End of the Year Teacher Presents?

As a teacher before I was a stay at home mom, I would say gifts are not necessary. Even more than gifts, I always appreciated the parents writing me a little note thanking me for the year!

It doesn't look bad, it's not expected, but appreciated when given. Once you get to elementary school, in many cases, the class mom or dad might send home a note asking for donations and then use it to buy the teacher a big gift from the class, like a gift card, rather than the teacher getting endless lotions, boxes of candy and little candles. If you can afford to give a gift,I would. When finances were tight, I sent a card and put in a few scratch off lottery tickets.

I do not receive any gifts from my students unless it is something the student has paid for or created themselves (very high poverty school) The sweetest thing was on Valentine's Day when one of my boys came in with a big smile and said...do you want it now or later? I said...umm now...and he whipped out some flowers that he had bought and paid for himself. So sweet! With the way of the budget cuts, I know that in my school situation, I would love to get a gift card to somewhere like Wal-Mart or Staples so I can buy supplies...or would love a basket made up of school supplies. When I student taught in a much more affluent school...the regular teacher as well as myself were given a gift for EVERYTHING. I honestly loved the stuff the kiddos made themselves OR a sincere card. It is so great to know when you are appreciated...I think oftentimes teachers get a lot of flack and so when a parent either calls, emails, or writes a note thanking you it is the BEST gift.

I started making my own soap and candles, I always have gifts on hands they are hand crafted and smell great.

Who cares? If you want to give a gift because you thought the teacher did an awesome job, then that's what you should do. If you didn't care for the teacher, then don't give a gift. Remember a gift could also be a card from you or your child.

In our schools the room mothers have collected money (they leave it open as to what you want to give) and then get a gift with all that is collected. I think the preK teachers got a gift card and a plant and the first grade teacher got a couple of gift cards and a basket of her favorite things. I have never heard how much they collected and how much they had to put in themselves to do this. Since I contribute to the group gift, i usually let my kids make something to give to the teacher if they want to do so (my daughter always draws a picture or writes a poem, my son usually chooses to do nothing).

If you are friends with some of the classmates parents, Then ask them to go in on a gift. I had 12 parents go in on a gift for 2 teachers and got them a massage and bath and body works. My other teacher for my daughter I had 5 parents go in.... It is soo much better to gift a gift card from a couple of students then to recieve little trinkets...

As a previous teacher a small gift or card is very appreciated, especially if it is made by the student.

When my 3 1/2 year old finished her school this year (only a 2 hour class once a week), we decided to do gifts for all her teachers, her sister's teachers and the daycare staff that watched the other kid while the first was in class. That was 8 people! I found small bird feeders at Walmart for $3 and had my daughter help put seed in a small ziploc bag. The gifts looked great and my daughter loved handing helping with them and handing them out.

There were only a handful of us who gave some sort of a gift. There was no judgement one way or the other. IF you want to, do it. If you don't, don't.

It could be something small to say thank you to the teachers like an inexpensive mug (who doesn't drink tea or coffee?).
Or a water bottle.
Write a poem for teachers?
I just say thank you to the bus drivers for getting the kids to school safely.

The mom's in the class could organize a class gift for the teacher. Say, if every parent donates 5.00 and there are 10 kids in the class, that's a 50.00 gift card you could give to the teacher from the class. All the kids in the class could make their own thank you card for the teacher. Teachers love these. Put all the thank you's and the gift card in a large envelope and give to the teacher, she'll love it. It's not expected, but it's a really nice thing to do and show your appreciation for all the hard work the teacher has done. If $$ is an issue, at least do the cards and a small gift.

It doesn't look bad. I am a teacher and can tell you that over the years I collected enough candles to heat my home for a winter, along with endless bath supplies and coffee mugs. While I appreciated the sentiment involved, the things I kept were cards with nice hand written messages and maybe a photo of me with the child. In any case, gifts are not (and should not be) expected.

We gave a Christmas gift and a gift for teacher appreciation week. Plus we were asked to donate a ton of school supplies at the beginning of the year and again half way through (I know this isn't the teacher's fault, it's just a sign of the educational budget times here in California). We're not doing an end-of-the-year gift.

I send a gifts IF I can afford it at the time. so far, I 've done a restaurant gift ctf. on occasions I have sent boxes of nice candy. some seem to really appreciate it while others didn't seem to care one way or another. no one expects it, but I think most do appreciate the thought.if you do a group gift, my advice, get the money FIRST.. there is always one or two who get out of giving you their portion...

I gave my daughter's preschool teachers bamboo plants and a card at the end of the year. They really appreciated them. My daughter attended the "morning" class with 21 students. To the best of my knowledge, she was the only one who provided a gift so, around here at least, it isn't common.

You don't have to do a gift but I would at least give them a handwritten card thanking them for all they did for you child.

For my son's teachers (2 of them) I gave them each a handwritten card and a $10 Caribou giftcard. I did give them Christmas gifts, a card and a $10 Starbucks giftcard. For teacher appreciation week I had my son make them each a card.

My son just finished 1st grade. I did the same thing when he was in Kindergarten.

I have also donated supplies and money to his classroom. I donated money for the lunch they did for teacher appreciation week.

Personally it makes me crazy - when my 3 kids were all in school at the same time I never gave anything it was just too expensive. Sometimes Id send a card or a small gift. But then the other moms have a way of making you feel bad if you give nothing. Its at the point teachers expect it, at least around here where I live. One of my friends is a preschool teacher and expects it and knows who doesnt give her a gift. She doesnt treat anyone different but its not cool.

Just the other night I was at a banquet with my daughters gymnastics team and one of the mothers came up to me asking for money for the 4 coaches on the team. I dont know her personally,(actually I dont know any other team moms), but she knew I hadn't given anything because the emails she sent asking for money bounced back! I was so upset, she made me feel horrible so the next day I gave her $40 ($10 for each coach) but she mentioned "$20 per coach or what ever you can give" as if I had more. Sometimes the parents call me at home asking for money for gifts for the teachers. I hate it.

Give a gift to those that you want to give a give to, the ones that you want to thank or are happy with. Dont feel forced or bad to provide a gift to everyone just cause everyone else is doing it. Im still learning to say no. Im sure the teachers are just happy they are still employed - gifts are like bonuses, which are nice, but they are doing their job and plenty of jobs DO NOT provide bonuses.

Just my 2 cents.