Posted on 05/27/2005 7:04:55 AM PDT by Gabz
Good morning all!!!!!!
Giving appropriate gifts to various people has always been a difficult thing for me - I don't know why, because I truly enjoy giving gifts, but I just have the dickens of a time deciding who and what.
I realize many of you homeschool, and for others school is already out, but I've still got 2 weeks to go before school gets out and beieve it is customary to give a small token of appreciation to the teachers.
I'm wondering how you all handle such situations, and not just teachers at the end of school, but others at other times, such as Christmas.
Howdy all!!!!!!!!!
The weather is actually lovely here for a change!!!
Howdy all!!!!!!!!!
The weather is actually lovely here for a change!!!
Gift certificats to bookstores or on line retailers are always appreciated.
WOW! Thanks - that's something I never even thought of.
Hobbit Lass made baskets to give to her special teachers. She signed her name and date on the bottom. Her third grade teacher still uses hers to keep bread in. The baskets will last a life time.
I'm keeping that link - thanks!!!
We always get a nice plant and insert a wire tree in the middle and attached money (money tree)and blend in the green leaves in wires to cover. Sometimes just get a clay pot and weight it down put silver dollars and the paper money (clipped at middle to form leaves), put in a clear gift bag.
Or buy a small fake tree and attach money to end of leaves . I use these all the time for teens who seem to think money grows on trees. My son who is 21 still enjoys his "money tree"
I buy Yankee Candles for my kids teachers as a gift. One of my twins teacher will not be getting anything, tough. She was about as friendly as Cruella DeVille.
That's another great idea!!!!!
I knew I could count on everyone round the table for great ideas!
I guess I'm weird or something - but giving money always makes me squeamish - especially to adults.
Ooh... don't think I ever gave a gift, while the kids were still in government reeducation camps.
Now, in retrospect, if I'd known she'd prove to be such an exception, I kind of wish I had given a gift to the one good teacher my daughter had -- like in either Kindergarten or first grade. It's amazing what that woman did with that bunch of short people.
Dan
One of the PTA fundraisers this year was Yankee Candles - bought one for my SIL, but never thought to stockpile a few of them - oh well, there is always next year :)
Knock on wood, so far I haven't run into any of the Cruella deVille type teachers, yet!
You're welcome.
Good Morning Gabz and everyone!
I try to keep the clutter factor down with teacher/staff gift giving. I have given baggies of wildflower seed wrapped in pretty fabric...got the seed mixture in bulk from outsidepride.com. Orange jelly bellies in a carrot shaped bag, and other types of candy, also have done gourmet popcorn. Two days ago I gave our girl scout leaders hanging pots with a beautiful vining portulaca. I'm going to get something similar for the two pre-K teachers. Hmmmm....there's gotta be more ideas in my brain somewhere, but I haven't had enough caffeine to shake them out....will check in later! :)
Oh! I just thought of something....flylady.com usually has a section on ideas for clutter-free gift giving, I've gleaned a lot from that. I'm glad you brought this up, I need to think of something for my older kids' teachers and staff.
I remember my mother getting gifts for my and my brother's teachers when we were in grade school and thinking back on it, it seems to me they were easier to find something for - they were primarily nuns :)
My daughter adores hers 1st grade teacher (who was also her kindergarten teacher) and the feeling is mutual. What makes it a bit awkward for me, is that her husband in a social friend of me and my husband, but our relationship with her is on a more professional level.
Her 2nd grade reading teacher is another great gal - who keeps telling me she wants my daughter for her own because she only has sons :)
I realize public school is not for everyone, but so far I have nothing to complain about - although I have no intentions of ever becoming complacent about it.
Plants, and a note about children growing and nourishing them.
For Christmas I like to give votive candles in different scents.
With 3 kids we have to stay cheap. The kids can help with the plants, whether from seeds or cuttings, and it means more then.
I haven't been to the flylady.com site in a while - I'll check it out later this afternoon.
I totally understand the clutter free concept for gifts - I just wish I could get the concept in my head for my own life :)
Last year I found these really neat sundae/parfait cups/bowls - the insulated plastic kind that you put in the freezer before using and filled them with cookies.
I was very pro-public-school and anti-HS, candidly.
It took a few years of PSing completely to turn me around.
I'm sure there are some excellent holdouts, working under the radar. But I think the establishment, and unions, are making it increasingly hard for them to survive.
Dan
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