Teacher Christmas Gifts

I would like some ideas for teacher gifts for my kids to give this Christmas. I usually just give a gift card to Wal-mart or Target. It seems a little impersonal though. I know they do not need any more knick-knack type stuff. What do you guys give? Just looking for suggestions.

 

Spanish English Dictionary?

 

Gift cards actually. So they can buy what they want either for themselves or for their classroom. Unless you know them really good it's hard to know what to get them .......

 

when my kids were in elementary school, I would have them ask their teachers for a list of their favorite things, or things they liked do in their free time. I would always get good ideas from that. WalMart/Target giftcards are very much appreciated too. I used to tuck them inside a card with a handwritten note from my sons.

 

:lol:
Hught, you gonna get a bag of switches from St. nick this year!

 

I buy calendars from archivers and make them for the teachers

 

I was hoping for coal! 8)

 

Emma - do a search on here for this same subject. This came up last year and I remember seeing a lot of really good ideas. Can't remember what they were now, of course! I do remember someone making a scrapbook, but that's it. I bought 2 teachers this year personalized bookmarks, that's it so far. Not sure what to get the others. Between the 3 kids, I have 7 teachers to buy for, and one is a male.

That reminds me - the mother of my son's male TA is on here - could you please tell me what kinds of candy he likes? My son tells me he loves candy, thought maybe you could help me out with that??? Or maybe some other hints would be appreciated! (my son loves him by the way, I think it's the love of fishing that has bonded them!)

 

hahaha he loves a twix bar and mountain dew....he always has them in his mouth. Ever since we started working together

 

Over the years we've done a variety of things...typical Christmas ornaments/dish towels etc., candy, Yankee candles. We've also given gift cards to movie theaters, restaurants, and Stone's School Supply. My best friend is a school teacher and has everything you could ever possibly imagine that is Apple. She has done her kitchen in apple theme to help accomodate some of it. She gets earrings and body lotions and candles and knickknacks and homebaked goods the most. The longer she has taught the more families get to really know her so now they know she has big dogs and horses and they will often get her things related to that. The elementary teachers usually got the better gifts since they had the kids all day, as opposed to the middle/high teachers that have them for one class. I usually just send in some kind of candy, like Ghirardelli chocolates, to the one-class-a-day teachers. At our old school, we had a room mom for one of my kids classes that each year would ask anyone that was interested in contributing to send in money to a specific collection person so the money could be pooled and then a large $$ amount gift card purchased to be from the whole class. Most parents contributed and it was nice because in that way no child was left out as the card was signed from the class.

 

The teachers in Johnston County have such tiny classroom budgets we usually ask what he or she needs......and you are right, these teachers have enough Christmas ornaments and collectibles that collect dust.

We've given them anything from reams of copy paper to hand sanitizer & boxes of kleenex for the classroom to gift cards so they may purchase what they need for the coming semester.

Of course homebaked goodies are ALWAYS appreciated!

 

Lillian Vernon has an engravable mirrored compact that comes in a cute apple case. I had this engraved with my dd's teacher name. It was VERY reasonable. I just tried to find it so I could post a link but I didnt see it, they may be sold out

They have other cute gifts as well. I am also thinking about a small cooking box from Sweet Carolina Gourmet, they are FANTASTIC!

 

When I was in the classroom, I appreciate the personal things. When kids would make me something and include a heart-felt note, that meant so much to me! Of course, wally world gift cards are nice...I always spent them on my classroom!

 

My mom gave me an idea today that was pretty cool. This could be for anyone. She told me to make a gift bag for a movie night. Include a movie, bowl, popcorn, candy, straws, and cups. Basically things you get at a movie theatre. opcorn: Since money is tight this year, I might do this for several families that I wanted to buy for. "Horton hears a who" comes out Tuesday so i might include that movie. Walmart has it listed for only $16. I think this will be a great idea for families that have kids and families that you don't know what to get them.

 

I got that once when I was teaching preschool and my whole family loved it. I try to do gift cards for stores or the movies. I also love getting out my ornaments and remembering the kids that gave them to me. But I did love getting handwritten notes from parents and kids-as long as they were from the well-behaved ones.:jester:

 

I give them a gift card to Applebee's or some other restaurant so they can have a nite out to enjoy themselves. Something for them, not for the classroom.

 

I have my kids make goodies. Chocolate dipped pretzel rods usually-quick and easy. They put them in a goodie bag, tie them with a pretty ribbon and attach a gift card from Target.

 

do you give something to all the childs teachers in middle school?

 

I usually let my daughter decide which teachers she would like to give a gift to, she usually has one or two each year that she really likes and that are special to her so I let her decide if she wants to give to all or a few.

 

they have a giving tree in the office at the school. each teacher has put 'ornaments' on the tree, that are items they 'wish to be given' for their classrooms. I am going with that. :mrgreen: