Spill the beans... on end-of-term gifts for teachers

dizziblonde · 10 July 2012 at 9:21PM

clarey33 wrote: »

Totally agree with this, we never have enough of these in our class!

My last classroom the previous teacher must have been hoarding gluesticks - I'm not joking - I had about 300 of them in one cupboard.

For the ideal gift - NOT what I heard from one teacher in a rough part of town - got proudly presented by a child with a vibrator, who chirpily commented "my mum says you can have this Miss, she doesn't need it anymore now she's got her new boyfriend."

And please - no plants - I could never cope with the guilt when they (inevitably in my case) died!

building_with_lego · 10 July 2012 at 9:30PM

We make bookmarks in our house- strips of paper decorated by the children and laminated. Cheap, personal and take up next to no room in the recipient's home! I also like to give something to the ladies who run the school office, as they get overlooked yet have such a vital role.

(Both of our children have two teachers so the cost of "proper" gifts would mount up rapidly, even without the student teachers and TAs who chip in as well...)

NBirdy · 10 July 2012 at 9:42PM

I was thinking of making a crayola monogram picture, as I think they look lovely, but my DD goes to a very small primary school (just over 50 in whole school) and her teachers wouldn't have anywhere at school to hang the things, and I imagine they'd want their own kids artwork on their walls at home, not mine!

So I think I'm going to make iced apple-shaped cookies and present them nicely in a pretty cello bag at the start of the last week of term. I know they're ok with home-made edibles, and I'll make sure they know that I made them, not DD! She can make some for us to eat at home, and make the gift tag and card etc.

I'll make sure the support staff get some too, as well as the dinner lady who has helped DD try lots of new food this year.

folkestonelisa · 10 July 2012 at 10:39PM

I have to confess that ive spent a lot more then i normally would on my daughters teacher. Shes leaving this year and this teacher has been fantastic for the whole year. the extra confidence shes given my daughter this year has been second to none. Shes been fantastic to her, has really encouraged her to be ready for the grammar.
So ive brought a card and written a note from me for all her thanks, daughter will right something and ive brought her a lovely pair of flower earrings so she can remember my daughter in years to come.

lolly_896 · 10 July 2012 at 11:21PM

Were making tea cup candles, the boys wont be able to do much helping though and i will make sure they write a note

pinkclouds · 10 July 2012 at 11:42PM

If you're going to do it, then the best way is to do a collection. Best person to organise that would be someone on the PTA or the class rep (if the PTA does "class reps") because they'll be a known point-of-contact to all parents.

However, what I do is get my child to draw a card and write a message in it (both me and child). It costs almost nothing except our time and it conveys more of our true appreciation than a few pounds of soon-to-be recycled mathoms.

(Bit of a LotR joke there!)

wondercollie · 10 July 2012 at 11:48PM

One year I knitted sweaters for my boys teachers. Four in total. They had wonderful teachers that went beyond their job to get my boys the speech therapy they needed.

One teacher (male) was overwhelmed by it. He'd never had a hand knitted sweater before.

I had nothing to do and it was a very long winter that year.

globetraveller · 10 July 2012 at 11:59PM

Although I really appreciate any present I get, I really treasure the cards with a little note in them from the child and/or the parents.
My all time best one- from years and years ago, said
Thank you for proving I am not stupid.

davidsimpson_2 · 11 July 2012 at 4:52AM

As a teacher in an international school in the Middle East, I can't believe that teachers in the UK would be happy with office supplies!
I would suggest that the vast majority of teachers do not want boxes of chocolates, toiletries, candles, homemade gifts etc.
In my school the norm has been for the class parent to organise gift vouchers.
I always appreciate a card with a note of thanks from parents as well.

tealady · 11 July 2012 at 5:00AM

Hi
How about something for ALL staff to share. A box of small smellies (so people can have a "lucky dip", some hand cream (to keep in school) or tea and coffee (for the staffroom). Or as staff are on their feet a lot, how about some cooling foot spray. I love mine (don't work in a school BTW)

Spill the beans... on end-of-term gifts for teachers

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