I give each of my kids daycare teachers a $25 AMEX gift card--that's $100 total, but I feel they spend a lot of time with my kids and they deserve it.

Our school had the teachers put out 'wish' ornaments for class room items they wanted, so they wouldn't get a whole bunch of things they don't need. I like the idea and it ends up being much less work and money!

Love that idea Lisa!

Sandi, they sure do deserve it!

Thanks for your comments ladies.

My son's 1st grade teacher set up a wish list tree for items for the classroom that normally she would pay out of pocket for. She also included items that some kids' parents cannot afford. I thought it was very thoughtful of her to want to get something that will be for her but also benefit the classroom. When I asked her about it, she said that a teacher can only get so many coffee mugs and teacher themed ornaments!

For the classes that don't do a group gift, we like to give gift cards - Target is always a winner. We also like a local company called Schoolbox that is a teacher-resource store (for all those classroom things a teacher might have to pay for her/himself).

I buy the teachers something little and then make a basket of baked goods for each of them including cookie assortment, gourmet hand dipped pretzels, etc., I am sure with everyone being so busy including them - they might not have much time for homemade treats. I do have to ask them to come outside to receive them and put them in the cars because we have a no peanut ban - and a lot of the treats have peanuts or peanut butter. All the same - they love the treats! I do take the time to get matching paper plates and tags, etc., this year I may include a special recipe with their treats.

My kids and I always make home made soap for their teachers, and even the bus driver. My children love getting to make the gift, and the teachers seem to enjoy them.

While I beleive that our children's teachers do deserve some gift or recognition for their valued work, I feel that pressuring other parents into a gift is unfair. While I do not think the guy should've accused you of making off with that money or mistrust you, it's hard for anyone of to really know what someone else's financial situation is. I believe a little tolerance all around would go a long way.

For some reason, the parents at our school have decided to make teacher gift giving a competition. One child in particular in my daughter's second grade class will most likely brag about how her gift is the "most expensive and the best" because she did the same thing in first grade (reminds me of Nellie Olsen, to be honest!) As for my part, the teachers get a gift card to Target in a clever little card holder. It helps them out, and hopefully they'll spend the money on themselves!

My Children's school PTO does a collection from the whole school. You donate what ever you want or nothing at all. They divide it up among the teachers, specialists, office staff and administration. They give them VISA cards or similar. They get a card with all the families who donated. Mind you, that you could have five kids there and give $5 and you name would be right next to someone with one child who gave $100 and no one would be the wiser. If you do not donate anything, then your name does not appear. So if you don't get your money in on time, you back to square one shopping for everyone. It helps a lot because I not only bought for the classroom teachers but music, art, principal secretary and it really saves time and money. And they don't get a bunch of dollar store gifts.

i put together a movie night bag for my daughters teacher and bus driver~ they both loved the idea. just get a gift card for a movie rental ( i used $5-$10 gift card for blockbuster) a bag of microwave popcorn, and a few boxes of movie candy (like you get at the movie theatre) its a creative and cheap idea.

I've decided to keep it homemade this year. Something everyone enjoys...Well mostly. I picked up sugar shakers and my kids are hand making mexican style hot chocolate mix to put in them. Each container will make approximately 12-16 mugs of hot chocolate. Yumm :) The kids will make up the ingredient list and instructions to make it. Beats candles!!!

I give each of my 7th grade daughter's teachers a tin of homemade Christmas cookies that my daughter and I make together. The tins cost $1 each and the cookie supplies cost maybe $20 for everything, so it's very affordable and appreciated.

I agree that parents should not feel pressured to buy gifts... My child goes to a school in a good area, where most of the people have money, but I am disabled & just resumed working and we happen to live in an affordable housing (lower rents based on income, not government housing or nothing) so I can't match what some of the families can... Last year, my daughter's class was doing a group gift and only asking for $5, which was feasible... This year my daughter wanted to buy her teacher an ornament (yes, teacher-themed) for $10 and I let her & the teacher loved it. For her younger years, I just had her make a card, as I think handmade things are appreciated more - especially since they can shwo off the skills learned in the class up to then...

My son is in his second year of Pre-K - so I am still new at this but here goes! Last year, I stressed and spent way too much money on gift cards for 3 teachers/therapists, etc. This year, I bought a bunch of stickers (same or similar to what Connor brings home as rewards) as well as a stamping set. Both are items that are used in the classroom daily - so I know they will be apprecaited. I think something like that will be the way I go in the future - although, we haven't hit grade school yet - so who knows! Bottom line - we're all overextended at Christmas so I don't think it is necessary to blow the budget - a simple hand made card showing off your child's work should pull at the heart strings of a teacher who has taught them so much. In response to the teacher's post - I had a feeling that many presents get thrown away - just think of how we react to some of the gifts we receive personally! Keep it simple and help your child learn first hand the true meaning of Christmas!

Really, the days of a teacher appreciating a homemade card and a simple gift are not gone. Most teachers are not greedy or even expectant of a gift--obviously we are not in the profession to take advantage of the rampant salary or gift giving! A note of thanks for a job well done from the parent and a picture drawn by the student would put a smile on any teachers face.

I made my sons first grade teacher up a gift basket. I used a pasta bowl and put in ABC and 123 pasta from Yankee candle. I also put in two mircowave popcorns with 2 movie rentals to blockbuster.

Ok..I am a teacher and a mom..so here goes..
I give my son's teachers gift cards to target or wal-mart unless they have given us a list of the teacher's favorite places or items..
As a teacher, I really like the idea of the class giving one gift card. One parent usually takes donations for the class and purchases a gift card, usually Visa so we can use it everywhere.
Also, I hate to burst everyone's bubble. But, I have been teaching for 10 years. Most teachers do NOT really like the homemade, edible gifts. They usually end up in the trash or in our child's belly when we get home. It is not because of the value of the gift. We are thankful for anything being given to us in appreciation for what we do. However, most of the time, we do not eat them for various reasons. If you want to make something, I suggest cards and poems from your child expressing what he/she has learned this year. One student wrote a poem filled with similes and metaphors to show that he had retained that knowledge. LOVED IT!!!! But I would really like to see the cookies, hot chocolate, and muffins disappear. By the way...most teachers are on some sort of diet ALL THE TIME.....THANKS

As a parent and a teacher, I think this has gone too far. No teacher expects or desires such large gifts. The fact that you think that you should collect that much money is crazy. It's a nice thought, but not when it is obviously such a bother for the collector. Home-made cards ARE acceptable and desired. I would rather have a homeade card than a re-gift which is what many of the kids bring. I actually was given a gift card last year with the name of the parent and a thank you note to that parent. They didn't know this gift card was tucked in with the lotion that they gave me.

I am the class mom for my daughter's first grade class. I hated to impose on the parents, but did want to present a class gift. I asked the parents to donate $2 per student and made sure they understood it was strictly voluntary. I know $2 is not much, but found most actually pitched in about $5. I also found a really nice teacher poem on the internet, printed in on nice paper and had it framed. I am going to give it to the teacher along with a gift certificate. I'm still collecting money and think I will only end up with about $25, but still think it will be a nice gift. I also gave each parent a list of the teacher's favorite things in case they wanted to get her a little something on their own.

Being a teacher is a special job,and I love my kids all of them Gift or no gift food or flowers .It is always the tought that counts.I am a mother also,and my children are grown and in college but,havealways given their teacher gifts.

Teachers don't want the homemade things. Your child's teacher spends 180 days a year with your child. I think a gift card for $20 would be very much appreciated. I bet she or he spends much more on things for the classroom to benefit your child. Nothing apple or teacher related.

Funny Mom,
I am in a similar situation. My youngest son is in an inclusion classroom 1/2 the day and reg. ed classroom the other half. He has an OT and Speech therapist as well. In all I have 8 people to buy for which can become very costly. I try to make something for the teachers each year like banana bread and also give them a little gift. This year I am doing candles and gift cards to Starbucks. I try to give them things that I would like to receive, it can be challenging though. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Teachers are a very important part of my children's lives.I let them know it each year with my heartfelt thoughts and thanks in a card that my child chooses,and if I can I get them a little something to go with it.I really think it is hard for some people to understand that sometimes,even 15 dollars is more than they have,I am a single mom of 5 kids,that recently became unemployed. Until you have had to choose between gas to get them all to school,and a Christmas gift,well you may not quite understand why some seem to cling to their money.Remember what the holidays are truly about ,folks...The teachers will remember the way they impacted your child's lives much more than what they bought with their gift cards.

My two daughters are in private school and gift giving for the teachers is something I look forward to. My girls are in classes with only 7-10 children, so these teachers really have one on one time with their students and you can see the benefits year round. I like to give a gift back that shows our appreciation. We usually give a gift card to Target ($20)and a homemade gift that my daughters help me make. I think that both items together really are nice and not too expensive!

I am a middle school teacher. At this age, I see very few gifts, nor do I expect them. I adore the cookies or home-baked caramel corn I get. I take it home to my family and it's something special my kids get that I don't make. What is more meaningful than anything is a card written by the student that says what they have enjoyed in my class. I know I may not speak for all teachers, but I also appreciate gift cards for places to eat, I can take my family. As a teacher, I spend 2-3 hours most nights on school work and this is time I lose with my own family, knowing someone appreciates it and would like to help me go out to dinner or a coffee shop to have a snack with my family means the world to me.

For my own kids' teachers and daycare, I give a week's pay tip to our daycare provider, it's a home daycare and $25 gift certificate to a local coffee shop to classroom teachers and $5 to eat specialist teacher along with a card written by my child.

$100/teacher and $50/asst... in my opinion, they should get the most expensive gifts since they are critical in shaping my children's future when i am not able to be with them... and they do not get paid enough for what they do.

As a former teacher and a mom, I think I can safely say that if you have taught more than one year, you have enough coffee mugs for a lifetime.When I moved to a new home after 15 years of teaching, we had a box with 46 mugs- all new. I sold them at our garage sale to a man with 5 kids. No more mugs needed here. I think the sweetest things are the ones from the heart. The notes, the cards that was scribbled in crayon, the poems, something the child had that they wanted to share with you because they couldn't afford anything else. We give gift cards,my children write a note, and help wrap the items if gifts are purchased as well.
I think the biggest thing you haven't mentioned here is that teachers need to sit down and write a thank you note for EVERY single thing they get...be it a card or a poem or a $25 gift card to Starbucks. Verbal thank yous don't teach our kids anything and if you are a teacher, show the way by modeling it. Emails don't work for me either. My children doesn't have an email address. I have to buy for 12 at my son's school and even with the school collecting for teachers and ancillary staff, my daughter wants her immediate teachers to open a little something. After several years in a school if the teacher doesn't send a thank you, I go down in my spending for them. Did it last year and got a thank you...the nicest thing a teacher can do is say thank you in return for you thanking them.

I think we are seeing why there is so much confusion about teacher gift giving.
Some teachers are thankful for recieveing anything from a handmade cards to homemade goodies. Others only want certain items to be happy
This only makes me more confused.

My daughter attends 4th grade at a Montessori school. She has 3 different teachers and each teacher has an assistant. Then there is the music teacher, the art teacher, the spanish/french teacher, and the P.E. coach. They all contribute so much to her education that I am grateful to all of them, but that's alot of people. So what I do is make them treat bags. I go to a local bakery that makes miniature versions of some pastries during the holidays and order about 3 for each teacher. Then I put them in a clear plastic bag and close it with a twist tie. I also include a disposable coffee cup with a top, a package of hot chocolate, a little bag with marshmallows, a plastic spoon, and a napkin. I put all of these goodies inside of paper gift bag (the ones that come 13 for $5) tie it up with a pretty Christmas bow. It all adds up to about $4.50 a bag and the teachers all love it!

What about High School teachers? What do they like/want? I think they are the most unappreciated, hardest working compared to Elementary or Middle/Jr. High School, especially because they have to deal with big attitudes. Am I wrong?

My 6th grade daughter is into making earrings this year. So for the female teachers, she's making earrings, and for the male teachers she is making key rings. And then I bought cute, usable boxes to put them in - two gifts in one and very personal.

As a person who works with children I love to get the homemade bake goods because I don't have time to bake because I am with the children. I also love to get the gift cards and I will love a home made card from the child.

I am a mom and was a second grade teacher for eight years. I loved getting the baked goods from the kids. That is what my kids are doing. You do not need to spend a bunch of money to say Merry Christmas. Teachers love food, it's as simple as that! Also on a side note, we just gave a baby shower to one of my daughter's teachers and asked each family to give $5.00 towards the gift. It was very difficult to get all of the money. I had to send two notes home about it before I saw more than $15.00. By the end we received just enough to cover the gift (which we were so thankful for). We had to add in extra for the cake and party favors. Really was more of a headache than it should have been.

I'm so glad that this year my son's teacher spelled out what she wanted during 2nd grade orientation. She told us that she prefers gift certificates for Starbucks or movie rentals or books for the class room. I don't know what others thought, but I appreciated it. I don't have a lot of time for making home made stuff, so for my daughter's preschool teacher I'm giving a box of nice but store bought cookies. Her assistant will get a ginger bread house kit. I'll also give them gift certificates to Starbucks. My son's after school care is difficult because they have 3 - 4 people working each shift. Last year I didn't do anything for them - ooops. We are tight on budget so I will do some creative bargain shopping for them.

We got our kids' teachers gift cards to a local restaurant. I like that they can go out to grab a nice, great meal while remembering their impacts on our kids. I'm a teacher as well and appreciate their dedication and support of my kids.

We rotate recognizing our "specials" teachers i.e. PE, Music, Art. I keep track and only give to one of them each year. That way I can give a decent gift every 3 years, rather than a dinky thing every year.

Having just got back from the dollar store with gingerbread candles, I wish I had read the Gift Cards & Wish Trees ideas. My daughter's K class is doing a class gift but A)I didn't make the deadline & B)I wanted her to be involved in the gift. So we hit the dollar store with her "monies" (which the house fairy had supplemented considerably)& smelled candles, chose cards, & wrapping paper, & I will have her write their names, a Thank You, & her name before getting on the bus in the morning. She is beginning to uderstand the value of money this way, and means more to her than a "class gift." I didn't even get into the class gift when I graduated vet school. Unfortunately, unless the teachers really love candles, my gingerbread candles may end up in the re-gift pile. I don't mind, but I think I will do the gift card next year, and suggest a wish tree at my clinic. (we get lots of cookies, candles, & dog treats--and most of us have special needs dogs) Thanks to all the teachers who weighed in with your true feelings--hence the wish tree or a general announcement is a great suggestion for next year's teachers.

My kids are in preschool and I thought that giving a gift cert for a manicure would be a nice idea so they can pamper themselves.

We are so lucky. Our school organizes an entire school cash gift to avoid the competition and gift frenzy. Parents aren't allowed to give individual gifts (although a hand-made item from a child seems to be okay) . You can opt to include teachers and support staff (like the janitors who clean up after our kids)
The great thing about this is that all teachers get the same cash gift from the pool of contributions so it avoids one teacher getting a lot more than others and builds a nice community spirit.

I am a mother and a school bus driver. i do my best to get the kids on my bus something,this year sorry to say only candy canes. But my son is in 4th grade and every year we get the teacher a gift. They do such a great job and need to be shown. I would also like to put in a word for the bus drivers who get the children there during any type of weather?? Just kidding,look I say do what makes you happy,even if you write the teacher a note saying Thanks. The best gift I have ever gotten was this year from a parent who Thanked me for letting her know how her child was on the bus and it was a very sweet letter. I carry it with me on those rough days.

I am a mother and a teacher. Here is my cynical view on teacher gifts. In the private sector, many employers give a Christmas bonus, shoot, even Jiffy Lube gives a bonus. Anyone who has been teaching long enough has heard at least one person say,"I am a taxpayer and I pay your salary." Well boss, bring on the bonus and get me the cash! (or Target gift card). Homemade gifts are wonderful, but they don't pay the bills! (Like I said, it was a cynical view)

I work in an elementary as a Special Ed Para. Sometimes the kids I have are challenging but I love my job.I don't expect any gifts at the holidays but when I do get one I am very thankful.The best gift you can give someone who works with your child one on one is a card with a hand written note of thanks. That can really make someones day and let them know how much you appreciate the time they spend with your child.

I own and operate a private daycare in Iowa. I made 20 gift bags and wrapped over 15 individual books for children and families. I give 12 hours a day, taking care of children, getting them to and frim school. I received 2 presents this year. I wish a parent would have collected money for a gift card for me to even use to replenish supplies that I use all year long.
I have taught third grade and eight grade, some parents remember their teachers, while others simply do not.
Stacy

This year we had to borrow to pay the mortgage. Used a store card for most gifts for the kids. Rewrapped sundry items for me - well I never got to use last year's gifts due to being so busy so that's OK and generally had a stressful December. Feel awful not to have gotten the gifts I'd like to have gotten for all the teachers and aides and everyone but am ready to float away on a river of stress induced tears anyhow so didn't get it in gear to even regift stuff. All we did were cards and I didn't even manage to make the time to get the kids to sign them. All I did was personalize them myself. You never know what goes on in the lives of those around you. It does not mean that people do not appreciate and care and really really think well of you.
I WILL make it up at year's end. The trick is to do it in April.....and not to forget where the gifts are hidden.

I am a teacher and the most incredible gift I got this year was that someone made a donation to "Make a Wish" in my name. Believe me, I APPRECIATE the gift cards and gifts, but this gift made me realize that I hadn't taken a few minutes to remember what the Christmas Spirit was all about!