As a 'retired' teacher I just have to get this off my chest: Here are the things that most teachers DO NOT want to get from you as a gift of appreciation for spending
8 hours a day, 180 days of the year with your kid.
8 hours a day, 180 days of the year with your kid.
5. A picture of your kid. Believe me...they know what your kid looks like!
4. Anything with the names of all the kids in the class on it. Ummm...why would they want this? If they have been teaching school for 10 or 15 years what do you think they do with this stuff? Decorate their house with it? No...they go to another city and donate it to a thrift store.
3. Anything that your kid made...I know this isn't what people want to hear but really what teacher needs another pencil holder, picture frame, candle holder or necklace made of macaroni? Seriously? They have all that stuff & they got from their own kids so have to keep them!
2. '#1 Teacher' plaques, ornaments, figurines or the like. They want this as much as you want a '#1 Mom' mug.
1. Anything-and I do mean ANYTHING-with an apple on it, anything in the shape of an apple or anything even slightly resembling and apple. Rule #1 NO APPLES.
On the other hand let me tell you what teachers do want and need:
-gift certificates to:
anywhere that sells school supplies, their favorite restaurant, a salon, a book store, Wal Mart/Target, local movie theaters, cleaning service (for their classroom), any store that has things they like. Do they cook? William Senoma. Do they love clothes? The Gap. Do they love accessories? Icing. Do they collect music? i tunes Music Store. Don't know what your child's teacher likes? Shame on you! This person spends more time with your kid than anyone but you! Get to know them, even if it's only thru the grapevine.
-flowers, a real card telling how they specifically helped your child during the year--it helps if this is accompanied by a gift certificate (see above)
Good Luck and Happy Summer to all those fabulous and harried teachers out there!
On the other hand let me tell you what teachers do want and need:
-gift certificates to:
anywhere that sells school supplies, their favorite restaurant, a salon, a book store, Wal Mart/Target, local movie theaters, cleaning service (for their classroom), any store that has things they like. Do they cook? William Senoma. Do they love clothes? The Gap. Do they love accessories? Icing. Do they collect music? i tunes Music Store. Don't know what your child's teacher likes? Shame on you! This person spends more time with your kid than anyone but you! Get to know them, even if it's only thru the grapevine.
-flowers, a real card telling how they specifically helped your child during the year--it helps if this is accompanied by a gift certificate (see above)
Good Luck and Happy Summer to all those fabulous and harried teachers out there!
8 comments:
SOOOOOO fabulous and SOOOOO true. It will be fun to get the teachers something they REALLY want!
Amen!
Thank you Miss Jen! I'll give this link to all my parents...JK! :)
Ha ha my Dad is a teacher and we have a cupboard filled with teachers mugs. The funny thing is they get used Christmas morning and then put away again. I loved this post.
luv yur follow-up. Thx.
Rather than be a lurker, I thought I'd thank you for the tips. Last year I made wood/vinyl signs for my kids' teachers and they really liked them. (www.my-sweet-memories.com) The year before we bought small galvanized metal pails with handles, filled them with ten $100,000 Grand candy bars, a gift card, and tied a tag to the handle that said "You're worth a million!" That one went over well, too.
These are all such good suggestions. I know a teacher that has a garage sale regularly and there is always a table of mugs, apples,ceramic teddy bears(?), and other basic junk. I know it is the thought that counts but while thinking it is nice to imagine after 20 years of teaching..how many of these things has the poor teacher received. A nice sentiment of your appreciation on a card and a gift certificate or card seems like a great idea. Some of the teachers are at an age where they do not need a lot of stuff. But who doesn't love picking out something they would really enjoy that
someone else would never have even thought about? And if there is nothing you want at the moment~we know there will be at some point so they are nice to hang on to until you have something fun or useful in mind.
I like to really consider the person when getting a gift and don't like gifts that feel like someone is just filling an obligation or checking something off their to do list. An apple must kind of feel that way to a teacher. If I were a teacher I would love getting movie tickets for a relaxing evening with a spouse or friend. More than anything teachers need a rest and appreciation for all they do for our kids.
oh shoot i totally made you something with an apple on it! sorry jen! but in my defense i've gotten better at my gifts through the years...sorry you were one of the ones that had to get the worst of them!
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