End of year teacher gifts?

End of year teacher gifts? (Full Version)

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csl7037 -> End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 12:18:37 PM)
Does anyone have any really great ideas to show appreciation at the end of the year? We did just have Teacher Appreciation Week and it's a huge deal at our school! I really don't want to (can't) spend a fortune again on 4 teachers (total). And I'd like something a little more personal anyway. The last day is Friday! [:o] I was thinking of trying to get my kids to write a nice note to each teacher about what they enjoyed this year, why they appreciate that teacher, and what they're taking with them to the next grade (2nd and 4th).

2shaye -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 1:16:56 PM)
I've heard that the teachers really appreciate notes, as well as gift cards to teacher supply stores. Our teachers spend and arm and a leg to supplement the classroom work/activities, so any extra help is appreciated!

MrsTracy72 -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 1:55:15 PM)
I don't know what I am doing for the end of the year. For Christmas I gave the teachers small purse sized lotions and something else along with a note. But since I sell the lotions, they were cheap and natural so the chances of the teachers being allergic were very slim. But I can't do the same for the end of the year because I don't want to copy, and my product line isn't really gift friendly other than the lotion. I might just bake a batch of cookies for one teacher because she has commented before that I am one of the only parents who bakes treats rather than buys them. Or I might buy some of the supplies they ask for in the beginning of the year that they run out of like baby wipes for the kids hands or boxes of graham crackers so she doesn't end up buying them herself at the end of the year next year. My son is in middle school and he has way too many teachers so I may just have him write thank you cards to them because for the most part, they have all been great. And for the preschool teachers, I am thinking that I can do candles or reed diffusers. Kohls usually has the smaller reed diffusers for cheap and they do smell nice. Especially when you are working in a classroom that has kids in diapers.

garsyt -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 2:22:55 PM)
Teachers absolutely LOVE notes and cards and pictures drawing by the kids! For the elementary teachers I'm making this little bowls out of discard vinyl record albums that I'm melting down. In the bottom of the bowl I'm gluing down a circle of cardstock that each child is writing a special thank you on for that specfic teacher. Then we are making some homemade goodies (likely mint candies of some sort) placing them in plastic baggies and putting them in the bowls for a special treat. Ty's middle school teachers are just going to get handwritten thank you's from Ty. In fact he started on those last night. Blessings, Garsy

buckifn -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 4:29:24 PM)
Check out this great website and then write a story to honor your child's teacher. http://www.teacherscount.org/honoring/ heres an idea I saw a group do once that was pretty terrific during teacher appreciation week also... you could do it before the last week of school next time... Apple Tree for the Teacher Find a place in the classroom or on the wall just outside the classroom to "plant" an apple tree. Using butcher paper or cardboard, draw and cut out the trunk and branches of the tree. Use construction paper to cut out leaves—and glue or Velcro them to the tree. Cut out large apples from red construction paper (or have kids cut their own). Now, ask each student to think of one word that best describes their teacher, and write that word on their apple. (Help with word suggestions if necessary, with words like nice, smart, caring, thoughtful, cheerful, friendly, helpful, talented.) Above the tree, put a banner that reads, "My teacher is..." — and add the apples to the tree to complete the sentence

artemis -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 4:50:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: buckifn Now, ask each student to think of one word that best describes their teacher, and write that word on their apple. (Help with word suggestions if necessary, with words like nice, smart, caring, thoughtful, cheerful, friendly, helpful, talented.) Above the tree, put a banner that reads, "My teacher is..." — and add the apples to the tree to complete the sentence One of my students told me today that I was "the worst teacher ever," so I can only imagine how he would describe me on an "apple tree" [8D] It might be different in a small district or in elementary where the teachers actually know the parents, but I know that most of my collegues (secondary school) throw away any homemade foods they recieve. I was taught in my education classes in school never to accept food from students and that has kind of stuck. There have been too many cases of students putting stuff in the food they give their teachers and I'd rather be safe than sorry. Again, if the teachers actually know the parents, they might not mind homemade goodies. I think notes from your kids are great. I have a file folder of all the nice notes I've received from students. It helps when a kid tells me I'm the worst teacher ever... I can go back and read the stack of letters that say otherwise [;)]

buckifn -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 9:24:13 PM)
quote: One of my students told me today that I was "the worst teacher ever," so I can only imagine how he would describe me on an "apple tree" lol, that is just too funny...but who knows how his/her thoughts may change twenty yrs. from now.

garsyt -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/21/2008 10:21:29 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: buckifn Check out this great website and then write a story to honor your child's teacher. http://www.teacherscount.org/honoring/ heres an idea I saw a group do once that was pretty terrific during teacher appreciation week also... you could do it before the last week of school next time... Apple Tree for the Teacher Find a place in the classroom or on the wall just outside the classroom to "plant" an apple tree. Using butcher paper or cardboard, draw and cut out the trunk and branches of the tree. Use construction paper to cut out leaves—and glue or Velcro them to the tree. Cut out large apples from red construction paper (or have kids cut their own). Now, ask each student to think of one word that best describes their teacher, and write that word on their apple. (Help with word suggestions if necessary, with words like nice, smart, caring, thoughtful, cheerful, friendly, helpful, talented.) Above the tree, put a banner that reads, "My teacher is..." — and add the apples to the tree to complete the sentence Our entire school did this a few years back in the fall and instead of apples the kids traced their hands and cut them out and then wrote messages of caring and encouragement on them for our school's art teacher and her 19 year old dd who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a BIG hit with her! After a while the tree had to come down to make way for other art displays, but the Art teacher and I took EVERY single hand down one by one and put them away in a special scrapbook that she still displays in her classroom! The hands were cut out of various fall leave colors and hung on "branches" and scattered around on the "ground" around a bulletin board paper tree. Our substitute art teacher came up with the idea and enlisted the help of parent volunteers, and the school's counselor to get all the kid's and staffs hands done and "hung" on the tree. It was a wonderful, emotional day that morning the Art teacher walked into the building and saw her tree there on the wall right outside her classroom door! Blessings, Garsy

PrincessDonna -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/27/2008 8:22:40 AM)
We're giving my son's teacher a gift card to a local ice cream/totally unhealthy summer food stand. The gym and art/music teachers will get homemade cookies. It's a small Christian school, so I'm sure they'll eat them.[:D]

JuliaHop -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/27/2008 10:41:31 PM)
quote: We're giving my son's teacher a gift card to a local ice cream/totally unhealthy summer food stand. The gym and art/music teachers will get homemade cookies. It's a small Christian school, so I'm sure they'll eat them When the teacher's know the students and parents (and that parent is on the school board [:D] ), I am sure that homemade goodies are not a problem. I didn't realize that teachers are taught to "toss their cookies" (sorry I couldn't help myself [:D] ). Garsy your idea is very creative and a neat idea (something my non-creative brain would never have thought of)!! Very cool. My ds's Teacher Appreciation Day mom had a neat idea. She had the children all write a letter to their teacher and attach a picture of themselves on the letter. They were l/2 page in size. She then had a local store turn the letters into a calendar (2 letters per month). We discovered something new this year (and they made great gifts)...Dunkin' Donuts gift cards!

artemis -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/28/2008 8:41:55 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JuliaHop I didn't realize that teachers are taught to "toss their cookies" (sorry I couldn't help myself [:D] ). [8D] About 5 years ago at one of the high schools in my district, some students left "pot brownies" in the teachers' lounge during teacher appreciation week. We've all been a little paranoid around here ever since then [;)] Also, when I worked in a small district, I'd have parents come and yell at me for half an hour about their kid's grade and then leave with "oh, and by the way... I baked you some cookies!" [sm=aside.gif] Yeah, those always went in the trash. If I knew the parents and the student well, I wouldn't have any problem with baked goods. I teach secondary, so I have 150 students. If I taught elementary and only had 30 students, I'd probably know them and their parents a lot better and could make that call without being suspicious of everyone [:D]

JuliaHop -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/28/2008 8:55:54 AM)
quote: Also, when I worked in a small district, I'd have parents come and yell at me for half an hour about their kid's grade and then leave with "oh, and by the way... I baked you some cookies!" Yeah, those always went in the trash. I don't blame you. [:D][:'(][:D] I would have the same difficulty accepting baked goods. I don't go to bake sales unless I know the people doing the baking; I'm certainly not going to eat gift food from someone I don't know.

garsyt -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/28/2008 9:53:16 PM)
quote: Garsy your idea is very creative and a neat idea (something my non-creative brain would never have thought of)!! Very cool. Thanks! And they were a big hit with the teachers and staff today! In fact the secretary wondered if I had 14 extra albums as her daughter has a wedding reception coming up soon and she thought they would make great centerpieces with candy and treats and whatnot in them! The music teacher was THRILLED that someone was able to create something fun out of what she was just going to pitch in the trash! Blessings, Garsy

JuliaHop -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/29/2008 9:26:34 AM)
[:D][:D]

kernsfamily -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/29/2008 9:33:05 AM)
Our school had a "teacher appreciation week" a few weeks ago...it's a BIG DEAL... the PTA had lunch catered in for a few of the days for the teachers....kids brought all sorts of stuff..... Though, with the last day of school being NEXT WEEK (june 5), my wife and I usually get each of our kid's teachers a gift card to their favorite restaurant (since we've known them for AT LEAST the school year, if not longer, isn't hard to figure out)......they really appreciate the $50 that takes them, and their "significant other" out to dinner....it's the least we can do for each of them, being so DEDICATED and FABULOUS throughout the school year...... One thing, which is "on going"......i work at a vet pharmaceutical company....so, when one of my daughters finds out that their teacher has a dog or cat, I keep them "stocked up" on all sorts of stuff (chews, nutraceuticals, shampoos, flea collars) through out the year, especially at Christmas time....(our company has a "sample aisle", where we can simply pick up what we want (within reason, of course).....they REALLY appreciate that....

garsyt -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/29/2008 8:25:10 PM)
quote: One thing, which is "on going"......i work at a vet pharmaceutical company....so, when one of my daughters finds out that their teacher has a dog or cat, I keep them "stocked up" on all sorts of stuff (chews, nutraceuticals, shampoos, flea collars) through out the year, especially at Christmas time....(our company has a "sample aisle", where we can simply pick up what we want (within reason, of course).....they REALLY appreciate that.... Now that is a gift that would make my day! And I know a few teachers that would love that too! Blessings, Garsy

MissGizmo -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (5/29/2008 10:18:28 PM)
Having driven a school bus for many years I am also one that said "Thank you" for any food idems, but tossed them when I got through the bus runs. Most of the other drivers also did the same, unless we knew the family very well. You just can not be to careful with things some student or their families will give you.

linensash -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (6/11/2008 8:48:39 AM)
I know most of you are already done with school...as am I. I am a teacher and a parent so here goes. The most special things I have received are homemade gifts. I still have most of them, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. But, gift cards are great ideas, especially if you really find one that fits that particular teacher. This year my daughter made her teacher (2nd grade) a potholder, and we gave her a gift card to a local resturant. When it comes from the heart, and you can tell the family really thought about it, those are the best gifts regardless of what they are or there value$. Hope that helps...maybe for next year!

artemis -> RE: End of year teacher gifts? (6/11/2008 9:00:19 AM)
I got one end-of-the-year gift this year... the next to last day of school, we were playing a review game and I told my students that I'd lost the plush basketball that we usually play with. We had to play with a stuffed pumpkin instead [&:] The next day on of my 7th grade boys showed up with a ball the same size and type as my old basketball and told me he wanted to have it so I could play the game with my students next year. The ball was pretty worn, so he'd obviously dug through his toys at home to find it for me. Very sweet [:)]

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