Looking for suggestions for end of the year teacher gifts. Two of my children go to Mother's Day Out two days a week. Any teachers out there, what kind of things do you like to receive from your students?? I like the idea of a gift card but any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated:~)
I've found that everyone has different ideas on what they like and don't like, so I usually just ask the director of the program, or fellow teachers, what my child's teacher likes. They always have the inside information on likes/dislikes that are specific to the teacher.
Scentsy might be nice! I am a consultant and would be happy to help!
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A..scentsy.us
(I have an open party right now!)
Hubby's a teacher and over the years has gotten some really sweet gifts. The one he's most attached to is a photo of himself and a student - the kid made a cardboard frame for the pix and decorated it, put magnets on the back and it's been on our fridge for a couple of years now. Other great gifts include homemade treats (I especially like it when they attached the recipe) and $5 gift cards to places like Chickfila, Sonic, BarnesNoble, Half Price Books and Starbuck. .....if I had to pick a gift to suggest not to give - coffee cups. Every year we probably get 8 mugs. It adds up over the years...I finally Goodwilled some of them.
Another spin to the gift card idea is to share one of your favorite or your child's favorite restaurant. You could attach a note stating how you have appreciated their work and this is your child's favorite place and thought he/she would enjoy. You could also take a movie gift card and do the same. You could state your child wants him/her to enjoy a movie on him/her.
I am a teacher, and some of the nicest gifts I have received are gift certificates to Starbucks, a local restaurant, and a teacher bookstore. It was special using each of those.
I am a teacher and yes, we never expect anything, but gift cards to restaurants are the gift of TIME with our families, as we are so busy throughout the school year, and sitting down to a meal with our families that we do not have to prepare.....well, that is a treat! You are kind to ask, and you sound like a very thoughtful parent.
Giftcards are awesome! Even a card with a sincere thank you is treasured. I am a first grade teacher. I keep all of the cards and letters that I get from students and parents. Most teachers joined the profession because they like kids and want to make a difference. Tell them about the difference they made. Good Luck!
I've been a teacher for 14 years and I love to receive notes from the students and/or parents. It can be simple - Thanks for teaching me how to ... or elaborate - I appreciate the time and effort it took for you to ... but those are my favorite things to receive!
I taught high school for 10 years and I wish I had known about Scentsy "candles". I don't sell them, but there are reps everywhere. They use a light bulb to melt reusable, scented wax and they smell soooo good. Teachers can't have flames in their room as candles have so this is a great way to get rid of that after-PE-class stink that is in the classroom!
We don't expect anything. If you are going to buy, gift cards are appreciated. My personal favorite? Starbucks. :)
With 4 kids we went through a ton of teacher gifts. I also use to babysit for a couple teacher's kids during the school year. Don't get perfume, lotion, or anything personal. A card with a note or picture drawn by your child is always appreciated. The best gift we did were small planting pots painted white and I had the kids use stamps to put a design on them. Once dried I added a plant, threw in the card the kids made thanking the teacher for the year, and it was done.
I would stick with a gift card coupled with a piece of "art" from your child. That combines the personal touch with the useful. They accumulate so many knick knacks and body lotions through the years!
I just saw the cutest ideas for teacher gifts in a new business. It's called Thirty-one. Look it up. My friend is a consultant, Cindi Lokey. You can personalize everything!!!
I've found great gifts at Hallmark and at a garden shop. I let the boys choose something for the teacher--a windchime or other trinket. Last year one of the teachers was a baseball fan, so my son got a signed baseball at Walgreens for his teacher.
I'm not a teacher, but I like giving coffee mugs with their initial on it and maybe throw in a bag of starbucks ground coffee -or- maybe a bracelet of some kind. I always find cute one's at the antique malls. Good luck!
I say a gift card too, Barnes and Noble, can never go wrong with that gift card.
Hi V.-
When I was a Nanny I took on teacher's gifts for my charges. Because was a preschool teacher for a while, I knew how many mugs & aprons teachers got, so instead I asked all the families to give me the money they would spent and I purchased a gift card to the local mall.
The teacher could have a nice dinner with her family or buy a fun gift for herself. The 3 years I did this, each teacher LOVED it. The gift cared would be about $200-250, $10.00/ student.
Good luck!
R. Magby
These customized teacher notepads were a big hit.
http://cometogethercards.com/Notepads.html
My husband is a teacher and we appreciate gift cards to Starbucks, movies and Subway.
Most folks purchase a gift certificate from me and it gives the teacher a free Microderm facial and they use the certificate to make a purchase while they are at their facial. The teacher gets to pick the day and time she wants to redeem it. Every thing is 100% guaranteed in Mary Kay so it is never a wasted gift.
If the teacher wishes to do a color facial instead she can just request it.
The facial is a on hour session of pampering.
R.
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www.marykay.com/rkuipers
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I taught for 10 years and my favorite gift was the gift certificate to for a massage. That was great. We also like the cookie and fruit bouquets.
I agree with the idea of a gift card...maybe you could also include something that the children have made themselves for the teacher. I think that teachers get SO many gifts, and I bet that a majority of them are not ever really put to use and you can only have so many dust catchers sitting out on the cabinets before you run out of room!!
I do like the idea of the cute shirts, sweaters etc that you see the teachers wearing for holidays and such...if you are into that sort of thing maybe you could find something that would be appropriate in that vein.
