Teacher and Bus Driver gifts

coasterqueen wrote: I was planning on giving all three of Kylie's teachers $10 gift certificates to Panera Bread and her two bus drivers $10 gift certificates to Family Video. When I told DH about this he said heard on the radio a discussion about how you are not supposed to give people like that monetary gifts. Is that true?

What are you giving? How much are you spending?

boyohboyohboy replied: i never thought about the bus driver!!
one of the moms in calebs class sent out an email asking all the parents for $5 and she got the teacher a spa day...

coasterqueen replied:
Oooh the spa day would be fun. I wish I had time to organize the other mothers to give them a gift. Maybe they'll do something like that -- I could hold off getting the gift certificates for awhile, I guess.

Kaitlin'smom replied: we plan on giving a picture ornament to all her favorite teachers. she has 4 at the school she loves.

lovemy2 replied: I copied the Popcorn Bowl idea that Aimee made and giving the bus drivers each $10 for Dunkin Donuts in a coffee mug made pretty

Boo&BugsMom replied:
No it's not true!!! As a past teacher, those were my favorite gifts! I don't know where he heard that but he's pretty innaccurate. So, you can tell him "I told ya so". I will probably be spending $10 and get Tanner's teacher a gift card to the local teacher store, The Learning Shop.

Our Lil' Family replied: I read in Parents magazine where they polled teachers and about 90% of them said they'd prefer gift cards! I say go with it!

edit: whoops...90% not 990%

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied: So are there gifts that Teachers just hate? I have been giving Meg's teachers Tastefully Simple Trio's (which is a trio of dip mixes). Is food a bad idea? I guess I have always felt gift cards weren't personal enough. I am the only one that thinks that? Have things changed regarding gift cards?

coasterqueen replied:
They aren't personal enough, I agree, but if they got gifts like that from all the kids (food gifts, etc) then to me it would seem like too much. KWIM? I do want to think of something creative to go along with the gift cards if possible. I just figured teachers get a lot of personal gifts -- maybe too much of them.

luvmykids replied: I've had a few teachers tell me they always appreciate the thought but get to the point of having just too much "stuff" from so many kids so the gift cards and edibles are the favorites from what I heard.

And even though I'd like it to be personal, one teacher said she loves gift cards to Walmart and office supply stores, so that around March when she has to start buying stuff for the classroom out of her own pocket, she has some help.

Cece00 replied: Honestly, I am not giving my oldest teacher anything for Christmas. I cant stand her & I dont think she is all that great of a teacher (she's fine for educating, CRAPPY for discipline & acts like she has never interacted with young children before...) so I'm not giving her a present. Maybe thats mean of me, but I dont care...I'd move him to another class if it wouldnt be such a hoopla.

Our Lil' Family replied: Target has these little desk calendars with a page a day for $5...one of them is something about teachers.....they had them for mom's one year and I bought several for my friends. They are with the books. That would be a little more personal yet still inexpensive.

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied:
I never thought of it like that. Thanks for your insight. Now, I have to rethink her gift.

lovemy2 replied: I have been told by a few teacher friends that they have plenty of gifts that say #1 Teacher

maestra replied: Ok- Here is the lowdown on teacher gifts!

I looooove gift cards- it's not about getting money, but that someone thought that I, the person, might need to be treated. And to me, that's a wonderful way to show your teacher that you appreciate her/him, even if it's just a $5 gift card to Starbucks (by the way, teachers love Starbucks- how would I teach a group of 22 hyper first graders, but with caffeine ) Popcorn, chocolate, and snacks are great too!

Anything you hand make with your child is awesome too! Last year, I had a parent that made me a basket by weaving newspapers, and then laquering it with a coffee mixture. It was filled with ferrero rocher candy and hershey's kisses. It didn't cost her much, but I appreciated that they went through all of that trouble for me!

The thing that I do get a little tired of getting, and I'm trying to say it in the nicest way, because I appreciate that anyone thought of me, are the resin figurines, like the ones you get at the dollar store. It might just be the population I work with, but I tend to get those gifts a lot. They really just collect dust. I also tend to get a lot of romantic picture frames. Last year, I got a couples statue with a poem about true love on it. But, it's the thought that counts!

I hope that helps you all!

CantWait replied: Monatary meaning money, yes, but GC, NO.
You're good.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Ha ha, I was just going to post the EXACT same thing. Just got my new Parenting the other day and read this last night. The poll said that teachers are sick of candles, candy and mugs. They want GIFT CARDS!!

I too have been copying Aimee's movie/popcorn bowl idea. Made a basket like this for both Wil's ST and Wesley's ST, now that we don't use their services anymore. Will do the same for his teachers. I buy a $15 gift card at our local grocery store (which btw, most grocery stores have a full section of gift cards now, as in just about EVERY major store, Itunes, restaurants, etc....LOVE it!). I just went to the $1 store and picked up all the other items. Spent about $20 total on each basket. Again, I'll do the same for Wil's teachers (he has three).

MommyToAshley replied:
I bet her teachers will like the gift cards. You could always add a little personal touch along with the gift certificate -- like have Kylie make the card for the teacher, or have her write a note on nice stationary about why the teacher is special and stick in your favorite photo of Kylie & her teacher together.

boyohboyohboy replied: could someone post about this pop corn bowl idea? i missed that.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: For the teachers we usually get them flowers and for the busdriver one year we got him a travel mug with some flavoured coffee inside. But I've seen other parents giving candles and other little nic nacs.

stella6979 replied:
What a great idea!

Kaitlin'smom replied: I gave the photo ornament last year and they were a big hit, so I am going to repete it this year.