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NFT: End of Year Teacher Gifts

ImThatGuy : 6/7/2021 10:45 am
Hard to believe the school year is nearly over but here we are. I have 2 kids in elementary school - is there an appropriate amount to spend? I was thinking of getting each teacher a $25 GC to Starbucks or Amazon, that good enough?

Also I think some classroom parents might pool $ and give a gift. Should I go that route instead and contribute towards the pooled gift?

I think there are some teachers on this board so I just was curious what they think is the best approach. Thanks
It depends on…  
Chris in Philly : 6/7/2021 10:50 am : link
how many teachers there are. If the class is doing a group gift, you can’t go wrong with that. But when no group gift I have done anywhere from $10-25 or even high met sometimes based on how many there are and how good of a teacher they were. Whatever you do will be appreciated.
My wife takes care of that.  
Giant John : 6/7/2021 10:55 am : link
I’m lucky I just have to give her as much money as she asks for…
I'm class parent  
giants#1 : 6/7/2021 11:02 am : link
and organizing a group gift. For those that have given its been in the $10-20 range. As someone with 2 sisters that teach, do NOT get a coffee mug. Gift cards are the most appreciated even though they aren't "personal".

With a group gift, we're getting a small gift for $10-20 and the rest will go to an Amazon gift card.
A  
RicFlair : 6/7/2021 11:10 am : link
Raise.
I put in 50  
Juice921 : 6/7/2021 11:11 am : link
but my wife is a teacher so im biased. Im sure my kid causes at least 50 bucks worth of grief over the course of 10 months.

Agreed that gift cards are the way to go, especially to Amazon/Target. Teachers end up spending quite a bit of their own money each year for their classrooms so those particlar GC are always appreciated. Every teacher has a closet full of coffee mugs with hershey kisses already.
Prime Day coming up in a couple of weeks  
NoPeanutz : 6/7/2021 11:12 am : link
. Everybody needs something from Amazon.
Or just  
RicFlair : 6/7/2021 11:26 am : link
Give the cash.
Gift Certificate  
VTChuck : 6/7/2021 11:41 am : link
For a couple of therapy sessions

J/K.... After 30+ years my most appreciated gifts were notes or cards written by parents or students
RE: Gift Certificate  
Britt in VA : 6/7/2021 11:44 am : link
In comment 15281542 VTChuck said:
Quote:
For a couple of therapy sessions

J/K.... After 30+ years my most appreciated gifts were notes or cards written by parents or students


Concur with this.

It's so weird, at my kids' elementary school, different county than I teach in, the teachers get the most lavish gifts, gift cards, class gifts, etc... Very coordinated effort.

At the high school I myself teach at, I'm lucky to get one card or note from a student or parent at the end of the year. I don't expect anything because of it. It's just weird how things are in different areas.
Daughter is in Elementary  
90.Cal : 6/7/2021 12:28 pm : link
Kids can't celebrate Christmas in school anymore. They can't dress up for Halloween anymore. They can't bring in cupcakes for the class on their birthday....

But all 20+ parents get letters from the school asking us to buy the teacher a gift on her birthday, buy the teacher a gift for Christmas, buy the teacher a gift on National teacher day or whatever, buy the teacher a end of the year gift... not to mention every summer we get a list of a million supplies for us to provide for "the whole classroom to share"... I mean, I might sound a little harsh or cheap or both but come on this is some bullshit now, its wayyy overboard IMO. I send a Christmas gift. $20 gift card. Thats it.
even with Covid this year  
giants#1 : 6/7/2021 12:32 pm : link
We celebrated halloween and Christmas (and VDay). There were extra protections such as sending in the crafts ahead of time and putting them in separate bags for each child, but it was still allowed/encouraged.

That's obviously just the district for my kids though.
Kids still  
RicFlair : 6/7/2021 12:41 pm : link
Do Halloween and Christmas around here.
Just a tip  
Bramton1 : 6/7/2021 12:48 pm : link
When parents send gifts to their child's teacher, they normally sent it to their classroom teacher and that's it. Please do not forget the other teachers who work with your child and have made an impression on your child. Paraprofessionals, special subject teachers, resource teachers, etc. I'm not saying you have to give every one of them a gift card. But something as simple as a thank you card or even a thank you email can mean so much.

From, a school librarian who very rarely gets thank you cards or gift
GC  
Go Giants : 6/7/2021 12:54 pm : link
To Starbs is fine (I am a teacher). We don’t usually get a thing so anything is cool.
As a teacher  
SirYesSir : 6/7/2021 1:09 pm : link
in high school we rarely get gifts, but if you are able I'll just say anything would be greatly appreciated. This has been an incredibly difficult year and a half and teachers are emotionally beaten down. The large majority have been working very hard to meet the needs of the kids.

Do not bring in food. General gift cards (Visa etc) are the most appreciated. I've had years where I've gotten several Starbucks cards, and there's not much I like there. Unless they love a specific store, go with Amazon or something with options.

cheers
Oh, and agree with above...  
SirYesSir : 6/7/2021 1:09 pm : link
a personal card or note with kind words is VERY appreciated
When did this become a thing?  
penkap75 : 6/7/2021 1:59 pm : link
I'm 46 and don't remember every buying gifts/tips for teachers when I went to school. And I have been through Catholic school, NYC public as well as LI public school systems.

Now my wife is constantly talking about what to buy for my 7 and 8 y/o kid's teachers.

Isn't there some inherent conflict of interest in tipping/gifting teachers that grade your kids?
RE: When did this become a thing?  
Britt in VA : 6/7/2021 2:05 pm : link
In comment 15281663 penkap75 said:
Quote:
I'm 46 and don't remember every buying gifts/tips for teachers when I went to school. And I have been through Catholic school, NYC public as well as LI public school systems.

Now my wife is constantly talking about what to buy for my 7 and 8 y/o kid's teachers.

Isn't there some inherent conflict of interest in tipping/gifting teachers that grade your kids?


It's different everywhere. Like I said above, it's well organized at my own childrens' elementary school, but at the high school I teach at I don't get anything and I don't expect anything.

As far as a gift for my kids' teachers, they did things so extraordinary this year in the pandemic that I'm actually considered giving them a really BIG gift from my family to theirs just because I'm so moved by the things they did.

Example, my youngest's 1st grade teacher did a zoom call every night last summer to read the kids a bed time story and so they could see their classmates. Every night of the summer.
5th Grade teacher here  
SimpleMan : 6/7/2021 2:30 pm : link
I don't remember giving gifts to my teachers when I was younger, so when I get gifts, even though I have gotten many, it still comes as a bit of a surprise.

Honestly, any gesture is appreciated. I really like when the student just writes something nice, those are the things I save. I get a ton of Starbucks cards (I think I have over $200 worth in the app). Gifts will be anywhere from $5 to $25 or more. But again, gifts are not expected and anything I get I appreciate. I am sure your child's teachers feel similar.
RE: When did this become a thing?  
NYG27 : 6/7/2021 2:34 pm : link
In comment 15281663 penkap75 said:
Quote:
I'm 46 and don't remember every buying gifts/tips for teachers when I went to school. And I have been through Catholic school, NYC public as well as LI public school systems.


+1

Grew up in Northern Jersey and all the time I was in school, I had never even heard of or seen any of my teachers get a year end gift.

My kids aren't in elementary school anymore but for all three of them, we had to pool money at the end of the year for a year end gift.

This only occurred in elementary school. These same parents never did anything for the Middle School or High School teachers.
I'm a HS teacher and it isn't done for our age group...  
Capt. Don : 6/7/2021 2:37 pm : link
I'd echo the Amazon GC but a quick personal note goes a long way too.
RE: RE: When did this become a thing?  
Jesse B : 6/7/2021 3:32 pm : link
In comment 15281670 Britt in VA said:
Quote:
In comment 15281663 penkap75 said:


Quote:


I'm 46 and don't remember every buying gifts/tips for teachers when I went to school. And I have been through Catholic school, NYC public as well as LI public school systems.

Now my wife is constantly talking about what to buy for my 7 and 8 y/o kid's teachers.

Isn't there some inherent conflict of interest in tipping/gifting teachers that grade your kids?



It's different everywhere. Like I said above, it's well organized at my own childrens' elementary school, but at the high school I teach at I don't get anything and I don't expect anything.

As far as a gift for my kids' teachers, they did things so extraordinary this year in the pandemic that I'm actually considered giving them a really BIG gift from my family to theirs just because I'm so moved by the things they did.

Example, my youngest's 1st grade teacher did a zoom call every night last summer to read the kids a bed time story and so they could see their classmates. Every night of the summer.


I'm a teacher and this teacher puts me to shame. What a commitment


Gifts cards are fine, concur with no coffee cups. They are plentiful. Thoughtful gifts that speak to a teacher's interest would be great.
As a longtime teacher  
Maggot Brain : 6/7/2021 6:25 pm : link
I'd rather get a thank you note from a student versus any gift card or other from a parent. And definitely no coffee cups.
With 32 years of teaching behind me, I'd say  
CT Charlie : 6/7/2021 9:08 pm : link
a note with a specific message always meant the most to me. Someone taking even 10 minutes to say something about my influence on their child was truly a gift that lasted forever. Even better, as the previous poster said, was receiving such a note from a student.

Money or a gift is nice, but the money gets spent and the gifts accumulate... Something from the head or heart lasts forever.
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