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.
One advantage (or maybe disadvantage) of being friends with the teacher's husband is I have a bit more knowlege of her likes and dislikes than other moms might.
But instead of that "inside info" being a help, I find it to actually be a bit of a hindrance.
In preschool and kindergarten, my children painted a clay pot and we planted a geranium for their teacher in it. Then they made a card and we enclosed a Barnes and Nobel gift card in it.
From my older children, they make a card and we put in a gift card.
As a former teacher, let me give you a couple of words of advice.
1. Something made by the child is always better. I haven't taught for 10 years, but those are the gifts I kept. they help me remember each of those children.
2. Gift cards are great!
3. Don't forget those teachers who teach things like art and music and see your child a couple of times a week. Maybe not a gift card - esp. if your budget is tight, but a hand made card from your child will be appreciated!
I agree with your assessment regarding the establishment and the unions, but you are right - there are still some excellent holdouts, if one looks for them.
I am not at all anti-homeschooling, in fact I think it's a wonderful concept - for the right people. I'm not one of those people. And I realized that early on.
Howdy! I used to teach, and I didn't like to receive gifts from the kids. I loved teaching and didn't feel like a parent should feel they had to give me something for doing what I loved. I did receive some nice ones though. Please, no mugs! I got a $10 gift certificate from one of the bath shops in the mall which was nice. I also liked getting small plants. One girl gave me a flower pot that she painted with a picture, her name and date. I still use it 8 years later!
That is the best site ever.
In the Homeschool/public school debate, often people overlook a couple of other alternatives: parochial or private schools.
If you like your public school, great! But if you don't and homeschooling isn't for you, look at your local parochial and private schools. Many parochial schools have a policy of not turning anyone away on the basis of their ability to pay. Their teachers are really committed and you can 'shop' for a school where the values and curriculum matches your families ideals.
Private schools are out of my area of expertese, sorry to say.
Gift giving is one of my favorite subjects!
Three stores I like online are
http://www.heatherbmoore.com
http://www.zappos.com
http://www.jamesavery.com
Heather Moore is unique handmade jewelry that is enameled...I love it!
Zappos is the best place to buy shoes. You pay no tax and there is always free 2 day shipping. Sometimes your order is on your doorstep the next day.
James Avery is headquartered here in the beautiful hill country and has one of the most extensive lines of christian based jewelry around. They have things for teachers too. They are priced well too.
I could go on and on about shopping online because thats the only way I do it anymore.
Gabz, have you thought about a gift certificate to a local restaurant or department store?
I agree, that handmade/homemade is always great!
Plants seem to be a big hit with the folks here. And I really like the idea of the pots being hand decorated.
Hi! It's nice here, too.
We bought a kit at target to make picture frames ... precut cardstock frames, and different decor thingies to stick on them. Billy, Tom, and Elen made them for their Sunday School teachers, who all liked them very much.
James and I painted a clay pot and gave our old Sister a colorful celosia for her desk.
Gifts of food are always good - plate of cookies, sweetbread, or something - because they get used up quickly.
Rubber stamps. One year I got rubber stamps for each of the preschool teachers.
Believe me - we looked into every possibility and was by no stretch of the imagination a frivolous decision. We actually started discussing where she would start school before she was even 3.
At the outset we knew we would have to move - for many reasons other than just school. We looked into the Catholic and other faith based schools in and around where we lived, but I wasn't real thrilled with any of them........and to cover the tuition would have meant my going back to work fulltime, which we didn't want. Even the charter schools had huge long waiting lists.
So we started looking outside of the area we lived. And 2 years ago moved from Delaware to Virginia. Moving, of course is not an option for most folks, but because of the nature of this region it was actually beneficial to my husband's work. We may be 2 states away from where we used to live, but it's only 2 hours and my husband had been servicing clients in this area anyway. Now that there is a member of the team down here, his manager has been seeking out more and more clients down here, and hubby is travelling north less and less.
Every situation has its pros and cons and we must each make the best of the situation we find ourselves.
We also like to make the cookies in a jar with the recipe. It's nice because if company comes unexpected there is something sweet to make in the pantry.
I will check out those links this afternoon - thanks!!!
I like the idea of gift certificate - BUT (and it's a big BUT) I've got no clue about appropriate amounts and thus feel awkward about doing it.
I get the flylady emails everyday - but often don't have the time to get through all of them, but have gotten some nifty hints.
All of the ideas everyone has been passing around are wonderful.
I'm actually ging to be printing this thread out and make copies of it for 2 of my friends. It was a conversation with them that prompted this topic!
The weather has finally decided to cooperate enough (first time on a friday in AGES) that we are actually going to do our date time this afternoon over on Chincoteague Island at one of our favorite places that has an outside bar with tables right on the water!!!
Yeah - I think spring has finally arrived!!
I will be back later on this afternoon!!!!
Sometimes teachers get useless gifts, but appreciated, We usually try and find out what types of resturants they like and give gift certificates.
Attaching a nice card( expressing thanks and have lunch/ dinner on me seems to work.) & creative display of money has always been appreciated and they can enjoy as they please I used to think giving money was a thoughtless but...Kids like to give teachers unsual gifts. Just did a picket-fence box with fake plants and money tree with godiva chocolate coins as flower bed.
For the teachers, I usually give them a gift certificate. The one I like the best is to the local mall. It works at stores and restaurants in the mall. There's a Border's bookstore, Macy's Department Store, Cheesecake Factory Restaurant, and more. I figure they can find something they like there. I also sometimes give them little flower or plant arrangements (under $5) so that my kids can hand those to the teachers.
I have a real hard time with gifts also. I'm a computer geek, and I like gadgets. Other people don't like gadgets. The worst to buy for are my parents! I never know what to get them.
When the kids were in grade school I had all the students complete a Teacher Journal done on specialty paper..10 fill in the blank form: I like Ms B because
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