When it comes to the holidays, teachers’ gifts are always so tricky for me. It seems strange to give them such a small gift, but it gets crazy expensive when you have to buy for multiple kids who have multiple teachers.
I always want to give them something they’ll use and have a sneaking suspicion that they might throw out homemade candy, cookies, etc. (I think I would. . . ) So, with that being said, I compiled a short list of possible, inexpensive, ideas. But, I would love to hear if you’ve got something better up your sleeve.
Have some other great ideas? Or, if you’re a teacher, tell us what you love/hate to receive!
We are just pooling money together to buy gift certificates at our school. All your stuff is very pretty, but personally, I feel like teachers get too much random stuff (but I might be wrong).
ReplyDeleteWhy would you throw out homemade stuff? Fear of hygiene or something? That seems sad. :(
I thought I would share with you the little project I made this year for teachers' gifts. I am pairing it with a pair of soft red socks and a little Christmas novel.
ReplyDeletehttp://applevalleygirl.blogspot.com/2011/11/project-christmast-peppermint-foot-soak.html
Have a wonderful day! Angie xo
I get the throwing goodies out, how many treats can you eat during a holiday?!? We also go the gift card route, used to be to Barnes & Noble, now Amazon.com.
ReplyDeleteGreat picks! Janell
I found this via Pinterest a few months ago and they are sooo easy to make....Make great small gifts and I would think be really practical for a teacher to have on hand.
ReplyDeletehttp://violetpaperwings.blogspot.com/2010/12/post-it-present.html
Having been a teacher, I can definitely give you some good (and bad) ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we wind up pitching some homemade treats? Because if everyone gives us only a dozen cookies . . . you get the picture. I always baked for my family, so I had enough of my own goodies around the house.
Anything scented -- candles, soaps, lotions -- can be tricky because everyone is so particular about what they like.
Please . . . no mugs, teacher ornaments, teacher pins. We all have a million. BUT -- if your child MAKES me an ornament, I'll keep it forever. The kid craftier, the better. My 12' tree has so many kid-made ornaments: clay, toilet paper rolls, etc. I love them all. I write the kids' names on them and some of those kids are in their 20's now. I think about them every year when I hang up their ornaments.
One of the nicest gifts I ever got was very simple: 3 pairs of nice trouser socks in black, brown, and navy. I'm sure they came from Wal Mart and were inexpensive and I wore them all. A nice little 4 x 6 picture frame is great, too, and is inexpensive.
One of my favorite gift cards was the year a classroom mom coordinated everything and the whole class got me a $25 gift card to JoAnn Fabric. Probably cost them a dollar each and I enjoyed it more than I would have if it were a bunch of $5 gift cards to different places.
Hope this helps, Emily!
I'm a teacher. And I would LOVE the tumbler or the coffee gifts! I think the soap is super nice too.
ReplyDeleteMy mom is a teacher & she doesn't like handmade stuff. Not so much the treats but the handmade crafty items. She has a small house & she has been teaching for 25 years so there's only so many craft items one can accumulate. One year someone made her a brick cover. It was a little sofa cover & it went over a brick. It was cutesy but what does one do with that? I don't know how much the items you like are but what about $5 Starbucks cards, or something like that? It's inexpensive & it's a nice thought. Again, I know that's what my mom would prefer. Hope this helped & I hope you have luck with it!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm totally stumped this year...my kid's grade one teacher is a guy....this will be tough.
ReplyDeleteI ran into this problem last year, but now my son has even MORE teachers at daycare than before! I can't even keep track of them all to get gift cards. Best solution for us is a big plate of cookies that can be shared during the day.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher I didn't really love receiving candy or cookies. By then, you are so stuffed with sweets, it makes it hard to enjoy those gifts.
ReplyDeleteI loved receiving practical giftcards and loved it when my parents would offer to just bring me lunch one day from panera or a salad or sub place. You could give a teacher a cute lunch voucher or a handmade menu checklist from their favorite lunch place.
My sister-in-law is a teacher & we were actually just talking about all the gifts the students give her, her suggestion was wine! lol but that may be inappropriate for some. I do love the ideas you have up.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I made for her at the beginning of the school year & she & the other teachers loved it. I actually had my nephew help make it to... http://ericamdecor.blogspot.com/2011/08/crayon-wreath.html
I don't have kids so I've never bought a teacher gift, but I think all of these are great options! I especially like the Anthro coffee mugs and the pencil holders! Oh yeah and the note cards... who doesn't love cute stationary!
ReplyDeleteI recently retired after a 34-year-career, and I have received many gifts. I thought I might do a My Favorite List ...here goes!
ReplyDeleteFavorite Things List
1. Handwritten letter from parents that really let me know what they appreciated about my extra time with their child
2. Gift card to a bookstore, restaurant, etc.
3. Donation to library of a book in my name
4. A cube of my favorite soft drink
(all my students knew my love of Dr. Pepper)~kept these @school in a little fridge
5. socks, gloves, umbrella-for weather emergencies
The oddest gift I ever received was a crying towel-for crying on when a child left my class...it was attached to a little hanger to display on a wall !!!...not!!!
I teach high school and so I don't get much. I understand why, each of my students has 8 teachers! That would add up fast! But every year I get two or three. The "gifts" that mean the most to me are actually cards that my students have written. Maybe if kids are too little to write it themselves, you can ask them what they like most about their teacher and write it for them. Seriously, I will keep cards from my students for ever and they mean SO much to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were in elementary school I would contribute to the class gift card but I also wanted them to participate in the gift giving. I would have them select a book for the classroom from the teacher's wish list at the fall book fair.
ReplyDeleteI buy a multi-pack of cute dishtowels at Marshalls or TJ Maxx (or a few multi-packs), split them up and then take them to a monogram shop or friend and have the teachers initial or monogram put on them. Who doesn't LOVE that. Sometimes I'll pair that with some of the 4/$20 soaps at Bath and Body. I'll tie it all up in a little cellophane bag with cute ribbon and a handwritten card. That usually ends up running about $10-$12 per teacher. =)
ReplyDeleteI have three kids and often they have multiple teachers to buy for, but I put it into the budget; after all these are the precious people that love on my kiddos a big part of their day. =)
I usually don't buy teacher gifts unless they are truly a stand out teacher. I love the idea of a paperwhite bulb in a simple container (or thrifted one such as an antique cup). The tag would say, 'Thank you for helping me grow'.
ReplyDeleteThis year we're giving Coffee Times gift cards in a glass coffee mug that the kids are decorating. I'm trying to support as many local businesses as possible- plus Coffee Times coffee is a million times better than Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteIn past years I've done homemade granola in little cellophane bags, and teachers usually ask for the recipe, so I assume it's generally well received! This year for my big kids' classroom teachers, I ordered blank note cards with a piece of their best artwork printed on it (our school uploads student art to Artsonia.com, and they have a gift shop for cards, mugs, etc.). Everybody needs blank, all-occasion note cards, so I hope these will be useful as well as personal and cute!
ReplyDeleteBefore I started staying home with my child I was a teacher for 8 years. Just a personal opinion, and one coming from experience, but for what it's worth I agree that homemade treats are thoughtful but most of us teachers always threw them out. For me the best gifts were a card with a note from the parents/kids expressing appreciation or a small gift card. That being said, that lidded tumbler you pictured would be a great gift that anyone could use.
ReplyDeleteI did used to be a teacher - gift cards are always nice! Something fun for the class (decor or something the classroom needs). If you REALLY loved your teacher, a small lap quilt or something cozy like that. I can't remember what else I've recieved right now, but gift cards with some small item that coordinate with it are always nice.
ReplyDeleteThis year I got my son's teacher a handstamped necklace - it says 'Teach Love Inspire' with her initial on a small heart that hangs with the disc. If I was teaching again I'd love that gift as well!
Im not a teacher... but if I were, I think I would love any of those gifts! I especially like the tumbler with the drink mixes and the lil note.
ReplyDeleteThe See Jane Work line is also amzing, and I would love anything from there for my cube! =)
I am currently a teacher love little things that I could use. Cute stationary is always a good idea in my opinion (the ones you posted are adorable!). My morning coffee runs add up fast so even a $5 gift card for coffee would be great. I love it when they include the family holiday card with their picture in the gift, it's my favorite part!
ReplyDeleteBoth my sister-in-law and my sister are teachers, but my sister also has Celiac Disease - which means everything she gets that is homemade or scented (because she has other allergies as well) goes straight out. And don't try to give them things they can eat if you know they have certain conditions. Most of the things that people buy her because they say "Gluten Free" also have to go out because of her other allergies. It's just a no-win situation.
ReplyDeleteI understand if people are trying to save money and baking is the cheapest thing to do, but I really liked the idea above about having each kid give $1 and then going in on one gift card. I know my sister (and sister-in-law) would LOVE a gift card to Barnes and Noble, Wal-Mart, Target, or a teacher supply store. Practical all the way! :-)
Good Morning!
ReplyDeleteAs a former teacher, mom of 2 grade school children, and PTA board member, I have a little insight to this dilemna. First and foremost, personally, as well as what's worked with my 2 boys and their teachers, gift cards are THE way to go. We've done a class gift card (coordinating parent sends envelope in backpack mail with return date for donations). Then, we usually have gotten a Visa gift card for teachers to use at their hearts content. On our PTA website, we have a link with all the teacher in our school and a list of all their "favorites". At the beginning of the year, they fill out an "all-about-me" page and it gives parents an idea as to all their likes and dislikes. Makes shopping easier.
One thing I try and do is not only recognize my boys' teachers, but all their "specials" teachers, as well (i.e. P.E., are, music, library), the custodians, and office staff. I usually give specials teacher a poinsetta (which are only a few dollars--check Aldi), and I make my homeade caramels for the office staff and custodians to enjoy wrapped in cute packaging. Something small...but showing our thought and appreciation for them, too.
Hope that helps.
Honestly, I got SO many coffee mugs and little "trinkets", which, of course, I would use/display for the remainder of the school year so the kids would feel appreciated, but a hand-written letter from a child was priceless...and something I always referred to when having a challenging day.
Just a a few thoughts.
Happy Holidays!
Jen xo
Hi Emily...I am not a teacher but I'm a school secretary. I have received gifts from one end of the spectrum to another. My all-time favorite was a gift certificate for a pedicure. A mom got them for me and my principal so we used them together. It was very fun. Now I know a pedicure is expensive...but this mom had 4 boys go through our school and her last one was graduating. She figured we had earned it. :o) Gifts that you shouldn't waste your money on are ornaments, mugs (you should see the cupboard in our lounge full of mugs,)store-bought candy/food, jewelry of any sort and candles (the whole scent thing.) Personally I so appreciate gift cards. There is nothing better than going to Panera for a coffee and not paying for it! I know many feel gift cards are not personal...but let's face it. Teachers don't make a lot of money. They appreciate a little help. Merry Christmas! (Sorry for rambling.)
ReplyDeleteLoving all of these suggestions! @Dutchess127, your comment was my favorite. WHO gives their teacher a "brick cover?" Very interesting. . .
ReplyDeleteAs a former teacher, I think the most helpful were gift cards to target or walmart or etc. I would use them to buy supplies for the classroom since I usually spent my own money on things like markers and poster board and stuff. Or even local restaurants since i could use it to pick up take-out when I was working late. I'm planning on giving my son's teachers (there are 4 of them) each a gift card to target and a thank you note for all their time and energy .
ReplyDeleteOur class parent collects money from all the parents and buys one large gift which is soooo much easier. Last year we bought the teacher a pear tree and paid to have it planted in her yard. Your picks are pretty amazing though. How can you go wrong with a beautiful mug from Anthro?
ReplyDeleteall the teachers I know say they do not eat the handmade goodies. The consensus seems to be gift cards for the bookstore--you can't go wrong!
ReplyDeleteIn my former life I was a teacher and I loved getting giftcards. I also didn't mind the little holiday trinkets because I usually didn't go out and buy holiday decorations on a teacher's budget. I still use some of the decor to this day!
ReplyDeleteMy mom taught for 45 years - everyone is going to have a different opinion, but here is a family member view. Letters and cards elicit tears (and jealousy from family members). Gift cards for either classroom or personal consumption are great (do you have any idea how much of their own resources teachers put into their kids/classrooms? We felt it as a family). And then, your child will know their favorite teacher and their quirks and should be able to find the "perfect gift." My mom was known for her wacky jewelry and tights, and kids loved feeding that so that everybody go to enjoy. Charitable donations were nice because teachers may not always have the resources to do the philanthropic stuff that draws them to their jobs in the first place - plus it is a win/good lesson for everyone. But most of all, ask your kids - they know!
ReplyDeleteThis year I am doing the best of both (I hope!) - getting my daughter's teacher a little change purse which I purchased on Etsy with a Starbucks gift card. I know she's a HUGE starbucks-aholic so that's gotta help, right?!
ReplyDeleteHello! These are really cute, especially the straw/cup/saying combo! If I was a teacher that would be my choice!
ReplyDeleteMy mom is a Kindergarten teacher and she comes home with boxes of goods each Christmas. Her favorites every year are things made by her kids like paintings and hand-made cards. She also loves when she can tell her kid picked out the gift!
Thanks so much for these great suggestions! I just ordered 5 of the pencil cans for my son's teachers. Great to check that off my list :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this! I just ordered some of the pencil cans for my son's teachers. Great to check this off my list :) and I know that they will love them!
ReplyDeleteI taught high school for three years, and honestly I only got a few things. The baked goods were appreciated (but I'm sure elementary teachers are inundated), but it's always touching when a student gives you a token of appreciation, even if it's just a heart-felt card. But that's just because I'm sentimental!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a post! I was a preschool teacher for several years before staying home with my own children (17 years ago!) My favorite gift I ever received (and one that I often give to my childrens' teachers - careful to not give to the same teacher twice!) is a paperwhite bulb kit. Not a cheap one from Lowes, but a nice one in a pretty, classy pot. Target's Smith and Hawken line has carried some nice ones in the past. This year I found them at TJMaxx for $10. When I received that gift, I had never heard of forcing bulbs in the winter, but I still think they're soooo beautiful. I should add that I don't have a green thumb to save my life, but they are even easy and painless enough for me to grow. Who wouldn't love fresh flower blooms in the dead of winter? They fit the whole bill: cheap, beautiful, not a knick-knack, and fat-free :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a post! I was a preschool teacher for several years before staying home with my own children (17 years ago!) My favorite gift I ever received (and one that I often give to my childrens' teachers - careful to not give to the same teacher twice!) is a paperwhite bulb kit. Not a cheap one from Lowes, but a nice one in a pretty, classy pot. Target's Smith and Hawken line has carried some nice ones in the past. This year I found them at TJMaxx for $10. When I received that gift, I had never heard of forcing bulbs in the winter, but I still think they're soooo beautiful. I should add that I don't have a green thumb to save my life, but they are even easy and painless enough for me to grow. Who wouldn't love fresh flower blooms in the dead of winter? They fit the whole bill: cheap, beautiful, not a knick-knack, and fat-free :)
ReplyDeleteThe best gift I ever received as a teacher was a gift certificate for a massage. However, gift cards always come a close second! Your child's handmade gift is nice and all... but so is a nice, relaxing dinner out at the local nice restaurant!
ReplyDeleteI never, ever ate homemade goodies from students as I'm a germaphobe. Of course I thanked them and kept them so they didn't know it, but that's the honest truth! We get sick far too often to be eating kid-made (and questionably hand-washed) goodies.
My children are still in daycare/preschool. I give each teacher cash and a little bag of spiced pecans. I think the pecans might be a nice change from cookies and sweets. I also write a personal note to each teacher.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteThis is similar to one of the ideas you posted, but we made some cute tags to go with it. What are the 2 things every teacher needs to survive the week before Christmas Break? Caffeine and Chocolate :) My sister was a teacher for a few years and said she would have LOVED to get one of these! Gift cards are always a great option to slip inside too :)
http://mysisterssuitcase.blogspot.com/2011/11/homemade-for-holidays-day-9-teacher.html
I am a 1st grade teacher. You can never go wrong with gift cards! Never! Coffee shops, book stores, restaurants, movies, manicures....anything! No matter how big or small!
ReplyDeleteI am a teacher and don't need anymore more mugs! No candy either. What teachers love is a gift card to say a bookstore or a coffee shop!
ReplyDeleteNo mugs! I think the people who pointed out that your child knows the teacher (and what they like) are the best. I teach high school and my sister teaches elementary. She would LOVE books for her classroom library. Especially if the teacher is younger, this is a huge expense. And its a little more personal than a gift card. If you do get a gift card, make sure its for something the teacher will use--I get Starbucks giftcards even though no one has ever seen me drink coffee.
ReplyDeleteI do love the pencil cups and the post it project someone linked was awesome. Just make sure its for something the teacher is likely to use, and write a handwritten note. Those mean the most, and I keep them all.
And just for fun: my sister once got a half-used bottle of Jovan perfume and clearly very old lipstick in a color a pale white girl should never wear. She made a little display, and every time we looked at them, we totally cracked up.
I struggle with the same thing too, but this year my little one and I are making his teacher a Merry Christmas Pennant with a hand written note. He's my little foster boy and although he's a little behind in school, his teacher has been so wonderful to him and he LOVES her!
ReplyDeletehttp://meandjilly.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-pennant.html
Love your blog!
Mia
As a former teacher, I can tell you that I did eat homemade treats if it was from a family I felt I knew:) But, I am giving only gift cards to my children's teachers- either to a place I know they like OR Barnes and Noble. They can always buy a new book for the classroom. I will also include a sweet note:) I also like the idea of pooling money together for a gift card!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! As a teacher, I say please no more ornaments, mugs, hand towels, or teacher/apple decorations. I do cherish anything a child has actually made, and I think the best is just a genuine thank you from a parent, from the heart. We don't get many of those. We do spend a lot of our own money on classroom supplies, so a gift certificate to a teacher's store and Target is great.
ReplyDeleteNow could you do a post for teachers to give us good ideas for parent presents? Maybe other schools don't still do these, but our little school does. Now that I have so many split families, I actually have to help my students make two parent presents. I pay for all the supplies. My go-to presents are clear glass plates that they etch with designs, and digital silhouettes. But I am sure open to some new, easy, but not cheesy ideas! Thanks.
As a former teacher, I will admit, yes, we mostly throw out the "home cooked" goods. I always felt bad, but at the same time I felt that it was just safer. :) However, all of the gifts listed here I would have been so so happy to receive. My favorites were probably always coffee and starbucks $5 gift cards. I once had a parent write me a long letter about how I had really helped her child etc etc. It was sentimental but meant so much.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily, great post! You have me thinking! I have been buying teacher's gift for 20 years so I will have to think about things I have given in the past...stationery that my child made for the teacher(that was really cute!) I got blank notecards and let him draw notes, coffee, a small rosemary tree for the kitchen, tervis tumbler with lid, gloves, gift cards, one year we gave a donation to Crisis Assistance for all our teachers and I wrote them a note thanking them and telling them that we did that. It was a hit. Our classes typically take up a collection for a class giftcard but my children always want to give a gift of their own. Oh yeah, a small candle is always a big hit! I am going to think and write a post with options I find for this year in the next couple of days...
ReplyDeleteI'm a teacher. My top 2:
ReplyDelete1. LOVE gift cards - no matter how little. A $5 Starbucks gift card = a couple hours of free grading =)
2. I also love cards/letters from students and/or parents. I have a whole file of them that I save to remember students I love - and stay focused on the hard days.
In my book....$5 gift card + hand written letter = hit that one out of the park for 20 minutes and $5 =)
I'm a Kindergarten teacher and I would love to receive any of those gifts you listed above! Small gift cards are nice too, especially to places that teachers tend to shop (Target, bookstores, etc).
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the homemade treats- we're usually inundated with those around the holidays, and although I do my best to share them with friends and family, they don't always get eaten.
reisfeltadventure.blogspot.com
What do all of you teachers out there think about a Restaurant.com giftcard? It's worth $25 but you pay a fraction of that to purchase it and can be used a several different local restaurants- the only catch is you need to spend $35to use it.
ReplyDeleteI always go with the super practical and get a Wal-Mart giftcard. It is SO not glamourous but I know it will get used. I am loving those Anthropologie mugs though...I might have to put the giftcard in a mug this year...lol.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
I am an art teacher and I would simply adore any of these gifts! You are right...the homemade cookies/candy is a great gesture and I know you put alot of time/effort into it, but I usually don't eat it. Most of the time before I can even get to it, it's old or stale so it just ends up going to waste. Of course I love the gift cards or homemade drawings, but sometimes it's nice to get something a little more thought out!
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I echo the words of everyone who said no mugs and "teachery" gift items. You can only have so many of these things.
ReplyDeleteWhen buying for a teacher, buy something you personally would love to have. Gift cards are always appreciated.
I also would love stationary or thank you notes (especially ones that are personalized for me). We get some many gifts, it is always nice to have more thank you notes that I don't have to buy.
I just made these holiday yarn letters for my son's preschool teachers. A touch of Christmas they could pull out every year without being too over the top!
ReplyDeletehttp://lifelovelarson.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-yarn-letters.html
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
ReplyDeleteSafco 5212BL Onyx Mesh Mobile Double File, 1 Shelf, Black