Question for Teachers About Christmas Gifts

Updated on October 13, 2010
P.S. asks from Houston, TX
22 answers

Hello Teachers! In my early planning for Christmas gifts, I was wondering what type of gifts you appreciate getting from your students each year at Christmas time, end of year or for other occasions? My guess would be that you have an over abundance of coffee mugs and throw out a bunch of uneaten homemade goodies, but what do you like to receive? I really want my children's teachers to feel appreciated but don't want to break the bank doing it. Can you suggest some good teacher gifts, please?

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K.M.

answers from Houston on

I've always appreciated gift cards. Also, home made treats are fun to receive, especially when the mom has a specialty food like bread, Christmas cookies, etc.

One of my favorite gifts was a set of personalized note cards. I'm guessing they did them at Vista print or someplace similar. They had my initials and polka dots in my favorite colors. I know they didn't cost much, but were somthing I loved using.

The best thing is a note of appreciation.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

Gift cards were always my favorite- especially for personal services like massage or mani/pedi. I have tons of candles and lotions and really do not need any more. While I appreciate the homemade goodies, most teachers are watching their waistlines.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Yes - gift cards or hand written notes. If all you can do is $5 it'll be better than anything on the no list - trust me! A $5 gift card to Starbucks is like a little piece of heaven on earth. I get my one coffee and literally smile while saying to myself "Little Susie, you freaking rock!"

No - mugs, trinkets, lotions/soaps, 'costume' jewelry, candles, apples, ornaments, clothes are questionable

Also...some moms also suggest "raid the clearance bin at the craft store and make something" which, quite honestly, if you stop and really understand what that means you read "I feel obligated to get my kid's teacher a gift, so I'm going to make him/her something cheap that will likely go in the garbage.

Get the teacher a gift that *he* or *she* can use. Sure, it is nice to get stuff for the classroom but that really isn't a gift for the teacher; it's a gift for the class.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I love the bread mixes in a jar (you know, all the dry ingredients in a canning jar) and you add egg/ oil and bake when you want to. Those are great. Recipes online.
I like gift certificates, too. Doesn't even have to be for a sizable sum---every little bit helps.

2 moms found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Asheville on

Budget amount? Im an art teacher so I am usually forgotten but i love ornaments for my tree(even homemade), beautiful note pads, (saw a really pretty personalized one once), and gift cards (walmart, subway, sonic).

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V.M.

answers from Erie on

for the teachers of younger grades, Nice Picture books for their classroom library, or a music Cd for them to play in class of some nice instrumental music or some good sing along music like Raffi.

Got to second the gift cards,and notes of appreciation, you can also send a copy to the principal.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

I love receiving gift cards! Some of my favorites have been to my favorite store or restaurant; my husband used to love it when I would get gift cards to the movies or blockbuster. I also love receiving gifts that the present and future students can use. Board games and books were some of my faves along those lines!

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I have a lot of friends in education and they're unanimous on this one: gift cards. They don't care how much they're for, but they all love the gift cards. Thank-you notes are also loved. Cookies, ornaments, picture frames, soaps ... they're not fans because they get overloaded with these.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.K.

answers from Austin on

My favorite gifts have actually been the homemade goodies. :) I teach high school and some of the most generous, non-edible gifts have been gift cards for books or Starbucks. I've been given cards for amounts ranging from $5 to $25 and I always appreciate them, no matter what. $5 I can put toward a non-school related book or magazine splurge is just plain fabulous to me. $5 will also buy me a nice peppermint mocha.

Some other nice, but way inexpensive gifts have included a nice seasonal stamp I can use when grading papers, a really nice handmade bookmark, fair trade ornaments, a string of origami cranes, a pack of multi-colored gel pens, a sturdy and cute cookie cutter, a nice bar of dark chocolate, lipgloss & a tube of aromatherapy hand cream.

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J.M.

answers from Odessa on

I'm not a teacher but I do have a ton of experience gift giving, as I have 4 children! *gasp*

At the beginning of the year, I hand deliver an "about me" questionnaire to the teachers. The word is out so they all take the time to fill in the blanks. LOL

Some questions I ask:

Always ask: WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?! And write it on your calendar!

1. Do you prefer to go to the theater for a movie or stay home with a DVD?
2. What's your favorite restaraunt, fast food and/or eat in ?
3. What's your favorite beverage and from where?
4. Do you drink coffee?
5. Do you like baked goods?
6. What is your favorite candy bar and soft drink?
7. Where do you like to shop for clothes?
8. Do you read? Barnes & Noble or Mardel?
9. Magazines?
10. Do you have manicures or pedicures? If so, what salon?

Having a little inside info about their likes helps me to appreciate them all year long and it doesn't break the bank. I like to "gift" them a little something randomley throughout the year. I might slip them their favorite candy bar ($1) and soda($1) in a little brown bag with their name on it placed in my daughter's book bag (she LOVES letting them know they have a "surprise" in her bag). I sometimes show up in the morning with their favorite coffee from Starbucks and a fruit pastry from our local bakery. For Christmas and their birthday's, I choose one of their favorite places to shop or dine and get them a gift card. The most important thing: make sure you enclose a note to let them know you appreciate them and that your child appreciates them. Teachers are responsible for our most precious little ones and we need to let them know that we appreciate them taking care of, and most imoportantly, teaching our children.

HTH

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree with gift cards or items for the classroom. I think homemade goodies are nice too, just send a small plate though and a nice note.

1 mom found this helpful

J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Definitely don't need anymore mugs or junk-food. I always liked NICE paper for notes home or to write whatever on. I got sick of off-brand postits that the school provided.

I never got a gift card, but would have LOVED one. Maybe for a spa/mani/pedi ?? For a favorite restaurant? Clothing store?

My room was decorated with frogs, so I often got more frog stuff. Fine - it added to my room, but not anything I dreamed of.

You probably don't have the teacher's home address, but a magazine subscription is something we don't often buy for ourselves. If she has kids, maybe a Parenting magazine. Readers Digest is nice for all ages.

If she has kids, maybe get something for her to do with them during the holiday break. A craft, some books to read with them . . . .A friend just recently got my son a gift certificate to a local kiddie park. Cost only $12 and we had a blast. Maybe the nearest aquarium or zoo??

I wish I had the perfect answer. I can't think of any gift that I ever liked. I once got a half-bottle of used perfume from a student. Smelled awful. But he was so happy to give it to me. He loved that I sprayed it on my wrists and smiled at him.

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

My favorite gift was a small photo album that my world history class assembled for me. They included pictures of each student with a project that they had done during the year, and a short little blurb from each student. It was so sweet, and I really appreciated that someone put forth the effort to include the whole class.

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K.H.

answers from San Antonio on

My neighbor is a teacher and told me she loves it when students give her gift cards. She received a movie theater gift card and she seemed really happy about it. Since that day I know I will always give gift cards. They can re-gift them, use them or whatever.

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M.B.

answers from Houston on

I like getting gift cards (even a $5 one is appreciated) to just about anywhere, especially ones for food or books. I also enjoy getting a single flower (from a store or bush), as long as it's not a weed. LOL. One of the best, most thoughtful things, though, is getting a homemade note or card from my students saying thank you. And, I do love homemade goodies, especially anything that involves cupcakes or CHOCOLATE! (Honestly, I don't get tired of them!) I am often too tired to bake for myself, especially around holiday time. Oh, and one of my favorite gifts ever was the day a child brought me a Pepsi and some M&M's; it wasn't even a special occasion!

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L.M.

answers from Odessa on

Gift certificates. Usually from anywhere. I have received ones from Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, food places. No matter the amount, I'm always touched when I receive one.

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L.P.

answers from Houston on

I'm not a teacher but have had a lot of people purchase Scentsy wick less candles from me, for their teachers. Most teachers I've sold to enjoy them because they say after the children come back inside from playing outside that the children smell so it helps take the smell from the room.
I know someone else mentioned no candles but Scentsy isn't like a normal candle because its wickless. They operate on a low watt light bulb making them safe to leave plugged in & the wax that warms only heats up hot enough to melt the wax. The wax is also made from veggies making it safe for the children if digested. Check out my website & let me know if I can help you pick that perfect gift for your teacher.

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N.H.

answers from Houston on

I am a teacher and I love getting gift cards. $5 bucks can go a long way at Sonic during happy hour. Something else was nice was books from scholastic that I could put in my classroom library. One other thing that was neat was a student gathered pictures from the year from field trips, parties, and programs and put it on a CD with music. It was neat to have the pictures and I could look at it and remember the kids.

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M.P.

answers from Houston on

One of my favorite gifts was a long stem Yellow Rose with a little thank you note attached. I know that the rose was probably only a few dollars, but it was so different and felt really special.

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have to agree with the giftcards. My husband was a teacher (he's now an administrator) and he usually got giftcards. They ranged from about $5 for starbucks/Caribou to about $25 to Applebee's. Also a nice handwritten card from either the student or the parent.

Last year I gave my son's kindergarten teacher a $5 giftcard to Caribou. The at the end of the year a nice handmade (crochet) bookmark and a handwritten not telling her how much we appreciated all she has done for us.

Updated

I have to agree with the giftcards. My husband was a teacher (he's now an administrator) and he usually got giftcards. They ranged from about $5 for starbucks/Caribou to about $25 to Applebee's. Also a nice handwritten card from either the student or the parent.

Last year I gave my son's kindergarten teacher a $5 giftcard to Caribou. The at the end of the year a nice handmade (crochet) bookmark and a handwritten not telling her how much we appreciated all she has done for us.

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W.O.

answers from Houston on

I am a teacher and I loved getting gift cards. My students this year know I am crazy about Michael Jackson, so I am getting gifts such as pens, notepads, and magnets with his picture on them even now.

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V.C.

answers from San Diego on

My sister is a teacher & Gift Cards are her favorite. The card doesn't have to be a lot of $, either. A $5 gift card to Starbucks, Target or Michael's is great! She also loves the homemade gifts from her students, because they are made special for her. Last year, one of her students knitted her a scarf, she wears it all the time.

One year I bought mirror picture frame ornaments after Christmas--no date on them--& the next year give them to each of my girl's teachers--each girl had 2 or 3 teachers too--before Christmas break--they would be able to put their own picture in it, but it would be a nice reminder that she was appriecated by us.

Last year, my girls & I used knitting looms & made the teachers a scarf out of nice yarn (bought on sale) in each teacher's favorite color. Once you buy the looms, each scarf was only $10 in yarn--I bought the fancier yarns for the teachers. I also bought several $3 yarns @ Wal-Mart & one of my daughters made 10 scarves from that--she was 10 @ the time & very social, so she wanted all her BFFs to have matching scarves. We also knitted scarves for just about everyone in our extended family, knitting during our Family Movie nights. This year, we are going to be using the round loom---beanies for everyone! good luck!

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