Appropriate End-of-year Thank You's for Teacher?

My kids both wrote thank you cards to their teachers, and then I personally added a note of appreciation to them for all that they have done for my kids over the year. I added a gift card to Target for one, and to Starbucks for the other (she is never without her morning coffee). I considered that gift more to be from me to say thank you, than from my kids.

As a teacher myself, the notes and cards are much appreciated. The gift cards are certainly not expected, but it is nice to know I made a difference. :)

They will love the cards (both ty & gc)

This year we a filling ball mason jars essentials. I am doing a black and white theme.
Large jar with black ticonderroga pencils
Medium jar with black dry erase markers
Small jar with white pearl erasers

For my daughter's quilting teacher, I just rolled a $20 tied it to a string and placed it inside a glass container shaped like a lightbulb with a hanging note that says "...towards your version of a great idea."

Perfectly appropriate.

I am a teacher, and the parents of a particularly challenging student (much like what Marie C. describes in her post below) gave me a Visa gift card. I used it to buy a well-deserved bottle of wine. Then I used the balance to buy more supplies for my classroom. :)

On the serious side, my favorite gifts are notes, cards and pictures I receive from students. The gift cards are a nice touch, but I keep all of my notes. (Don't forget to include a picture of your kiddos, too.) You might want to have your kids color a large envelope or a box for their teacher to keep all of her treasures from her students in.

I give those bags of Lindt chocolate, or Ghiardelhi chocolate. I get them at the pharmacy. I slap on a picture of my kid, a thank you, and tie it all with a bit of curling ribbon.

gift cards don't hurt.

my mom used to give bottles of wine, and have us draw on a piece of paper that she would wrap around it as a sleeve.

Best,
F. B.

Definitely.

A lot of teachers resort to using their own money to buy things for their classrooms, like art supplies, decorations, etc. (Which is why donations of supplies are always greatly appreciated.) A gift card would certainly ease the sting a little, and show how much you appreciate their work.

Teaching is a truly thankless job, and teachers don't last long any more in our PC- no blame- don't you dare make my kid responsible system. Showing appreciation to good teachers helps keep their morale up, which helps keeps them from burning out.

Of course that is appropriate. I am sure they will appreciate it, most especially the cards from your children.

My son's K class did a project where they asked several questions of each child and put the printed answers on a flowerpot, filled the pot with succulents. They also collected cash! So each teacher got the sentiments from the kids on the flower pot and a nice little wad of cash for whatever. I sent in a card just from me, separately, telling the teacher how much I appreciated her helping me in the tough transition of handing my baby over to a big school :)

At our kids' private school, the 'room mom' in the lower grades coordinates collecting money for a gift or gift cards for the teachers. I noticed just now that my son's middle school class didn't do anything this year--an unfortunate oversight. I think the parent just forgot, however it also fits with the way that parental involvement fades out once the kids move into middle school. Consider that information to store away for future years.

At the age of your kids, the teachers will really appreciate the notes from both the kid and from you. A gift card also will be nice, as other posters noted. You have good instincts.

Sounds great-- your idea, that is. Just fine.

Our son's class got together for a group gift card; kids are bringing in flowers to fill a vase this Friday for her. I'm sure we'll also do an individual note from our family as well.

Gift cards are perfect end of the year gift. As a teacher, I would rather get a gift card than anything else. I usually give gift cards to a greenhouse or garden center.

I'm sure their teachers will be thrilled!
It is not necessary to throw in gift cards, neither is it 'necessary' to have your children write them thank you notes. But their teachers will appreciate the notes--with or without a gift card.

But Target gift cards, probably will be a nice year-end pick-me-up. Or, they'll hang on to them until the BackToSchool sales start and use them to stock up on supplies for their classroom.
Either way, they will appreciate them and they are in no way inappropriate.

Yes, a Target gift card is fine, but if you know a little about the teacher it helps too -- we gave Starbucks gift cards to a couple of teachers whom we saw frequently carrying Starbucks cups in the mornings and they were very pleased to have the cards! Another possibility is a bookstore gift card if you have a local bookstore or a Barnes and Noble near the school. Most teachers will use a book gift card!

I want to note -- some teachers do drive from areas outside your neighborhood to work at your child's school, so if for instance the nearest Target is some distance from the school, it's possible that it's even further for a teacher who comes from elsewhere. Just something to think about. It's one reason why it's helpful to know a few basics about the teacher.

As a former teacher, gift cards are fantastic!

Open letter to ALL parents from your child’s teacher.
It is that time of year again, time to “thank the teacher”. What to do, what to do?
First know it is not necessary to get me anything. This is my job and I love what I do.
But if you must…
As a retired teacher I can tell you I have received a LOT of gifts over the years.
I have more “world’s greatest teacher” mugs, and cups, ornaments and pens then I could ever use.
I have plenty of “home-made” pictures, scrapbook pages and “hand written” stories.
Now yes, they are wonderful and come from the heart, but where can I put them all? I can’t leave them in my classroom, that gets cleaned out every year. I don’t have the storage in my home and it breaks my heart to have to “recycle them”.
And treats and home-made goodies, yes, I love them, but they don’t love me. They add extra sugar and calories to my already challenged eating habits.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?

OPEN gift certificates are great, maybe a mall or VISA gift card. You may think you know where I shop or what I like but what if I want something different? What if I have secret hobbies or skills that I’ve never shared with my students or parents? That way I can buy the coffee, the clothes, the books or anything else I may want. I get to decide!
How about the promise of volunteering in my classroom or on a field trip?
What about all those stickers and pencils and “prizes” I give away…I buy them all out of my own money, I’d LOVE a basket of “those goodies”. And books...boy could I use some really great "free time" books for my classroom.

Parents, imagine that I have 30 kids… that’s 30 presents!! Imagine what wonderful things you could do me for me and my classroom.

Thank you.