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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 0:45:04 GMT
So, this year I have a whole mess of teachers to buy for. Way more than ever before. I'm looking at 5-6 teachers, and possibly a bus driver for DS [HASH]1, and 6-8 for DS [HASH]2. Yowsa! So, we'll make cards and write notes in them, but I know that the kids will want a little gift, too. And with that many teachers, "little" is the important word in that statement. So, I can go with Starbucks or Dunkin' gift cards, and that works great if you like coffee, or donuts, or even just an occasional non-coffee beverage. Or, I can go with Amazon, which would work great for someone with a Kindle or someone who wants to download songs, or just to put towards something bigger I guess. Or I could do cards for someplace like Target or Staples where they could get classroom supplies. We have a few local shops like ice cream shops, bakeries, or sandwich shops, where one could spend a small amount of money and be able to actually get something, but I don't know that everyone who teaches here actually lives here, kwim? And perhaps they would feel like it was a bigger PITA than it was worth to make a special trip to those places. My only other thought would be to have little treat boxes made by the local bakery, so that they are not homemade treats, but still are really nice quality treats, but without knowing much about many of the teachers, I'm just not sure. Also, would the age of the teachers matter to you in your opinion? DS [HASH]2 has all very young teachers at his preschool. I'm stressed about the huge dip in my per teacher budget this year.  Last year we only had 4 teachers total. (ETA: I'm guessing we'll be looking at $10 gift cards.) |
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Post by littlemama on Oct 15, 2014 0:47:07 GMT
Why are there so many teachers?
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Oct 15, 2014 0:48:06 GMT
Can you share what you think your budget actually is going to be? $5? $10? I think you have workable options, but it would help me to give you suggestions if I knew for sure how much you wanted to spend.
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 0:48:53 GMT
Can you share what you think your budget actually is going to be? $5? $10? I think you have workable options, but it would help me to give you suggestions if I knew for sure how much you wanted to spend. I'm thinking $10. |
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Post by 950nancy on Oct 15, 2014 0:51:33 GMT
Teachers and bus drivers don't expect gift cards. It is very nice that you do give them, but a sweet heartfelt note from a kiddo goes a very long way. I get gc from Starbucks. I don't like coffee at all. I give them away. I have gotten $5 cards from Sonic and McDonalds and will get my drinks there. I would suggest that you see what kind of cups are on their desks. A food place close to the school might also be nice, so a teacher could get something little on the way home from work.
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Post by bluepoprocks on Oct 15, 2014 0:56:10 GMT
We have more teachers this year also. One is a youngish male teacher and I really don't know what to get him. My nephew was no help he said "Well he really likes his dead animals in jars and stuffed dead animals for science class." Not helpful at all!!
We have 6 teachers because my oldest nephew is switching classes this year. I'm thinking about Dunkin Donut gift cards also but I'm not sure they all like coffee and donuts.
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quiltz
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Post by quiltz on Oct 15, 2014 1:00:01 GMT
A note goes a long way.
I have never really understood about getting teacher's gifts but then, the teachers are paid quite well in Ontario and have a powerful union.
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 1:01:50 GMT
We have more teachers this year also. One is a youngish male teacher and I really don't know what to get him. My nephew was no help he said "Well he really likes his dead animals in jars and stuffed dead animals for science class." Not helpful at all!! We have 6 teachers because my oldest nephew is switching classes this year. I'm thinking about Dunkin Donut gift cards also but I'm not sure they all like coffee and donuts. Well, I know my kids & I kept stopping at DD for non-coffee iced drinks this summer, and they make breakfast sandwiches and such for folks in a hurry, so I was thinking those options might work for those who don't like donuts or coffee. |
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 1:03:22 GMT
A note goes a long way.
I have never really understood about getting teacher's gifts but then, the teachers are paid quite well in Ontario and have a powerful union.
For my boys it's because they spend a great deal of time with them and grow close to them over the course of a year. So like anyone else they care about, they want to be able to give them something for the holidays.  |
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Oct 15, 2014 1:03:38 GMT
What is wrong with homemade gifts, like candy or cookies?
Or make a container and put store bought candy in it. I was a high school teacher and was happy with any remembrance ..
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Post by bluepoprocks on Oct 15, 2014 1:06:05 GMT
Well, I know my kids & I kept stopping at DD for non-coffee iced drinks this summer, and they make breakfast sandwiches and such for folks in a hurry, so I was thinking those options might work for those who don't like donuts or coffee.
That's true, I only get coffee and donuts there so I forget they have breakfast sandwiches and other drinks besides coffee. |
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Post by littlemama on Oct 15, 2014 1:11:41 GMT
We stopped with teacher gifts after elementary school. To my knowledge, no one gave teacher gifts after elem. If your budget is ten dollars per teacher, then a gift card to target would be fine. Everyone can find something at target.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Oct 15, 2014 1:15:17 GMT
Can you share what you think your budget actually is going to be? $5? $10? I think you have workable options, but it would help me to give you suggestions if I knew for sure how much you wanted to spend. I'm thinking $10. That's better than the $5 I thought you were gonna say. So, I think a $5 card for the bus driver to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts will be a lovely surprise for your driver. Pick whenever one is open earliest; I wouldn't be surprised if the driver likes to make a stop before his or her route. For the teachers, I think a card to Starbucks/Dunkin/Target would all be lovely. The teachers to whom I am related always thought gift cards were the best present. Do you have a Barnes and Noble nearby? That might be a good choice, too-- coffee in the cafe if they want it, a book or two for the classroom, maybe a magazine for themselves. If nothing else, they would be something they can re-gift, which maybe is tacky to even talk about or contemplate, but might actually be really a relief for a teacher on a tight budget herself, kwim? Or you could do like a $5 gift card to one of those places and supplement it with something else-- like a burt's bees lip balm (ETA: I do think they have one that is geared towards men) or a nice hand soap or a hand lotion (I really like the paraffin one from bath and body works-- $4 each if you get multiples.) Colonial Candle has a lot of stuff on clearance-- there are a handful of boxes of tealights for $4, smaller jar candles for under $4... and they just had a coupon for an extra 50% off sale prices and I wouldn't be surprised if another one pops up before the holidays. (I thought I had one right now but yahoo won't let me into email to check at the moment. ETA: sorry, the last coupon was a short sale for just votives, but if I spot another one any time soon, I'll try to come back and add it.) You could also attach the gift card to a gourmet candy bar. Or put the card in a treat bag and surround it with hershey kisses and tie it up with lots of curling ribbon. Ooh, I also love Mr Sketch markers. My first grade teacher had them and they were AWESOME... I'll add some more ideas if I think of them, or the coupon code if I find it. |
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Post by bluepoprocks on Oct 15, 2014 1:15:53 GMT
What is wrong with homemade gifts, like candy or cookies? Or make a container and put store bought candy in it. I was a high school teacher and was happy with any remembrance ..
My one nephews teacher is really religious so we are making her a cute clay pot Nativity. We might also make one for other nephews math teacher who is a nun. We also saw jelly jars on Pinterest that are filled with candy and decorated to look like snowmen, elves, and Santa. We will probably also give a gift card. If I don't get inspired to do the projects we will just give gift cards I think. I like to bake but I know a lot of people who don't like to eat things from people who they don't really know so I'd hate to put all the work into baking and have them throw the stuff out. |
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 1:23:13 GMT
Honestly, I just don't want to make any gifts this year. I love, love, love homemade gifts. But I have a really hectic schedule this year (and it should just be this year, thank goodness), so I don't want to set myself up with a giant to-do list, kwim? My plan is to be done shopping before December so that we can try to enjoy some of the "tasks" of Christmas, such as wrapping & baking, but I think the best way for us to do that is to keep our baking & wrapping to a minimum. The gift cards are a win-win in that regard. No making anything, and no wrapping. |
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Oct 15, 2014 1:37:02 GMT
Can you do one big gift that can be divided among several jars? The year I had like 8 teachers to give to, I made a batch of lemon butter and divided it among mason jars. You could do the same thing with hot chocolate mix or vanilla. Make it up now, and store it until you're ready to give.
I also saw that Sams has the EOS lip balm stuff in a 4 pack. I'm going to package it with a pair of fluffy socks and some hand lotion (Ulta, black Friday 5 for $5 deal or homemade not sure which)
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Post by christine58 on Oct 15, 2014 1:39:36 GMT
A note goes a long way.
I have never really understood about getting teacher's gifts but then, the teachers are paid quite well in Ontario and have a powerful union.
What does either have to do with this??? |
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Post by SnowWhite on Oct 15, 2014 1:43:14 GMT
What is wrong with homemade gifts, like candy or cookies? Every teacher/bus driver I know gushes over homemade gifts from the giver and drops them straight in the trash the minute they leave. I wouldn't waste your effort making anything, it's highly unlikely to be consumed, and unless it's a sealed package from a store, that might end up in the trash as well. I'd go with gift cards, even at $5 or $10, I think with a hand written note, that's a lovely gift. I'd stick with SBux and DD. |
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Oct 15, 2014 1:51:17 GMT
I usually give Subway cards. Our teachers like to stop and get a sandwich for lunch.
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Post by myshelly on Oct 15, 2014 1:59:03 GMT
What is wrong with homemade gifts, like candy or cookies? Or make a container and put store bought candy in it. I was a high school teacher and was happy with any remembrance .. Hahahaha, I feel like you haven't been around 2peas long. You've seriously missed all our epic threads on this? |
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melissa
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Post by melissa on Oct 15, 2014 2:00:29 GMT
For teacher gift cards, I always did Barnes and Noble.
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Post by mama2three on Oct 15, 2014 2:18:38 GMT
When we had 3 In elementary school, we did a lunch sandwich platter for the teachers lounge sometime in December (The secretaries would let us know what would be a good day). Sandwiches and salads from a local restaurant. It always went over well.
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 2:26:45 GMT
When we had 3 In elementary school, we did a lunch sandwich platter for the teachers lounge sometime in December (The secretaries would let us know what would be a good day). Sandwiches and salads from a local restaurant. It always went over well. That's a neat alternative. |
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Post by freecharlie on Oct 15, 2014 2:33:36 GMT
We give the gift cards to Barnes and Noble.
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TheOtherMeg
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Oct 15, 2014 2:47:53 GMT
I'm not a coffee drinker, so when I'm given SBux cards I get their hot chocolate. I'm a bit of a hot chocolate snob and even I think it's very good. I've also used the gcs for the SBux travel mugs. Those suckers don't leak!
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kate
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Post by kate on Oct 15, 2014 3:01:25 GMT
I love the idea of a big platter for all the teachers. I think a couple of cookies from the local bakery would be just fine. I was going to suggest baking until I saw your post about wanting to minimize the handmade gifts this year. Really, any token is appreciated. I love the little treats like the 2-piece Godiva boxes. I also love homemade cookies (just 2 in a baggie is a mice surprise!) I have colleagues who don't use/eat what the kids give, but most of us love it.  That said, I don't think for a second about anyone NOT giving a gift. Most of my kids don't give gifts. Consider that as an option! |
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gorgeouskid
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Post by gorgeouskid on Oct 15, 2014 3:01:27 GMT
I would prefer Staples, hands down.
I don't drink Starbucks or eat donuts.
i love post its and always need paper and correcting pens.
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Jili
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Post by Jili on Oct 15, 2014 3:26:49 GMT
You don't have to give anything. It truly is not necessary or expected.
That said... I have very generous parents. I typically receive a good amount of gift cards at the holidays, and at the end of the school year. They're pretty much all from ... Starbucks. While I appreciate the sentiment and am truly appreciative of the gesture, I really just don't like any of the drinks there. I like iced tea every now and then, but that's it. I may have over $100 in Starbucks cards at any given time. I give them to my girls to use (they like the hot chocolate, and my older dd likes a chai frappuccino). I've given them away at work to our custodians.
I feel badly about it. If you feel you'd truly like to buy gift cards, get something that is more universal, such as Amazon, Target, or Staples. I could buy picture books for my language program with an Amazon card, which I would absolutely love, because the list of books I'd like to have is a mile long.
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Post by underwatermama on Oct 15, 2014 4:09:22 GMT
Something our elementary school did which I thought was kind of cool is that they had each teacher fill out an "all about me" paper and kept it in a binder at the front desk (I think I had to ask for it). It was questions about what a teacher likes to do, eat, hobbies, etc that made picking out a gift card much easier. I think it even had favorite flowers and stuff like that on it. I would just take a photo of it on my phone and figure out gifts from that.
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Post by kristi on Oct 15, 2014 4:44:50 GMT
My daughter pays attention to see if they drink Starbucks in class. A couple of the male teachers didn't & we got them an iTunes giftcard. For the bus drivers, I got then a gift certificate to the local pizza restaurant.
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Last year we only had 4 teachers total.
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