tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post5354982945803036499..comments2024-03-23T16:54:09.359-04:00Comments on Midwest Mom: Teacher GiftsKelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02256355039094301578noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-5836414765423496572008-06-05T16:30:00.000-04:002008-06-05T16:30:00.000-04:00You pretty much nailed it. I also taught elementar...You pretty much nailed it. <BR/><BR/>I also taught elementary school for 5 years and Christmas and end of year was always awkward. People kept giving me apple themed stuff. (Really folks? I was a guy in my mid 20's.) Or coffee mugs. (I didn't drink coffee.) Or plaques with sayings on them. <BR/><BR/>Nothing filled my heart with joy more than seeing a child bring me a present - just full of pride. I appreciated it so much. That's where the awkward part came in - carting it home to throw away.<BR/><BR/>The best gifts I recall getting:<BR/><BR/>- One year the mother of one of my students was an elementary school teacher at another school. She snuck a note home to all of the parents and asked if instead of buying me a trinket - if they would give her $5 or so. She purchased a $175 gift card to a local sporting good store! I still ride the mountain bike I purchased with that 11 years ago.<BR/><BR/>- Movie theater gift certificates were great.<BR/><BR/>- Amazon.com gift certificates were great.<BR/><BR/>- Chocolate was always good.<BR/><BR/>- Hand made notes from the kids were awesome.<BR/><BR/>- One dad picked up his daughter and said "I know this probably isn't 'OK' by school rules, but here's a round on me." And slipped me a $20. I laughed and laughed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-60152465831286647872008-06-05T16:15:00.000-04:002008-06-05T16:15:00.000-04:00When my MIL (a teacher and a pilot) retired, they ...When my MIL (a teacher and a pilot) retired, they took the 2nd grade out to the playground and had them stand in the shape of an airplane, and the principal took a photo from the roof of the school. It was close enough that you could see their faces. They framed it to present to her on the last day. I know it meant a lot to her, and it still hangs on her wall.<BR/><BR/>Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.comAmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315843187811122669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-45825788569335112992008-06-05T14:11:00.000-04:002008-06-05T14:11:00.000-04:00As a parent, it was extremely helpful to me this y...As a parent, it was extremely helpful to me this year that our PTA had all the teachers fill out forms with their favorite items, stores, restaurants, snacks, colors, etc. They were asked to list items that they would rather *not* receive as well. Each teacher's replies were posted on the school's website and were available in hard copy in the office.<BR/><BR/>I found out that my daughter's super-duper-awesome teacher loves the color burnt orange and also maple scented candles, so I purchased some really nice ones from Etsy. She loved them! The school is moving to a new building, so I ordered a classroom set from Mabel's Labels too. <BR/><BR/>So we gave her items both for herself and the classroom, along with handwritten (and specific!) notes of appreciation - one from our daughter and one from us too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-21048891227291687962008-06-05T13:49:00.000-04:002008-06-05T13:49:00.000-04:00Thank you! As the wife of a teacher, I can't belie...Thank you! As the wife of a teacher, I can't believe how many parents don't go the gift card route. I'm not complaining, because all of the gifts are thoughtful (especially in my husband's case, since he is a P.E. teacher and not a regular classroom teacher, so I would expect him to be an afterthought). But I definitely concur on the baked good thing...they scare me and I don't allow him to bring them home (we have a toddler who would want to share). And I know my husband doesn't EXPECT gifts so they are a nice surprise (especially to the ice cream parlor so I get to join in!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-91683827347966792172007-05-04T09:28:00.000-04:002007-05-04T09:28:00.000-04:00Hey, this actually gave me a great idea for Cal's ...Hey, this actually gave me a great idea for Cal's babysitter's Christmas present. I'll probably forget it by then, but on the off chance this idea sticks around in my long-term memory: Thanks for the suggestions!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05170500094049647497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-61347070453462152012007-05-04T08:41:00.000-04:002007-05-04T08:41:00.000-04:00I used to get gifts when I worked in the schools a...I used to get gifts when I worked in the schools as a therapist as well, and this was a really good post for parents. I'd second the gift card suggestion. And personally, I'm not as much into candles and smelly stuff, I've got loads of it in closets that never gets used (tempting to regift, but I just can't bring myself to do it).Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-29500311129009875282007-05-03T21:31:00.000-04:002007-05-03T21:31:00.000-04:00Very well said. As a teacher myself I whole-heart...Very well said. As a teacher myself I whole-heartedly agree with you. I LOVE the idea about making peronalized notecards yourself.Mommy Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02272248293460562006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18065716.post-85716425365288147932007-05-03T16:31:00.000-04:002007-05-03T16:31:00.000-04:00This. Was. So. AWESOME. I'm bookmarking it to ref...This. Was. So. AWESOME. I'm bookmarking it to refer to again in the future.Swistlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13126937282657655091noreply@blogger.com