For any of you teachers out there or anyone that could help....What kind of gifts are the best to give to teachers?
With it being the end of the school year I would like to get gifts for my DD's Pre-K teacher and Aide.
What are the best gifts???
TIA

By Ilovetom on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 09:54 am:

Well, I love candles, pens, gift certificates of any kind are good- especially to a book store.

By Colette on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 10:02 am:

I love gift certificates to book stores.

By Kaye on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:32 am:

Gift certificates are always great, I tend to do 5 dollars to starbucks or panera, 10 or more to any book store. I also have done a GC for pizza and then paper plates and napkins and a note to take the night off.

Consumable is always good, I stay away from lotions, but candles, notepads, nice stickers or stamps for the classroom.

As far as keepsake gifts, I have done bracelets for teachers (think birthstone bracelets) and used silver beads, plue a bead for each kid in the class with their birthstone. I have had a class make a ceramic something (plate, vase, etc).

List of things to stay away from, little cheap knick knacks, lotions or perfumes, scrapbooks, lots of photos of the class.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:40 am:

While ordinarily I don't like to give gift certificates or gift cards, how many keepsakes can a teacher use/value from each class each year? So I vote for the gift card or gift certificate, and think Kaye's suggestions are a good guideline.

By Amyl on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:27 pm:

The past few years, I have gotten a ceramic pot and put a plant in it, but before I did all of that I wrote on the pot, "Thank you for helping me grow....Love, _________, if you do this though I suggest putting clear finger nail polish over the letters or spraying your pot with a clear coat, the letters tend to run regardless of the permanent pen. I got the idea from one of the ladies here and love it, we always have people rave over it and will probably do this again this year.

By Sandysmom on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:31 pm:

I usually give candles to the women teachers and candy to the men teacher. Although, I'm liking everyone else's ideas better.

By Melanie on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:32 pm:

Last year I organized a group gift for both of my kids teachers. I got them gift certificates from a local hotel that has a beautiful restaurant and spa. The teachers could choose to either go and pamper themselves or take their families out for brunch (they offer a wonderful buffet every weekend) or dinner. Both used the spa and were so thankful for that gift.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:46 pm:

Wow, Melanie! I'm impressed!

I received a dinner gift certificate to a Japanese restaurant one time. I will never forget that. Teachers hardly ever go out to eat...can't afford it usually.

By Kernkate on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

Amy thats an excellent idea

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 01:32 pm:

I ditto everyone...all great ideas. Kaye had good ideas on what NOT to give! I've got more candles than I can ever burn, and I the knick knacks end up in the trash unless it's something really special.

I think you could put a smile on the face of ANY teacher with a bookstore g.cert.! I've also gotten Tastefully Simple stuff before, which I loved, too.

By Paulas on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 01:38 pm:

Gift certificates are good. I think you can go online and get gift certificates from Scholastic. Every teacher buys stuff from scholastic so that helps.

As a teacher, I would love any of the items suggested so far. I love the plant idea and think I will use that for my own children this year

By Debbie on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 02:15 pm:

I did the plant idea last year, and my oldest ds's teacher actually cried when he gave it to her. I put thank you for helping me grow, and then let my ds decorate it himself. He drew a picture of him and his teacher. After we decorated the pots, I used a clear laquer spray and they turned out great. I talked to her just last week and she still have the plant in her classroom.

By Andi on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 04:35 pm:

For Christmas last year we all gave $10 to one of the moms and she got a Spa.com gift certificate. She could choose from a list of spas and pick what she wanted to have done. I think she had a $150 certificate!

By Tripletmom on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 07:54 pm:

Amy I love the idea of the pot.I'm going to make one with my DD for the end of the year.Thx

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 07:48 am:

One year we gave Blockbuster gift certificates, with some microwave popcorn. They both liked their gift!

By Mom2three1968 on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 07:52 am:

I found this idea in Parents Magazine several years ago, buy a pretty pot, fill a small bag with dirt, and buy a packet of forget me not seeds. Take a large popsickle stick and write Forget me Not with childs name, in either fabric paint or permanent marker. We do this every year, until they age out of elementary school!

By Mia on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 07:29 am:

I give the blockbuster gc w/popcorn at Christmas. Usually give a 4th of July t-shirt at the end of the school year. I hope those aren't lame gifts!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 08:32 pm:

I love patriotic shirts, myself!

By Hol on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 11:23 pm:

I like the Blockbuster/popcorn idea. Be careful of candy, tho. The teacher may be diabetic.