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Post by whopea on Oct 15, 2014 13:39:12 GMT
For those who give teacher gifts, what grade do you stop? I know some stop after elementary when one teacher per kid ceases to be the norm. If you continue to give in jr high, do you give something to each teacher (science, math, music, gym, art, history, language) or just the homeroom teacher and those that go above and beyond for your child?
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Post by melanell on Oct 15, 2014 13:42:29 GMT
When I was a kid, I gave larger gifts in elementary and smaller gifts in middle. So that's what I am doing now. I personally only gave cards in high school, and only to my favorites. But I can recall some kids bringing in small amount of candies or flowers even for high school teachers. And if DS wants to continue to give some gifts in high school, I'd encourage that. The high school teachers deserve a little extra sometimes, too.  |
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Post by LAM88 on Oct 15, 2014 13:46:57 GMT
I'm hoping now that my boys are in high school that you all say high school is when you stop.
ETA - I should add that I gave gifts in middle school because my boys went to a private school and had the same team of 4 teachers for 2 years so I couldn't NOT get them a gift.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Oct 15, 2014 13:48:02 GMT
Alison entered middle school this year. I'll help her make something if she wants, but I can't do $20-range gifts anymore like I have in the past. She has 7 teachers, plus a homeroom teacher (they rarely go to homeroom after the first 2 weeks of school) and extra band directors.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Oct 15, 2014 13:51:28 GMT
The norm in my family was that once multiple teachers came into play (junior high) only the favourites got gifts.
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gorgeouskid
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,517 
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Post by gorgeouskid on Oct 15, 2014 13:54:28 GMT
We would have stopped in fifth grade (sixth is middle school,) but DS hated his fifth grade teacher and refused to bring her a gift. I donated to the class gift card.
Now that he's in middle school, I just send Costco containers of paper towels, kleenex, dry erase markers, Lysol wipes, and reams of paper. That's what teachers truly NEED! And if you're sending to me, post its, lots of post its.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 15, 2014 14:06:12 GMT
We stopped once he was out of elementary school. In Elem, he had his teacher, plus the 2 latch key ladies. I have never seen anyone give a gift to a MS or HS teacher. (doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just that I haven't seen or heard about it, and DS would probably say something). In MS, there is no homeroom, and in HS, you go to homeroom exactly twice - once on the first day of school to get your final schedule, and once on the first day of second semester to get your final schedule, so that isn't an issue.
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Post by whopea on Oct 15, 2014 14:09:24 GMT
We would have stopped in fifth grade (sixth is middle school,) but DS hated his fifth grade teacher and refused to bring her a gift. I donated to the class gift card. Now that he's in middle school, I just send Costco containers of paper towels, kleenex, dry erase markers, Lysol wipes, and reams of paper. That's what teachers truly NEED! And if you're sending to me, post its, lots of post its. LOL!  I do try to send in class supplies. |
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Post by bc2ca on Oct 15, 2014 14:14:36 GMT
Starting with MS, I send a thank you note to teachers that had an impact or special relationship with my child. This goes out at the end of the year and might include a Starbucks/Restaurant/Movie card (something that is not for the classroom). During the semester I will gift all teachers something off their wish list (all our teachers have them) for the classroom. I usually do it near the beginning of the year and send a note wishing them a great year. These gifts are not expensive and most are picked up at the Back to School sales. Tissues, wipes & paper towels are always on everyone's lists too. My DD's HS recently moved into a new building and with it came updated wishlists with items ranging from Expo pens & erasers to tissues to photocopiers  . Yes, one of her teachers had 2 photocopiers on the list (one for student use, one for the teacher). Back in elementary school in WA we almost always did a larger "class" gift, giving something like a microwave to the teacher, so I don't think the photocopier is that outrageous, but it did make me laugh when I saw it at the end of the list of small ticket items. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 14:19:54 GMT
My children were the gift givers. I think my son gave a case of root beer to one of his highschool teachers.
My daughter did gifts once. A travel pillow to her dance teacher and socks to the others dance instructors. She never wanted to give any other gifts.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:07:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 14:19:58 GMT
If they have one main teacher, sure, a gift. If they have 7, no.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Oct 15, 2014 14:42:26 GMT
Only K-6th grade when they have one primary teacher. Not after that. Some of the stories I have read on here and the gift giving to teachers is just crazy!! That does not get done around here. I know alot of the teachers k-6 get a ton of bath stuff, and GCs, and it's just alot of stuff they don't need or use. We tended to give GS to like the bookstore, or the gas station. ha. stuff we knew they would use.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by anniebeth24 on Oct 15, 2014 14:49:06 GMT
My DD wanted to give gifts in high school, so we gave homemade hard candy in tins or beer bread mix to all six teachers. DS would not want to call that kind of attention to himself, so he hasn't given anything!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 15, 2014 15:02:43 GMT
Most of the teachers I know personally would rather have practical things for the classroom that they would otherwise have to buy out of pocket instead of a gift such as candy, mugs, ornaments, etc. LOL, I have one friend that got so many apple shaped/themed ornaments over the 5 years or so that she had been teaching that she decorated a whole 7' tall tree with them! When I commented on it, she sighed and said, "If I never get another apple Christmas ornament for the rest of my life, I'd be totally okay with that!" DD is in preschool this year. She has two lead teachers and FOUR paras in her classroom, so that would be six teachers if they all got a gift.  We have already stepped up and donated a big pack of napkins and a giant pack of paper cups to her class, and school has only been in session for a little over a month! I think if we do anything, it will be something like Post-It notes, blank on the inside note cards, boxes of Kleenex or something else they can use in the classroom. |
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Post by epeanymous on Oct 15, 2014 15:38:53 GMT
For my one kid who is past elementary school, we stopped at the end of elementary school.
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I do try to send in class supplies.
. Yes, one of her teachers had 2 photocopiers on the list (one for student use, one for the teacher). Back in elementary school in WA we almost always did a larger "class" gift, giving something like a microwave to the teacher, so I don't think the photocopier is that outrageous, but it did make me laugh when I saw it at the end of the list of small ticket items.
We have already stepped up and donated a big pack of napkins and a giant pack of paper cups to her class, and school has only been in session for a little over a month! I think if we do anything, it will be something like Post-It notes, blank on the inside note cards, boxes of Kleenex or something else they can use in the classroom. 