Help with gifts for teachers please

s-j-cooper_2

I would always appreciate a bottle of single malt. Expensive, but warming.

angela72

My daughter has only just started school and is loving it. She has 2 teachers who job share and 2 classroom assistants. There are 2 reception classes and she also wants to give the teacher and 2 classroom assistants in the other class a gift as well - and the dinner lady I thought I might go to boots for the 3 to 2 and see what I can find!

Angela

lisaann72red

I really cracks me up we had the same reaction in september when people were asking about gifts for teachers. I think for the preschool nice tin of chocs or biscuits for all the staff. I am considering a christmas decoration or ornament for my childrens school teachers something small like a bar of choc for the TA and something small again for the lollypop lady and man. I am sure whatever they receive will be great I also know that a nice bottle of wine would suit them much better but hey cant really send my little ones in with glass bottles. Merry Christmas Lisa x

wendym

I spoke to my daughter, who said what worries her the most is that some parents think their child will be treated less favourably if they don't splash out.

She does understand the pressure, and that parents won't want their child to feel left out, so she said the biggest choc gift should be a chocolate orange, and that anyone at a school where there is more pressure could buy the cheapest wine they can find, so well wrapped that no other parents will see the label. As she said, by the end of term they're all "undiscerning alkies" anyway!

And as for 'teachers have it soft', she was at her desk at 6.45 this morning, and is just leaving now after a governors' meeting, having had an apple for lunch because that was the only time the social worker could fit in a case meeting.

cannyscot_2

I make sure I put away any specials I get from boots and make up gift baskets for all concerned -there is a thread on the christmas sub thread whcih details all sorts of good ideas i'm sure one of them will be a winner.

You can often get scrubby puffs in pound shops ie 5 for £1 split them and put them with whatever special glitch is on at Boots-the latest one check boots thread was to buy 31p razors and get lotion worth 4.29 -there are always stuff like that.

In fact I could probably provide you with all sorts from my treasure trove if you were near us.

MaureenHB

Speaking as a teaching assistant I totally agree with others in classrooms who have posted.. it is SO lovely to receive a card that the child him/herself has written. Nothing else is expected.. indeed I would be quite a little upset by the plan that one poster described.. that the teacher gets twice as much as the TA!
Please don't be pressured into embarassingly expensive gifts. After all, it's the thought that counts and we should be teaching that to children.

Anya

I have 2 children at school, both with 4 teachers each. I eventually settled on 2 boxes of biscuits (2 for £5 at M&S - Should be £4.49 a box) and have addressed one to the Infant Staff and one to the Junior staff. That way they can share them out in the staff room. I did consider the making truffles/date & marzipan idea but probably would have ended up costing more than £5.

pinkjobo

Ugh people like lancashire lad make my blood boil but I suspect he knew what he was saying would put us teachers backs up. I am an infant teacher and when somebody has come into my classroom to help that has never been into a school before (in a work capacity), they are astounded at what we have to put up with. Most of the time we are teachers but we're social workers, cleaners, marriage councilors, psycologists, nurses, peacemakers, a shoulder to cry on etc etc. Its bloody hard work but worth it when you see children change and progress in front of your eyes because of the work you've put in.

Well back to the op, don't feel like you should buy all the staff something, trust me they don't expect it. I always appreciate anything that I am given and ALWAYS write a little thank you note to the child to take home.

There is also another side to look at. Don't know about other schools but I think if parents knew what we actually buy from our own pockets they wouldn't begrudge spending a couple of quid. This year for example I have bought a small Xmas tree for the classroom, little treats to go in an advent calendar, 30 cards, a little present for each child to go under their tree, and thats just Xmas. There is Easter and the end of term presents plus little things throughout the year, but again I don't mind because I enjoy doing it.

Christmas is about giving and sharing. Showing your appreciation with a small gift whether its a homemade card or choccies goes a long way. Things the children have made themselves is wonderful because you know they have spent time doing that just for you.

Anyway rant over!

Prudent

Lancashire lad,

In my workplace today 2 members of staff were bitten, most of us kicked or punched. Most staff have arms and legs covered in bruises. One had injury to their ribs that required a check up at casuality. We are routinely swore at, spat at , have our hair pulled etc. Today was relatively calm. Just as well because holidays are often taken up with catching up on paperwork and preparation, so we don't get huge chunks of time to relax then.

I am a teacher. I teach damaged children. Easy life eh?

dws_72

My wifes a teacher, works 9 till 3 every day has 6 weeks holiday in the summer 2 at christmas and quite a few in throughout the year...what a life eh... "Yeh right"....!!!!

If anyone is thinking of becoming a teacher.. Don't bother...
As dan thunder says, the hours are ridiculous, ruins your family life and the holidays arent really holidays, they're just weeks when the kids arent there..

As for the present, I know my wife would prefer something the children had made themselves, it's from the heart and eco-friendly- or a card saying thank you and acknowledging all the hard work and commitment that she's put into helping their child, these are the things that are remembered and treasured!