seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 15, 2016 4:45:43 GMT
I don't know that we are less "deserving" but there are more of us to get gifts for and it gets overwhelming. I get it. Don't really LIKE it, but it's ok. Like someone else said, we're not in it for the gifts. I agree that the middle school teachers probably have the toughest group of kids to navigate socially and emotionally. However, I think by the time kids get to middle school there is less recurring "stuff" that the teachers need to provide for their classrooms and students. The elementary teachers are the ones that are burning through the consumable supplies like mad with the littler kids. I'd be willing to bet as a group they spend the most out of pocket year after year, and that's why parents feel like they should do something to help out midyear. The elementary teachers also cover a wider variety of subjects and as a result they need more varied resources in their rooms. By the time kids get to middle school and certainly by high school, don't the kids usually have most of their own supplies for the year that they need to keep track of and replenish themselves? I teach 6-8 math and 7 science and a math enrichment period. My students never have binder paper or pencils or scissors or glue or rulers or protractors or colored pencils. I provide all of that for 100 students to use if they need it. We are not allowed to publish supply lists. We can put out suggested materials but most of the time the lists never make it home and we are expected to provide it. So, no, they don't keep track of anything and never replenish it. I have a few kids who get a new pencil 2-3 times a week because they "lose" it. When they were responsible for providing their own supplies, they never lost them. Since we supply them, there is no personal responsibility to keep track of them.... but that's a whole different issue! Lol |
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Post by freecharlie on Dec 15, 2016 5:06:25 GMT
By the time kids get to middle school and certainly by high school, don't the kids usually have most of their own supplies for the year that they need to keep track of and replenish themselves? I teach special ed. My teaching partner and I stock up at the beginning of the year on lined paper, graphing paper, spiral notebooks, folders, pencils, and binders. We are out of spirals and folders and low on binders (and we start with a lot). The two of us will replenish our supply over break. We often also figure out a way to purchase or supply any of the items needed for projects in other classes like poster or tag board. I do agree that most the gen ed teachers don't do this, but we know our students and their families and there are plenty of them that either don't have the money or don't care to spend the money on their kids. We want them to have what they need. We do use our department budget to get the colored pencils and markers they use in our class, so that does not come out of our pocket. That said, I don't want or expect gifts. My students doing their homework, passing their classes, and coming to me when they are happy, sad, nervous, or excited is the best thing they could do for me. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 15, 2016 5:11:55 GMT
I agree that the middle school teachers probably have the toughest group of kids to navigate socially and emotionally. However, I think by the time kids get to middle school there is less recurring "stuff" that the teachers need to provide for their classrooms and students. The elementary teachers are the ones that are burning through the consumable supplies like mad with the littler kids. I'd be willing to bet as a group they spend the most out of pocket year after year, and that's why parents feel like they should do something to help out midyear. The elementary teachers also cover a wider variety of subjects and as a result they need more varied resources in their rooms. By the time kids get to middle school and certainly by high school, don't the kids usually have most of their own supplies for the year that they need to keep track of and replenish themselves? I teach 6-8 math and 7 science and a math enrichment period. My students never have binder paper or pencils or scissors or glue or rulers or protractors or colored pencils. I provide all of that for 100 students to use if they need it. We are not allowed to publish supply lists. We can put out suggested materials but most of the time the lists never make it home and we are expected to provide it. So, no, they don't keep track of anything and never replenish it. I have a few kids who get a new pencil 2-3 times a week because they "lose" it. When they were responsible for providing their own supplies, they never lost them. Since we supply them, there is no personal responsibility to keep track of them.... but that's a whole different issue! Lol  Wow, that wasn't my experience when I was in school! The schools here have supply lists all the way through high school with special supplies listed for specific classes like those you teach, and the kids have lockers to keep their stuff in. They are expected to take care of their own stuff and replenish as needed. I don't think I ever personally asked a teacher for paper or a pencil even in grade school. |
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 15, 2016 5:39:28 GMT
I bake mini-loaves of either cranberry bread or pumpkin gingerbread each year for the teachers. I know - peas don't like getting homemade food gifts but my kids have reported back that their teachers love them - a few have opened and eaten at school over the years and I've gotten recipe requests. At this point my middle child has some teachers her older brother had and when she handed out the bread last year, those teachers remembered it (there are 8 school years between my oldest and middle - he graduated in 2010, she will in 2018...and the little one in 2025) I had 25-30 kids each year and always received homemade goodies. Very few goodies were not eaten or at least tried. I had a few parents through the years that would make amazing meals for me once in a while so that I wouldn't have to cook that night (my personal favorite kind of parent!). Many teachers would leave unwanted treats in the lounge and more adventurous staff would take the treats home. I don't know if the two are related, but I haven't had the flu since the 80's and maybe half a dozen colds in the lat 16 years. A little bit of other people's germs has always worked for me! |
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 15, 2016 5:40:22 GMT
My dd is in middle school. It adds up because they have different teachers for two different music classes (band and choir) and two different teachers for PE. Plus French and art and computers, plus core subjects and one teacher intern. This is her first year in middle school. Perhaps just core teachers are appropriate. Around here, there are only gifts for ES teachers. No one gives gifts to middle school teachers and they don't expect them. We gave booze to my son's favorite HS teachers. After graduation, of course. |
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Posts: 4,209 
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Post by peppermintpatty on Dec 15, 2016 13:12:05 GMT
I agree, you do not need to give 11 teachers gifts! That is nuts.
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Post by Anne-Marie on Dec 15, 2016 17:58:15 GMT
We stopped the gifts at middle school, only did elementary school ones - I always felt bad about it but my kids felt funny about it since no one else did it, and wanted to follow the norm - middle school is such an odd time of fitting in. For them if you wanted to be discrete you could always send cards or a nice letter if you liked them and cc the principal about something they did for your child - bypassing your kids having to bring them in. For elementary I did cute things - filled whisks with candy kisses and put in a cello bag, tied a tag saying, "Whisk you a Merry Christmas" - or filled cello bags with candy round cherry candies with a tag saying "Rudolph noses" or something like that when we had a lot of gifts to do, 10+ like you are talking. For the main teacher we always did Barnes and Noble gift card. That way they can buy something for the classroom or something personal, their choice. This is almost exactly what I was going to say. For middle school I would go with dropping a food or fruit tray or plate of treats in the office for the lounge/breakroom for all to enjoy. In elementary my DD had her core teacher, then her specials teachers (art, music, library, science and two PE coaches) and her afterschool program director and the workers there (4 - 6 per year). I tried to do something small but thoughtful for everyone and if we had a special connection with a teacher that year, usually her core teacher, we would do something additional for them. I also tried to remember the office staff that worked tirelessly for the entire school of students and were often forgotten, at least at our elementary school. They so appreciated it if I dropped off a box of donuts or a plate of homemade cookies. |
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
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Location: Western Illinois
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Dec 15, 2016 18:31:31 GMT
I think a tray or basket of goodies to share in the teachers' lounge is a great solution to individual gifts - if it's a smaller school where everyone would be able to have something. That means that "specials" teachers who rarely get gifts can also feel like they were remembered and had some kind of a treat.
And no teacher that I have ever known is in this job for the gifts - and appreciative and supportive notes and comments mean more than anything else. However, if you are going to give gifts, it's nice to recognize that there are a lot of teachers and support staff who work with your children, not just the classroom teacher, and in many schools classroom teachers end up with gifts from many of their students and those other teachers may get not a single gift or any kind of note.
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662
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Post by loco coco on Dec 15, 2016 18:48:55 GMT
wow, I think I way over spent for my daughters 3 daycare teachers. I got $25 giftcards for each of them and the $8 Kohls blanket. Shes 4 months and started when she was 7 weeks old, I really love these ladies and the care and comfort they have provided me and her. It was really hard for me at the beginning and they would send me pictures during the day to let me know she was ok. Is that awkwardly way too much?? :/
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Shel
Full Member
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Jul 16, 2014 0:32:12 GMT
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Post by Shel on Dec 15, 2016 18:57:20 GMT
wow, I think I way over spent for my daughters 3 daycare teachers. I got $25 giftcards for each of them and the $8 Kohls blanket. Shes 4 months and started when she was 7 weeks old, I really love these ladies and the care and comfort they have provided me and her. It was really hard for me at the beginning and they would send me pictures during the day to let me know she was ok. Is that awkwardly way too much?? :/ No I don't think this is too much. If you are that happy with their care of your daughter I think it's a great way to show that appreciation. |
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662
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Post by loco coco on Dec 15, 2016 18:58:17 GMT
wow, I think I way over spent for my daughters 3 daycare teachers. I got $25 giftcards for each of them and the $8 Kohls blanket. Shes 4 months and started when she was 7 weeks old, I really love these ladies and the care and comfort they have provided me and her. It was really hard for me at the beginning and they would send me pictures during the day to let me know she was ok. Is that awkwardly way too much?? :/ No I don't think this is too much. If you are that happy with their care of your daughter I think it's a great way to show that appreciation. ok good thank you for replying! |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 16, 2016 1:50:51 GMT
I teach 6-8 math and 7 science and a math enrichment period. My students never have binder paper or pencils or scissors or glue or rulers or protractors or colored pencils. I provide all of that for 100 students to use if they need it. We are not allowed to publish supply lists. We can put out suggested materials but most of the time the lists never make it home and we are expected to provide it. So, no, they don't keep track of anything and never replenish it. I have a few kids who get a new pencil 2-3 times a week because they "lose" it. When they were responsible for providing their own supplies, they never lost them. Since we supply them, there is no personal responsibility to keep track of them.... but that's a whole different issue! Lol Wow, that wasn't my experience when I was in school! The schools here have supply lists all the way through high school with special supplies listed for specific classes like those you teach, and the kids have lockers to keep their stuff in. They are expected to take care of their own stuff and replenish as needed. I don't think I ever personally asked a teacher for paper or a pencil even in grade school. I so wish! In CA, most districts take "free and compulsory" as just that- parents should not have to pay anything more for school anything since they pay taxes. My district also has free school buses to and from school. The district my DD attends In charges for the bus if they ride. I have given out 144 pencils in the past 3 weeks alone! Yep, I had an entire box of pencils after thanksgiving break, the last 3 are in my desk and will most likely be given out tomorrow! Lol |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 16, 2016 1:53:20 GMT
Wow, that wasn't my experience when I was in school! The schools here have supply lists all the way through high school with special supplies listed for specific classes like those you teach, and the kids have lockers to keep their stuff in. They are expected to take care of their own stuff and replenish as needed. I don't think I ever personally asked a teacher for paper or a pencil even in grade school. I so wish! In CA, most districts take "free and compulsory" as just that- parents should not have to pay anything more for school anything since they pay taxes. My district also has free school buses to and from school. The district my DD attends In charges for the bus if they ride. I have given out 144 pencils in the past 3 weeks alone! Yep, I had an entire box of pencils after thanksgiving break, the last 3 are in my desk and will most likely be given out tomorrow! Lol That is totally insane. If the school district doesn't want to make the parents pay for their kid's supplies they should provide it so you don't have to.  |
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 16, 2016 1:54:40 GMT
I so wish! In CA, most districts take "free and compulsory" as just that- parents should not have to pay anything more for school anything since they pay taxes. My district also has free school buses to and from school. The district my DD attends In charges for the bus if they ride. I have given out 144 pencils in the past 3 weeks alone! Yep, I had an entire box of pencils after thanksgiving break, the last 3 are in my desk and will most likely be given out tomorrow! Lol That is totally insane. If the school district doesn't want to make the parents pay for their kid's supplies they should provide it so you don't have to. I'm given a $300 budget to buy every thing needed for my classroom that sees 100 kids a day. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 16, 2016 2:12:29 GMT
That is totally insane. If the school district doesn't want to make the parents pay for their kid's supplies they should provide it so you don't have to. I'm given a $300 budget to buy every thing needed for my classroom that sees 100 kids a day. That is nowhere near enough, but you already know that. |
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Dec 16, 2016 2:22:39 GMT
That is totally insane. If the school district doesn't want to make the parents pay for their kid's supplies they should provide it so you don't have to. I'm given a $300 budget to buy every thing needed for my classroom that sees 100 kids a day. That's four times what I was given last year. And I have 150 kids. We are allowed to post wish lists, but I still go through lots of my own money each year. I used to only keep receipts up to the $250 amount I could deduct on my taxes. One year I kept more (my intention was to keep all but I forgot a lot) and I spent over $1500. For the record, my friend that teaches 2nd grade had a budget of $500 for her class of 24 kids that same year. She also got a wreath made of gift cards that totaled $300 for Christmas from the class as a whole, individual gifts from students and brunches, snacks, coffee, lunch, etc. for the twelve school days leading up to Christmas break from the PTA. No, no teachers are in it for the gifts or the money, that's for sure. I've just never understood why, even before I became a teacher myself, why the appreciation stops with elementary school. |
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 16, 2016 2:51:42 GMT
I'm given a $300 budget to buy every thing needed for my classroom that sees 100 kids a day. That's four times what I was given last year. And I have 150 kids. We are allowed to post wish lists, but I still go through lots of my own money each year. I used to only keep receipts up to the $250 amount I could deduct on my taxes. One year I kept more (my intention was to keep all but I forgot a lot) and I spent over $1500. For the record, my friend that teaches 2nd grade had a budget of $500 for her class of 24 kids that same year. She also got a wreath made of gift cards that totaled $300 for Christmas from the class as a whole, individual gifts from students and brunches, snacks, coffee, lunch, etc. for the twelve school days leading up to Christmas break from the PTA. No, no teachers are in it for the gifts or the money, that's for sure. I've just never understood why, even before I became a teacher myself, why the appreciation stops with elementary school. Woah! I get VERY hard not to spend my own money! Thankfully, I have a few parents who kick in stuff thru the year to help out. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Dec 16, 2016 3:34:52 GMT
I only ever bought gifts for my kids' teachers in Primary School (Prep/Kinder to Year 6). Nobody buys gifts for the High School (Year 7 - 12) teachers as far as I know. My DD bought her Year 11 English teacher a gift out of her own money. That particular teacher also bought DD and 2 other girls a gift at the end of the year because they had been particularly supportive towards her when her sister had died.
I really feel for all of you who have to buy school supplies for your students out of your own pocket. That is absolutely NUTS and should not have to happen. Do the parents realise that you're having to do that? And if so, do they even feel the tiniest bit guilty? I have to supply everything for my kids, and my parents had to supply everything for me back in the 70s and 80s.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Dec 16, 2016 3:40:53 GMT
wow, I think I way over spent for my daughters 3 daycare teachers. I got $25 giftcards for each of them and the $8 Kohls blanket. Shes 4 months and started when she was 7 weeks old, I really love these ladies and the care and comfort they have provided me and her. It was really hard for me at the beginning and they would send me pictures during the day to let me know she was ok. Is that awkwardly way too much?? :/ Their taking care of the most important person in your life so I think you did good  |
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PaperAngel
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Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Dec 16, 2016 5:01:17 GMT
wow, I think I way over spent for my daughters 3 daycare teachers. I got $25 giftcards for each of them and the $8 Kohls blanket. Shes 4 months and started when she was 7 weeks old, I really love these ladies and the care and comfort they have provided me and her. It was really hard for me at the beginning and they would send me pictures during the day to let me know she was ok. Is that awkwardly way too much?? :/ Given they care for your infant (vs school aged), I think your gift is appropriate & expresses your appreciation. Happy holidays! |
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Wow, that wasn't my experience when I was in school! The schools here have supply lists all the way through high school with special supplies listed for specific classes like those you teach, and the kids have lockers to keep their stuff in. They are expected to take care of their own stuff and replenish as needed. I don't think I ever personally asked a teacher for paper or a pencil even in grade school.
