought for herself.

Oh, and by the way...she also LOVES the baked goods!

- C.

My children's main teacher I do give a gift. All the special area teachers I usually give some baked goods. One year I gave some bottles of hand sanitizer to all the special teachers. I think the teachers would apprepriate a heart-felt note and how you apprepriate her/him as your child's teacher.

Make some treats and buy some gift bags/boxes/tins and holiday colored tissue paper at the dollar store. You can do cookies and maybe chocolate covered pretzels and or bars. Buy some wrapped candy (kisses?) and make a gift bag for each. Your total cost will be drastically lower and each teacher will get a gift. You are just beginning the teacher gift experience. You can do the same thing every year, the teacyers love it and your costs are drastically lower! Also, get your kids to help make the treats!

Great reading these responses - I'm a first time mom, and have 3 teachers in my son's daycare classroom, as well as the adminstration (2). I make homemade toffee (like a Heath bar) and it's pretty friggin' good. I'm going to go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of Christmas tins for $1, make the candy, put it in the tins w/some Christmas wax paper and give that to all of them. For the 3 teachers in his room, I think I may also include gift cards ($5-$10) for their favorite places (I know one of them loves Randy's BBQ in Frisco, one of them loves Grandy's, one has 2 kids and is a single mom so I thought movie cert. for her). SO - that's my plan! :)

I LOVE the charm idea below - such a beautiful memory that keeps on growing! I buy charms for my granddaughters at The Charm Factory online - the bracelets costs about $12-$15 ea, and the charms run from $3-$9 each.

I would check with your respective schools to see if they have a faculty Christmas Purse that you contribute to. Both of my kids schools (elementary & preschool) have this & they divide it up among the whole staff. If they don't have one, maybe you could start it! It makes it so easy for me...I have 4.

At christmas I usually just give gifts to my girls main teacher and then the principal and vice principal. Then for teacher apprecation week in the Spring give the other teachers a gift along with the main teachers. I usually make a small something for the teachers instead of buying alot of things. last year I decopaged a can (ranch sylye bean can cleaned out) with material added a few candy canes and pens, and added a handle made of twited wire. Easy and fairly inxpensive. Right now I am working on books from the dollar section of Michaels tying ribbon on the spiral and crocheting spa booties for the teachers.

I am a teacher - a nice, heartfelt note or card, possibly mentioning a specific event or moment w/ one homemade cookie attached is perfect! No need to spend money...

I would just get one gift for the main teacher.. But if you wanted to do something for everyone..you could get goodie bags and make christmas cookies..or something like that..or $5gift cards to like starbucks or something like that!hth!!

I only buy gifts for the main teacher. If you so wants to give something to those other teachers have him make a card or some other cute little craft.
When my son started kindergarten I found thest cute silver apple keychains online (i think maybe oriental trading) that say #1 teacher or something like that. They came like a dozen for not much money. He has given one to his teacher each year. He is now in 5th grade. When my middle daughter started school she had a different kindergarten teacher so we were able to use the same keychain. This year however she has the same first grade teacher and my youngest has the same preschool teacher as my older daughter did so we are on the hunt for the same kind of thing that the girls can use. As for office staff and others like that I recommend getting a bunch of cute flowers and hand them out throughout the school. It is thoughtful and nice but not expensive! Hope this helps:)

My kids and I make cookie tins for each of thier main teachers and for thier bus driver. A plate of cookies or some homemade bread or sweet bread would go over well to send to the office for other teachers. My oldest has 2 teachers this year- so we will be doing a cookie tin for each one.
My mom used to bake homemade cinnamon bread for our teachers for Christmas- and there was 6 of us kids! When we got out of grade school and started having 7-8 teachers- we were in charge of if we wanted to give our teachers a gift or not.
A homemade card from your child would be appreciated also. You don't have to spend a lot of money- it's the thought that counts! I have 3 in school now and it does add up.
~C.

i used to teach and a plate of holiday cookies was always a fun thing...and not expensive

I use to run a daycare and before was a teacher. Honestly we loved any kind of food or candy as well as gift certificates... Lotions and etc are sooo outdated and over gifted... Just being blunt. Depending on if your child really has 'close bond' with the teacher will depend if they keep that "card, ornament, picture etc" Just telling the plain truth. I haven't been in the daycare field for 1 1/2 years and I don't have anything anymore that was made for me.

What I do for my 6 yo daughter is usually give a $10-15 (Starbucks or teacher supply stores are best! and Walmart) gift certificate for the main teacher. And then for the other teachers my daughter makes cookies or Dessert Jars (jars with all ingridents to make a dessert except wet items)

HTH

E.

I do try to get a gift for everyone. For Christmas, I bake. I also have 2 friends that bake with me, we then get together and split all the goodies between all the teachers. Main teachers get a bigger container of goodies, PE, art, office staff, etc. get smaller containers. This year the main teachers are getting a lunchbox with their name embroidered on it and their cookies will go in there. Everyone else is just getting food containers with their goodies. It does all add up, so I think whatever you do is fine. Even just a card that says thanks. One year I made hot chocolate cones (layer hot chocolate, chocolate chip and marshmallows in a triangle/pastry bag and tie at the top - it looks like an ice cream cone). One year I made domino necklaces for everyone. This year I'm making washer necklaces for end of the year gifts. I do embroidery and wuold be happy to give you idea for personalized items for those "main" teachers". www.institches.biz

I would talk to the room moms for each of your children's classes. They'll be able to give you the best info.

When my kids were in MDO, they always did group gifts from the class - that way, if everyone pitches in $5-7, the teacher gets a nice $100 gift.

In elementary, some of the classes have done group gifts, some have not. However, most of the time, each classroom in a grade adopts a specials teacher. For example, if there are 5 second grade classes, one would be designated for PE, one for music, etc. Then the did a group gift from the class. Sometimes, that's a monetary donation, sometimes they simply ask everyone to contribute something along a theme, and then make a basket (ie last year, they did a snack basket with diet cokes, candies, chips - specific types specified by the teachers at the beginning of the year.

That's another point... In the two schools that my children have attended, the teachers all fill out a one-page form at the beginning of the year with their likes, dislikes, allergies, etc. Everything from their favorite candy or drink, to their favorite restaurant or retail shop (that way, room moms know how to spend the $100 as well).

I would definitely talk to the room mom before you shop. Many don't make the announcement of a group gift until after Thanksgiving - I found this out the hard way one year!

Good luck!
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What about an actual gift for the teacher, and some homemade goodies for the others. I am thinking that is what I would like to do this year..we shall see if I actually pull it off:) For those "specials" teachers, it is all about being recognized and appreciated sometimes. I mean, think about it..they work their butts off everyday, but dont get thanked often if at all. It could be something as simple as some cookies, or muffins..just depends on you. I really think it is more about the thought. Good luck..you have me thinking now! ~A.~

My sister-in-law is a teacher so I asked her for advice for giving gifts to my son's kindergarten teacher. She said the best gift she ever got was a picture frame or Christmas ornament with the child's picture in it that way she could remember the student for years to come. Today we went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a snowman picture frame that my son can paint and put his picture in it. I think it was around $2 and they are on sale. I am also giving a giftcard with it. My other two sons preschool teachers will get Yankee Candles. I agree that the others: PE, librarian, music, art, teacher aids, etc. deserve something. I may make several batches of banana bread or cookies for them.