Christmas Gift for Teachers ! - Orlando,FL

I try to avoid cash for holidays. Too often, I think it ends up going to pay the electric bill or for the kids or any other "need" rather to do what you intend - something special for her. If room mom knows her well enough, I say go with what she suggests.

If they know for sure what her favorite store is...go with a gift card for that. Somehow it just seems a tiny bit more personal that cold hard cash in a card!!! But if you aren't sure what she would like...where she would want to spend her money...either a Mastercard Gift Card that can be spent everywhere...or cash.

I'm a teacher... I'd love a nice gift card to my fav store! :-)

I think if everyone is pitching in for the gift card, I'd do it. A nice hefty gift card is nice and she can get some stuff she probably wouldn't buy for herself. In my wallet cash usually goes for things for the kids, or the occassional Starbucks, but maybe that's just me!

As long as it's not:

- mugs
- bathstuff
- scented stuff
- knick nacks

!!!

As long as you all know her favorite store, I'd say go that route :0)

Hate the everybody chips in deal.
I also don't like the cash idea.
I go with a gift card, especially if you know what her favorite store is.

The teacher will LOVE the big gift card!!!!

To me...cash is king! If she has to pay the power bill, what a wonderful gift that is.

I think a gift card is better than cash. While she might pay the power bill with the cash, at least a gift card can be used for stuff she might buy anyway and she'll have the leftover cash for the power bill.

After consumer complaints, there are now some major cards (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) WITHOUT fees or declining values. They are available for shopping malls that give the teacher a lot of choices about how she spends her money.

Another option would be to split up the donated cash into a couple of gift cards - perhaps a great restaurant, the movie multiplex, a boutique, and a mainstream store. Some clever parent could make a cute display of these cards - maybe buying one of those photo display "trees" and clipping a gift card into several of the display "branches" and maybe a "thank you" card or "from all the parents and kids of Grade 2" in the spares. This would leave her with a small tangible gift - the photo tree - as well as an assortment of gift cards. Be sure the cash amounts are listed on each gift card, either pre-printed or jotted down by the coordinating parent with a black sharpie marker. It's really frustrating to have to go to each store and ask how much is on the cards.

As a former teacher, I can tell you this would be much more fun than a lot of small trinkets that I have an obligation to display in my classroom. After a few years, the room is filled with all these well-meant but relatively useless tchochkes!

A gift card is way better. I would be tempted to spend the cash on little stuff throughout the day. And, I LOVE getting Target gift cards!

sorry,
I hate getting the email that requests each student to donate $5 or more or a gift card for the teacher- sometimes it's just too tight to even squeeze out that much. My kids make homemade cards and I do a loaf of homemade bread or some cookies.
~C.

Target is so blase'
Why don't you get a card for parent/teacher store since all the supplies teachers have to buy these days come out of their own pocket. Most people do not know this. All those little extras that benefit your lil one are not free.

Please, get her a giftcard to her favorite store!! And NOT Target! Something more personal.

If someone gave me cash I would pay a boring bill with it or Target I would buy toilet paper and vegetables!

Maybe a great bookstore, or a store where she could spend money on a hobby of hers or if shes trendy, a clothes store.

Cash is so impersonal.