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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Looking for creative gift ideas for teachers
I usually give a gift card or a visa gift card for this time of year to the teachers (3 of them-it is a nursery school class). I felt like being a little more fun and creative this year. Wondered if anyone had any ideas or if any of you teacher's out there had a wish list. Or if I should pair a gift card with a theme- ie: movie tix and gourmet popcorn.
Re: Looking for creative gift ideas for teachers
I always thought themes were cute. Are they tea/coffee/hot chocolate or cider drinkers? Maybe a cute mug with assorted hot beverage mixes and a gift card for Starbucks? Or like you said, the popcorn and gift card for Blockbuster or the local movie theater? Perhaps a bottle of wine with some cute holiday wine charms and/or bottle stoppers?
Little spa packs (lotion, candle, body wash), a nice warm scarf or gloves (it's different but usually appreciated), and the gift card themes are really nice.
Your the first person I've seen on here from Bucks. How's it going out in Lansdale?
Ditto the above. I get more lotions/candles/mugs/ornaments than I know what to do with.
The best gifts are either Visa/Amex gift cards, gift cards to restaurants, gift cards to coffee shops or bookstores, or a gift card to the local school supply or craft store (especially if the teacher is spending his/her own money for decorations and supplies!)
LoL, ornaments... I forgot those. And random Christmas decorations (snowman candy dish, winter snow globe... etc.).
And yes, teacher supply store would be epic!
My mother has been a teacher for 25 years. Because she like to travel to see my sister and I, her parents have given her Southwest Airlines gift certificates.
I would also consider things like a fruit of the month subscription especially if you are giving to multiple teachers. After all of the holiday treats, healthy snacks are always appreciated.
Duncan Donuts
Wawa
7 -Eleven
Movie tickets
Borders
Barnes and Noble
I'm happy to see this thread. This is my first year with a kid in school & I'm feeling a little clueless.
What is a good $ amount for the gift cards?
Any ideas for a nice group gift? My son has two teachers (VPK) and then there's a front desk staff of four that we do see a lot. I'm thinking gift cards for the teachers & some type of group gift for the rest- is chocolate an awful idea?
I've seen gift cards from the $5 to the $25 gift range, often linked to how many kids from a family I interacted with (I taught 4th-8th grade Eng/LA and had many siblings between my classes).
Chocolate is not an awful idea. No idea is awful. I just want to point out that food items are pretty popular, especially unhealthy ones around the holidays (cookies, brownies, chocolates, carmel corn, hot chocolate/cider, etc.). I often threw out a lot of that stuff when I received it just because it was too much and would go bad before I finished it.
I liked the pear suggestion or fruit of the month suggestion earlier. What about bringing them bagels one morning? Or if they brew coffee at the office, bring in *good* coffee?
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For the end of the year gift, I always give a gift card either by myself or as part of a class gift.
But for the holidays, I really like to do something that my kids had a hand in. So we usually put together something in a jar...cookie mix, brownie mix, hot chocolate mix, etc. I'll attach a little store bought something like a nice wooden spoon or cookie cutter to go with the theme. It looks pretty, will keep for a while if the teacher is overwhelmed with treats and doesn't want to make it right away, and really allows my child to be involved in the gift giving (which I know my kids LOVE, and I hope the teacher appreciates, whether they end up tossing it or not).
I saw these & I couldn't help but smile! I'm from the east coast & moved to Arizona. I say "wawa" & these people look at me like I'm fresh off the Indian Reservation out here & they say "I don't know what that means." Granted, they do have Dunkin Donuts & 7-Eleven out here... but there are only 2 or 3 of each & they, of course, are NOWHERE near where I live. Ahh... such is life.
OP: As for the gift cards-I would have to agree with giving those to the teachers. You never know what they might need. Gas, coffee, class supplies, etc. It's great for just that reason - they could do whatever they want to with them! Ahh the beauty of options!
To me this sounds odd but my SIL said her very favorite Christmas gift from a student was a box of two dozen pencils with her name on them. They were regular graphite pencils but outsides were all different colors.
If I'm not mistaken, she said they were from Lillian Vernon catalog and I don't know if that still exists.
I imagine that it resolves any arguments about "Whose pencil is this?"
I'm a teacher- I love love love gift cards to places like craft stores or office supply stores because I do end up spending my own money on supplies some times. As far as more practical/ creative gifts- I would seriously be thrilled with a bunch of post-its and some nice pens. I can never have enough of either of these!
If you wanted to add a more personal/ creative touch to it- I love and save every holiday card given to me by a student- I have some students I've had for a couple years (I teach preschool) and I love it when they have a little holiday picture or they write their name or draw something.
You could also ask if there's a book they want for the classroom and do that- it can be a long time in between seeing some fresh titles on the shelves and I always have a bunch of books I'd love to have for the kids but just don't have the money to spend.
I'm a teacher and I think gift cards are a great idea. I get so many mugs, and lotion sets, and cookies i don't know what to do with them. I feel bad when they go to waste.
What about asking the teacher if he/she has an Amazon Wish List?
As a teacher, I advocate for the following:
- Anything edible, or gift cards to:
- Starbucks
- Dunkin' Donuts
- Staples (silly, but I get so many of my supplies there!)
- iTunes
- Visa/Amex
Please do not give:
- Mugs
- Pens
- Knicknacks/ornaments
- Lotion sets
- Candles
It's a very thoughtful thing you want to do, but remember to put yourself in the teacher's shoes - what would YOU want to receive?
RIP Dr. Irving Fishman - 10/1/19-7/25/10 - thank you for holding on for me.
You made my wedding day complete.
My parents were both teachers for 25+ years and they now own more mugs, teacher ornaments and cute little snowman whatevers than they know what to do with! (Literally boxes of mugs.) There was always too much candy as well.
Anways, gift cards are awesome gifts. They do end up buying a lot of supplies with their own money, or find out what their favorite stores are. I also second the have your kid make a card for the teachers or even make a picture frame (out of Popsicle sticks or whatever) and put a picture of your kid inside it.
another vote for gift cards! my favorite was always the movie gift card tied to a couple of microwave popcorns. i also had a parent give me a gift card once to a dollar store. score! i bought a lot of stuff for my classroom with that gift card. i personally vote against food because i'm really trying here, people! stop tempting me with your delicious, calorie laden holiday fare!
Last year I got personalized notepads for my kids' teachers. They were a huge, huge hit -- two of the teachers called me at home over break to tell me how much they loved them. I've never had that happen before!
I used Personalized Paper Store and couldn't be happier with the price, selection, or service. 4 personalized notepads (wide choice of colors/designs) in a cute little gift box for $13. Took about five minutes to order and they were at my house a couple of days later.
I'm am also a teacher who suggest gift cards. Target is my favorite. If you give Starbucks, just make sure she drinks coffee. I know there are other things, but one year I got $90 in Starbucks gc! That's a lot of trips to Starbucks when you don't drink coffee and never go there.
If you really don't want to go with a gift card, here are some of the good non-gc/non-candle, mug, lotion, ornament, etc gifts from over the years
fruit arrangement (seriously, we were in ecstasy when it showed up)
pajama pants
water bottle (the reusable kind)
pie plate with a bottle of soda and a bag of candy
scratch tickets (from some reason, they are big in MA)
stationery
belt
lunch from a local deli
tub of homemade caramel corn and a chick-lit novel
cash (hey, it's not a gift card!)
I would love to get personalized pencils or post-its. It seems silly, but most of us are office-supply junkies and it's nice when we can tell which stuff is our own, since so much of it ends up getting shared
There's a site online where I get pencils printed to give to kids at the end of the year: http://is.gd/hrRzo
One of my students got me movie tickets for a gift last year and I was STOKED. Another one gave me a piece of artwork that was framed which I kept in my office.
As far as gift cards go, if there is a deli or coffee shop right near the school that's probably a good idea. We had a Panda Express right by the school and I was very happy to get gift cards there.
I would love this gift! Great idea!!!!
Another teacher here! I ditto the gifts to the class. I have to buy all books in my classroomm library, P.E. equipment-balls, jumpropes, and board games for rainy days. I know I would be thrilled not to spend personal $$ for these.
I also love getting gift cards (like everyone else), teacher store gc, magazine subscription, offer to volunteer either in the classroom, or copying, assembling projects, etc... (if your schedule allows)...although we treasure the sentiment, please try to avoid "mugging" your child's teacher.