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Post by busy on Dec 15, 2021 21:20:38 GMT
ack! An IG story just made me think about teachers' gifts. DS started middle school remotely during covid, and just this year - 8th grade - is back in person.
We always did holiday gifts for elementary teachers - usually just a gift card and a note - but he only had one or two teachers. In middle school, are gifts still the norm? To all 7 of his teachers, or just to the homeroom teacher, or just to favorites or something else?
What do you do for teacher gifts for your middle schooler?
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Post by lucyg on Dec 15, 2021 21:32:41 GMT
Following!!
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 15, 2021 21:34:41 GMT
Nothing.. I can't afford to send 8+ teachers things... I kinda stopped after elementary school. I do other things sometimes but at this point I don't do Christmas gifts for all of them
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,983
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Dec 15, 2021 21:42:55 GMT
I don't think there is any expectation for middle and high school, but if he has a special teacher or two he would like to give something to (gift cards are great) or write a note with a card. I teach high school and kids rarely give a "full-on GIFT", Mostly I get thank you/funny notes, drawings/paintings, candy/homemade food items, silly found items....just random things given throughout the school year and some at the holidays. I do get a gift card, a bigger food item, or a mug or something once in a while, but it isn't the norm for me or most teachers at the secondary level. (always exceptions)
As a general rule, most teachers like handwritten notes and gift cards though. (everyone is different, but those are pretty universal.)
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Post by librarylady on Dec 15, 2021 21:48:04 GMT
I made mini loaves of banana nut bread and gave to each teacher with a thank you note at the end of the school year. I don't remember any Christmas gifts after Elem School.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,720
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Dec 15, 2021 21:56:49 GMT
DD and I made hard candy and she delivered it to her MS teachers in decorative tins.
DS wasn't interested in doing something like that (not cool!) so I made a donation to the school's foundation in honor of his main "team" of teachers.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Dec 15, 2021 21:57:16 GMT
No kids, but know a couple Teachers who always say they don't need any more mugs, candles, trinkets, throw blankets, nor do they eat the homemade food items, etc...
One year a Family member got 20+ mugs from multiple middle School student, all of which she donated. It's the thought that counts!
Most people have a sufficient amount of mugs, candles, bath products, knick knacks, trinkets, throw blankets, etc...
I think gift cards are the preference, even if it's $5.00 that pays for some of a fast food lunch, take out lunch, a fancy beverage, a bundlet bundt cake, etc..
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Post by monklady123 on Dec 15, 2021 21:59:39 GMT
I never did gifts for middle or high school teachers except for a few who I felt went above and beyond. There were just too many of them, plus I had two kids there.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,409
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Dec 15, 2021 22:20:46 GMT
I stopped giving teacher gifts when the kids hit Jr High and High School.
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Post by littlemama on Dec 15, 2021 22:28:14 GMT
Nothing. Elementary only
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Post by Jenny in TX on Dec 15, 2021 22:48:40 GMT
I always asked my kids to ask their teacher what their favorite restaurant was and then got them a gift card there. If he had several I would do $5 or $10 gift cards.
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Post by Linda on Dec 15, 2021 22:57:02 GMT
funny you should ask today - I've been baking all day - mini loaves of pumpkin gingerbread and cranberry bread - for DD15's teachers (she's in 9th grade). This is my 25th year of making these for teacher gifts - I started when DS30 was in preK- back then it was pumpkin bread and cranberry bread - I switched in the pumpkin gingerbread about 15 years ago.
in Elementary school - I gift the main teacher, the special teachers (PE/library/music/art) and for my youngest, the gifted and speech teachers as well.
In Middle school - I gift each subject area teacher (we don't have homerooms here) and for my youngest - the gifted and speech teachers and her basketball coach as well
In high school - each subject area teacher plus their coaches
I also give to the school bus driver(s)
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Post by huskermom98 on Dec 16, 2021 0:52:43 GMT
For a couple of years I would ask DS if he wanted to get something for whoever is favorite teacher was at the time. Usually it was a chocolate of their initial (because I was already buying xhocolates from a local shop for younger DS's elementary teacher.) I never did anything for all of his teachers.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 16, 2021 1:08:53 GMT
I’m not sure what we’ll do this year since DD has had 8 teachers so far. Our school did Thankful Thursdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I’ve already donated close to four dozen cookies for the teachers and staff.
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Post by Linda on Dec 16, 2021 1:25:42 GMT
No kids, but know a couple Teachers who always say they (...) nor do they eat the homemade food items, etc... I suspect that varies from teacher to teacher and/or region to region. I know most of my kids teachers have happily eaten the homemade breads I've sent in - DD21 had a couple of high school teachers who remembered the bread from when DS30 was there - they were visibly excited to get it again - and a couple of others who snacked on it in class. I'm the mum who bakes homemade brownies for the academic team meets though (high school) and brought home made goodies for class parties (elementary school) and we're in a small rural area where I know quite a few of the teachers outside of school - so my baking isn't an unknown quantity so to speak.
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muggins
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,861
Jul 30, 2017 3:38:57 GMT
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Post by muggins on Dec 16, 2021 1:28:16 GMT
I didn’t give individual gifts in middle school. However some parents would send a gift basket of pastries, fruit, etc to put in the staff lounge. Other parents restocked the coffee pods, tea, hot cocoa, etc.
An appreciative email is enough for most teachers, especially after the struggles of the last two years. Most of us just want to know we are being supported and appreciated by the community.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,676
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Dec 16, 2021 2:46:45 GMT
I'm know for my baking and I gift year round. I almost always gift out when I bake and typically send something to teachers/coaches/carpool every other month or so. While it is totally possible there are a few who toss them I regularly get thank yous, notes about how much they like what I sent and requests for recipes. Many teachers will also comment to my kids asking when treats are coming again.
I have a 7th & 8th grader with 12 teachers between them plus 2 extras that they like. I dropped off my cookie boxes today (6 different cookies). Last week I dropped off canning jars of molasses cookies for the admin staff (7).
This year I'm making 60 boxes and still leaving some people off my list but I just don't think I'll have enough.
For the 12 classroom teachers I also gave them Flair pen sets that were on clearance at Target for $2 each in the fall. After Christmas sales are also a good time to look for small teacher appreciation gifts.
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 16, 2021 2:52:18 GMT
I don't think you should stop gifting great teachers just because they head to middle school. Pick one or two that your kiddo thinks a lot of and gift that/those teachers with a gift card. My husband taught high school and was often gifted by a few kids each year. It is a nice way to acknowledge a good teacher.
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Post by cmpeter on Dec 16, 2021 3:05:36 GMT
I let my kids pick in middle school and high school…so favorite teachers. Same in college.
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Post by freecharlie on Dec 16, 2021 3:07:03 GMT
I sent $5 gc to Starbucks or if my kids notices something the teacher liked, I'd get them that.
Ms and hs teachers don't typically get gifts because there are so many of us, so anything is appreciated. I keep and treasure the cards my students write. I've kept every trinket and gift my students have given because they are from them.
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Post by happyOCgirl on Dec 16, 2021 3:08:04 GMT
I was an elementary teacher and now have been in middle school for 4 years. I was not expecting any presents in middle school, but I still have students who bring something. It is the nicest surprise! An e-mail honestly goes a long way. I love hearing what a student went home and talked about or their favorite part of my class. As far as actual gifts, I do get a lot of Starbucks gift cards every year. I don't know of many students who give gifts to every teacher...usually their favorite at that time. Thank you for even thinking of teachers right now! I've been teaching 26 years and am still humbled to receive gifts from my students. There are some teachers who basically tell the students what they want - how horrible is that?! Also...having a winter break (no matter how much I love my job and students) is a pretty fantastic gift!
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,804
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 16, 2021 3:20:43 GMT
I’m a middle school teacher. We frequently get overlooked completely. No card, no thank you, nothing. It kinda sucks but it’s the age and number of teachers. That said, I love a $5 Starbucks or target card. It’s not a ton, it’s much appreciated and I can get myself a little something. If you don’t want to gift the teachers, a simple card with well wishes and thanks is appreciated.
My kids are 5th and K. My 5th grader has 4 teachers, each is getting a bath and body works hand soap with a wood ornament that I added iron on vinyl to. My son is giving his teacher and after school program teacher the same thing.
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Post by playingcinderella on Dec 16, 2021 3:22:27 GMT
We do one gift card for a single teacher per kid - typically it is their electives teacher. DD is in choir and DS in theatre - they both participate after school and spend a significant amount of time with that teacher beyond the classroom. This year they asked to do baked treats with a greeting card/note for all their teachers - we did (and I know some will not eat them), but it's the thought that counts. I'm a high school teacher and I usually receive a few gifts at the holidays, usually from the kids who are in my after school program.
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Post by ~summer~ on Dec 16, 2021 3:36:58 GMT
I didn’t do gifts anymore in middle school except gift cards to a couple really stand out teachers.
The next time I gifted was in high school for the teachers that wrote college recommendations- I think I gave them each $75 visa gift card.
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Post by kluski on Dec 16, 2021 3:52:32 GMT
I did $5 gc per teacher to dunkin or Starbucks. One year dd wanted to give a gc to a local ice cream shop. Five dollars isn’t much so it didn’t break me but allowed the teacher a well deserved treat.
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Post by busy on Dec 16, 2021 4:19:25 GMT
I think we'll do the three teachers who he's really connected with. Thanks for everyone's input!
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Post by fredfreddy44 on Dec 16, 2021 4:31:49 GMT
Once my kids hit middle school I told them to pick two teachers - their favorite and the one that challenged them the most, and then I bought 2 B&N giftcards for $15 each.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 16, 2021 5:04:45 GMT
I was an elementary teacher and now have been in middle school for 4 years. I was not expecting any presents in middle school, but I still have students who bring something. It is the nicest surprise! An e-mail honestly goes a long way. I love hearing what a student went home and talked about or their favorite part of my class. As far as actual gifts, I do get a lot of Starbucks gift cards every year. I don't know of many students who give gifts to every teacher...usually their favorite at that time. Thank you for even thinking of teachers right now! I've been teaching 26 years and am still humbled to receive gifts from my students. There are some teachers who basically tell the students what they want - how horrible is that?! Also...having a winter break (no matter how much I love my job and students) is a pretty fantastic gift! As a parent who does like to let my kid’s teachers know they are appreciated, I don’t think that’s horrible at all! I would much rather give them something they actually like and will use vs. something they will end up regifting, donating or throwing away. I can’t imagine getting 10 Starbucks gift cards when the very smell of coffee makes me want to hurl, LOL. In some of the years my kid was in elementary, I loved it when the PTA had the teachers fill out an “all about me” sheet that had their favorite color, favorite drink, favorite snack, favorite local restaurant, hobbies, pets, etc. It made it so much easier to choose a gift they would like. I wish every school did that.
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Post by happyOCgirl on Dec 16, 2021 5:51:09 GMT
I was an elementary teacher and now have been in middle school for 4 years. I was not expecting any presents in middle school, but I still have students who bring something. It is the nicest surprise! An e-mail honestly goes a long way. I love hearing what a student went home and talked about or their favorite part of my class. As far as actual gifts, I do get a lot of Starbucks gift cards every year. I don't know of many students who give gifts to every teacher...usually their favorite at that time. Thank you for even thinking of teachers right now! I've been teaching 26 years and am still humbled to receive gifts from my students. There are some teachers who basically tell the students what they want - how horrible is that?! Also...having a winter break (no matter how much I love my job and students) is a pretty fantastic gift! As a parent who does like to let my kid’s teachers know they are appreciated, I don’t think that’s horrible at all! I would much rather give them something they actually like and will use vs. something they will end up regifting, donating or throwing away. I can’t imagine getting 10 Starbucks gift cards when the very smell of coffee makes me want to hurl, LOL. In some of the years my kid was in elementary, I loved it when the PTA had the teachers fill out an “all about me” sheet that had their favorite color, favorite drink, favorite snack, favorite local restaurant, hobbies, pets, etc. It made it so much easier to choose a gift they would like. I wish every school did that. Oh...it's like "I want a $200 gift card to this day spa" or "this is purse I want at Nordstrom". I should have clarified. Luckily, there are very few like that!!
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Post by scrappinheather on Dec 16, 2021 11:04:05 GMT
I only have 1 child. He is in 8th grade. He is a person with autism. I gave his special Ed teacher a $40 Amazon gift card, he’s had her all 3 years and the rest of his teachers $25 Amazon gift cards. I also made a set of notecards for each teacher with their initials saying from the desk of… using the greetery stationary sets, and a homemade card.
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