the previous post asking if you should give a gift got me thinking i need to pick one up!! I will do a gift card somewhere, but what is a reasonable amount to spend? 5, 10, 15?? What about a card and flowers? or just a gift card? oh the decisions!
thanks!
thanks everyone!! I went to the hallmark store and found some cute things to make a little goodie basket. I his 2 teachers each a card (which my son signed and colored in), a bookmark some candy, and a some neat cider stuff for like baking, etc. We made a homemade basket for them and now the each have a cute little goodie bag! I would never NOT give the teacher a gift. I pay a lot for daycare but still give her gifts also. I do not agree with cheryl B at all. So what if they only work for 9 months with full benefits. They are teaching our kids and with them more than we are! Plus a lot of teachers teach during the summer and put a lot of time and effort into coming up with projects and grading papers. They also put a lot of thier own money into things for the classroom that is not in the budget from the district! They deserve something to say thanks at the end of the year!
$10-$15 gift card at Joanne's, Michael's or Target, generally. I like it when they can use it to buy something for the classroom. Lord knows they have to shell out too much of their personal dollars these days.
Added: Wow, Cheryl B! Talk about a cheapskate. And let me add bitter in there, too. Astonishing!
I personally feel everyone should spend what they are most comfortable spending on the gift.
I've done as little as $10. Just a little something letting them know I was thinking about them.
This year I'm spending $20. :)
Nothing? Some parents give nothing? This person spends 30-40 hours a week with your child and you can't even scrape up $5 for a Starbucks card? Yes, they earn a salary, but do you not tip waiters, hair stylists, the guy at curb side check-in at the airport, or your nail girl? Give what you can--but just give something!
I usually do $10 - 20 depending on the card.
Gift card to Target - $10.
Gift card to Pizza Hut or Subway - $10
Gift card to Chili's or Red Robin - $20.
Basically enough to cover a meal.
One year I used a Hallmark 'Thank you' card whose paper was actually flower seeds that you could rip up and plant. I then enclosed a $10 Target gift card.
I usually do $15 giftcard to Caribou.
Up to $10.00. Gift cards are fine.
I agree that the teachers deserve gifts. Why do you tip waiters and not teachers?
I gave only $5 gift cards to fast food restaurants because I gave all of my son's teachers (PE, Dance, Librarian) not just the classroom teacher.I spent about 30 with $5 each. For example, my son's PE coach was the first to identify his speed and recommended him to the school's track team.
Gift cards - any amount ranging from $5 to whatever you feel like doing. Unless they specifically ask for it, don't get them a school supply store gift card. That's like saying "here, have some money to buy stuff for my kids or other people's kids". Give them something that THEY can use.
A $5 gift card with a brief note acknowledging their time and effort would be sufficient. As a teacher myself, I never scoff at a $5 gift card! I'm just thankful they took the time to say thanks.
I spend as much on the teacher as she spends on me!
My gift to her is sending my child to public school so she can have a job where she only has to work 9 months out of the year and gets full benefits.
Apparently I did too much. For my son's K teacher, I gave a 25 dollar gift card. For my daughters preschool teachers, I figured 15-20 each.
Wow! I only spend about $5, but write a well thought out personal card, and my oldest son writes a note, too. I guess I've always felt like that's plenty because I teach high school and am absolutely thrilled when I get homemade cookies or nice notes from parents or students. So often middle and high school teachers don't get a second thought.
I'm not complaining. I do get positive notes and emails throughout the year, and those are my favorite gifts. I guess that's why I never thought about spending more on my son's teachers. I felt like the note was more important.
A gift card to the local school supply store. Teachers spend so much money out of pocket, and every teacher will tell you they appreciate this more than anything else. I have given my son's teacher two $10 gift certificates over the course of the year. I'll probably give her another at the end of school.
I did $20 this year.. Yikes a little over budget, but I LOVE what I did.
I bought each of the teachers the Thirty One Mini Organizer bags and then lined it with tissue paper and filled the bag with red apples. Then on one side pouch I bought hand sanitizer and the other Colored Pencils and then bought some ABC stickers to fill the rest.
I am going to spend $15. Some beautiful chocolates that are hand painted. There is a lead Mom who is collecting money but I never contribute to the class gift because she collects money and frankly it's none of her business. I don't want her to think I was too cheap or something. I think anymore than $15 is a lot. Especially since we give gifts during the holiday. Next year my daughter has the same teacher again...this is my motivation since she has also been a very good teacher to my daughter.
I am not being hard on teachers but the school district I'm in well...the teachers are paid very well plus summers off and guaranteed pensions. Nothing that I get. I know teaching is very very hard but couldn't the rest of us say the same thing from time to time.
My 5 year old son has 2 teachers.. I give them a 25.00 gift card each.. If he had one teacher, I would give her a 50.00 gift card... It's all about what "you" can afford... :)
I would put $15 or $20 on a gift card and if you want something a little extra, you could get a small plant - I'd stay away from flowers because they die. =)
There's also a lot of cute homemade ideas at http://www.therachelberryblog.com/search/label/Teacher%20...
We gave our daughters kindergarten teacher a $20.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble along with a handwritten note and card. I let her know how much we appreciated her and her dedication to teaching. Really, this girl is a great teacher. I used to work with a lot of different teachers and have observed a lot of them in their classrooms ( I used to teach special ed) and have never seen someone give it 100% the way she does. I really would have loved to give her more, but its not in the budget right now.
I'm a teacher, and I would say the amount doesn't matter. $10 is nice, but if your budget says $5, then do that. But write a card to say thank you, definitely.
Thanks for being thoughtful to your child's teacher!
I always do a pedicure giftcard, so $25 each
