Teacher Gifts - Greenville,PA

As a teacher I always love fun pens or note-cards (my kids know I like to use bright colored ink on things). One of my favorite gifts was a 12 pack of Diet Coke (the kids were all used to me having my daily caffeine fix). I also really appreciate gift cards (Starbucks is a personal favorite, since with two kids I don't indulge myself that often). The very best though are cards written from the student about what they have learned.

A word on baked goods.... a few Christmases ago a student brough "special" brownies for the teachers, and several (myself included) wound up very sick. I never eat anything that isn't store-bought from students. I just can't bring myself to do it again, and I am SO thankful that I didn't bring those brownies home to my family as I have done in the past. I know that was an abnormal situation, but I am just really leery of it happening again. I always thank them, but then trash them that night.

I know that everyone wants to give a teacher a Unique and special gift. But I just want to give you some insight.

I was PTA President at 2 of our daughters schools. I really got to know the staff and teachers at all 3 of her schools.

At the elementary school the teachers started their own child care center for their children. They needed some money so we discussed a giant Garage Sale. I helped them organize it and they ended up making over $3000.

I encouraged them to bring everything and anything that was just sitting around their homes and in their closets.. in their garages.. At first it was the typical, clothing, bits and pieces of household items.. I finally called them together and told them.. I "knew darn well they had "Teacher thank you gifts" from all of their years of teaching.."

They were concerned that some of the parents would recognize the items, but I assured them as long as none of it had their names on it, people would not know and I would not tell.

We had 3 six foot tables of Bath and beauty items.. Soaps, lotions, bath salt, gels, loofas etc.. This was 18ft of unused unopened products.

There were 2 six foot tables stacked 3 high of mugs.. Some of them still had tea, hot chocolate, cookies etc in them.

Another six foot table of candles.. Scented, holiday, decorated, all types..
Even some VERY expensive candles.

Then 2 more 6 ft tables of teacher or school themed items.. Plaques, frames, desk sets, window items, knick knacks.. Many of these still in the packaging.

Another table of frames, so many frames, we got the giggles they were lined up and the ones in boxes stacked so high. Photo albums,
scrap books, "artwork", Artificial flower arrangements? Baskets..

And so after it was all over, I asked them to be totally honest, what did they like best as a gift from the parents and students?..

Every one of them said a note written by the parent of child. They all seem to keep these letters in a folder, a box or a book.

I told them that was great but a parent like me wants to give them a gift.. They told me some of their favorites were gift cards for Teacher Supply stores, Restaurant gift cards, mall gift cards, gift cards or tickets to events. Meals for their families...

And so when we all start going into the holiday season, keep these things in mind. A teacher who is just starting out, does not make much money. They do not have much to put up on their Bulletin Boards and are usually struggling just to survive.

A elementary teacher that has been teaching 10 years has taught 100's of students. Add on years and it ends up being a lot of students and a lot of "gifts".

The teachers that teach Middle school or High school, do not have homerooms or Homeroom parents, so they do not tend to get a lot of feedback from parents or students.

Anyway.. I just thought I would share, because I know we all want to show our appreciation, but keep in mind most teachers really are thrilled just being recognized and thanked as a "gift". I also liked to write a note to the Principal of the school telling hte about how great the teacher is.

I am a teacher (younger grades) and I have to agree...most teachers enjoy gift cards (and sometimes prefer somewhere personal rather than a teaching supply store (although that is always appreciated too)--i.e. dinner out, etc....they like when people recognize that they do actually have a life outside of school!), special snacks or treats (I constantly bake for my daughters' teachers--of course, they know me and will actually eat my food...this could backfire in some cases!), homemade bath salts....no ornaments, mugs, knick-knacks, etc. Picture frames are nice if you know the decor of the home...someone can always use a frame! Some of the best gifts I have gotten were magazine subscriptions (I have discovered that I enjoy many magazines that I wouldn't have picked up on my own) or Amazon gift cards (can be used for ANYTHING--Kindle downloads, books, teacher resources, etc.). Any note that a child or parent has written to me expressing their love or thanks I have kept...and I have been teaching for 13+ years...I still get them out from time to time to read! One final note....as a teacher, I totally get the dedication, love, and time that go into working with children....and understand that at times, it is difficult to always stay positive..... try to surprise my children's teachers with small gifts throughout the year, rather than focus on a big one at Christmas...recently, my daughter took her teacher a box of Junior Mints (the teacher's favorite candy) "just because" and she seemed thrilled that we had noticed she liked them....the month before, it was a small seasonal notepad....the point is, a card, note, or small snack/gift is always appreciated, no matter what time of the year it is!

I so agree with Laurie A. I was PTA president for several years and got to know most of the school's teachers pretty well, and they really don't need "things." They LOVE gift cards to school supply stores, Target (for supplies in the "dollar" section,) and restaurants.

If you make something do make sure it's something she will get lots of use out of it, and that it won't just sit on a shelf or desk taking up space. Some of the most appreciated gifts I gave were baked goods like cookies, muffins and quick breads in an inexpensive basket, as they didn't have time to make them themselves for the holidays : )

I have friends that are teachers, and they ALL say gift cards :0)

Maybe a nice Christmas ornament in a basket full of goodies to eat? I have a good friend who is a teacher. She could decorate your house and my house with all the stuff people have given her over the years. Right now it's all in her basement in bins.

Teachers really appreciate things they can use -- like gift cards to restaurants and school supply stores for example.

As a teacher myself I liked getting gifts where I know the kids had a part in it. I also liked stuff that wouldn't end up cluttering up my house. Think about all those gifts a teacher could get in their teaching career!

A few things I've done was to take a heavy piece of paper and shape it into a cone. Then I had my kids glue Hershey's Kisses all over, making a Christmas tree.

I also did something similar to this, but used candy such as Reese's mini's (not the new kind, but the ones wrapped), Snickers, Kitkats, etc...whatever candy I knew the teacher enjoyed. I overlapped the candy so that it also made a tree.

The above project cost $10 at the local bakery and I figured I could make quite a few of them for that price!

I'm hoping that I made a picture of these in your head. I don't know if I'm quite explaining it right. Send me a message if you want clearer details.

I've also done cocoa mixes in a jar and I have some recipes if you are interested.

Finally, I've had my kids take scraps of Christmas fabric or just red and green fabric and tie around an old screw cap for canning or a ring. Then they cut out a picture from an old Christmas card and wrote on the back. Usually it just said "Merry Christmas Mr/Mrs. X!" Love, kid's name.

I know that when we were growing up we would make up some carmel popcorn etc. and bring it to the teacher's lounge. That would be my families gift to all the teachers. (My mom is a teacher and came up with this idea when we got into 7th grade and had multiple teachers.)

I hope that gives you some ideas!

Gift cards:
Starbucks
Amazon
Target
A local Teacher's Store

pinterest is a great website for ideas ;o)

Ok so, www.showmecute.com is my fav place to go for fun ideas like this ... I personally am doing the bath salts for the teacher this year!

When my son was being released from the Early Intervention program, we got a gift for his developmentalist, someone who's become a true friend to us. We had one of a kind artwork done from Piggies & Paws, using his hand print and turning it into a 3D-sort of watering can with flowers, and it said "You helped me grow".

Since then, many friends have taken this idea and tweaked it for other gifts, by buying a watering can and filling it with things like fake flowers alternated with stems holding gift cards, or craft paper and paint brushes, etc. Then they used paint or marker to write something on the watering can along the same lines of 'you helped be grow/blossom/etc'.

Good luck!

I liked what Laurie had to say. If you do want a gift though .Maybe a snack basket with all kinds of little snacks for thier desk at school some healthy some sweet. Or a reusable water bottle, pretty lunch bag, something like that- useful but also pretty. There are all kinds of patterns out there to make homemade lunch kits.

How about giving her a Honey Baked Ham for the holidays? They're pricy (I don't know your budget), but if she has family coming over, she'll be thrilled.

Another idea is to make a casserole dish that goes in the freezer for whenever she would like to serve it to her family. After a busy day at school, she might just love that!

Dawn

Thanks Kristina M for sharing that link...that's a great blog! I'm always looking for neat ideas too so thanks for sharing :) I'm gonna try the scrubs!

I personally have done homemade baked goods for teachers...my oldest is onlu 5 so he's had quite a few teachers and aids and buying for all could be pricy (and if you miss one, that's an awful feeling!) so i've done big baskets of cookies, muffins, fruit baskets, etc. during the last week before break and everyone seems to enjoy that.