Teacher Gifts - Cleveland, OH

I wouldn't worry about the gifts. If there is one special teacher, you could give a gift certicate or a baked good.

As an end of the year gift for my son's teachers, I gave each of them chocolate covered strawberries that I made myself. They were a hit. I really didn't want to give them a "nick-nack" as teachers get so many of these. I bought the kind of chocolate that comes in wafers in a cup that you melt right in the cup in the microwave. I dipped the strawberries in the chocolate then placed them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate. (I used milk chocolate and white chocolate). It was so easy and inexpensive. The local candy store wanted $14.95/pound for their chocolate strawberries. I don't think I spent even half of that for everything I bought.

I'm a teacher. We acquire a lot of "things" from students every year. Although the thought behind each gift is greatly appreciated, we have very little space. A simple handmade card or a single flower picked from outside your house means just has much as anything else.

Hello. I'm not sure teacher gifts are absolutely necessary but I understand your wanting to give them something as a "Thank You". To keep things cheaper since you have 6 plus teachers, have you thought about having your son do a craft/drawing for them as a thank you. You can go to Hobby Lobby or Joanns/Michaels, etc. and buy some sort of craft, like making a candle or something like that. If they are women you could do the candle or make a beaded bracelet or, even cheaper, buy some construction paper to make a "Thank You" card and have him draw the pictures and you write a thank you note from the parent. Just an idea.

Hi C.,
I am a mobile spa consultant where I bring the day spa to women's homes where I focus on spa, personalized skincare and anti-aging treatments. One of our spa treatments is the extreme repair hand therapy and teachers LOVE it. I have a lot of sales for this product, it deeply moisturizes and doesn't come off with a normal hand washing so it really sinks in. We sell it in two different sizes 1 oz and 3 oz, so different prices points would work too so that you can stay within your budget and allow you to get maybe the 3oz for the main teachers and the 1 oz for the secondary teachers. Just a thought, please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way!
Have a great day,
J.

PS I come from a family of teachers and they really don't expect anything they just like to be appreciated like that other women said, I card would let them know that you care.

My mom is retiring from teaching 2nd grade this year. I have asked her what she appreciates most and she said, hands down, it's a letter of commendation sent to the principal and the school board. She likes the gifts and gift cards and home-made stuff to, but if she got just one thing from each student, she'd take the letter every time. Send a copy in a thank you card to the teachers so they know it's been sent to high-ups.

I am a teacher and the gift that I find most meaningful is a letter or picture done by the student. Something handmade from the heart means so much more than something bought by mom or dad. I hope this helps!!!

Wow, that is a lot of teachers for 2nd grade! I am a teacher myself (jr high), and we never expect gifts. You don't want to buy the teacher something that will go in the junk pile. Gift cards to teacher supply stores, office supply stores, even a restaurant! It wouldn't have to be very much to be appreciated. I would give gifts to those teachers that your child had a special connection. Otherwise, you will go broke!

I was thinking of getting the teachers for my 2 boys a card and making some friendship bread. I would think that anything edible would be welcome.

Our elementary school discourages parents from giving gifts to the teachers (even at Christmas!), but recommends if you want to give a gift to give a book that would be appropriate for the classroom. (The school has a lot of Scholastic Book Fairs and recommends selecting a book from there for the classroom as a gift for the teacher.)

Hi C.,
My mother is a retired teacher and end of the year gifts are not necessary. What she appreciated most was a face to face thank you from the parents. Christmas gifts are enough. I can tell you the Christmas gifts she still charishes are ornaments. You can't go wrong giving those. She still decorates her tree with them.

Hi C.:
I know exactly what you're going thru! First of all, you shouldn't feel like you have to do something. Second, a hand made note from your child would be wonderful. And if you don't care for the teacher then, by all means, don't give that one a gift!!

What I've done for the ones we really like is given a small potted plant, Violets are very reasonably priced, or a small bouquet of fresh flowers with a card. Even a plate of home-made cookies they like has gone over very well. These are all things we've done and have been well received. Good Luck!

Gifts for teachers often are not used and/or needed by the teacher. My suggestion is to donate a book for the school library in the name of the second grade teachers with year that the donation was made.You can print your own label for inside the book.
______ has donated this book in appreciation of his second grade teachers. May 21, 2009
Another suggestion in these green times is to donate a tree to the school in appreciation and a small tag can be attached with the same donated information.
Both are useful and will benefit other children and the environment

Hi C.,
I don't think a gift is expected at all at the end of the year. As a teacher, we get lots of little gifts & the thought is ALWAYS appreciated, but not expected. One thing most teachers enjoy are those little hand sanitizers from Bath & Body Works ~ we're always washing our hands! My daughter is in 2nd grade & a collection is being taken & a big class gift is being given ~ either a bracelet or a gift certificate to a store the teacher likes. Maybe you & some other parents can go in on a gift.
Good luck!

Bake cookies & send them in tins. It isn't expensive, easy to carry into the school but it's always appreciated.

Make life easy and have your son pick out some plants at the store. You know the ones that are 4 to 6 a tray. Have him color or put their names on a styrofoam cup and put a plant in each one for the teachers. It won't cost a fortune, and they can plant it in their yards or on their patio pots at home.
I liked to give coupons at the local coffee shops but when it got to the place where there were more than 3 teachers it got to be foolish and more than my strained budget can handle.

Hello! I didn't have time to read all of the responses so sorry if my answer is a repeat!

I am a teacher and gifts are not expected. However, if you would like to do something, here are some ideas:

1) a heartfelt card of appreciation from you & your child-this means SO much!

2) a giftcard ($5-$10) is great-my favs are restaurants, stores like Target or Kohls, or even towards a salon for a manicure/pedicure

3) 2 Moms gave me Tastefully Simple products for Christmas-loved it!

Those are just a few ideas! But really, a card from your child would be just fine to show you are thankful-plus it teaches your child a nice lesson in thanking those who help you.

I DO NOT think you should even consider the special teachers unless your child has had some kind of a special relationship w/ him or her, they've helped him thru something or your child is gifted in that area - maybe brought out some gifts &/or talents you were surpised about & maybe not aware of. I CERTAINLY don't think it's necessary.

Being a former "special" teacher myself......I DO NOT think this is expected.

This year, Abbie (6) wanted to paint plates for her teacher (reverse glass painting). She CHOSE her teacher, the teacher's assistant and the art teacher. Abbie is gifted in art and has had some projects out at school functions, in the library, etc. She's helped her to develop her talents and she's really enjoyed her. SO, we're doing these three.

If your child WANTS to do one for one of the special teachers, let him. DON'T worry about all or none. Teachers understand that some kids are into one thing or another more than another. All kids won't love or be good at art, or music or anything else. Let your child choose.

These plates & acrylics can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. You can even by kits. We've done bowls, too. EASY to do and fun, too.

I LOVE books. We also are giving a book to her teacher for the classroom. Teachers can ALWAYS use great books to share w/ their kids.

I sell Scentsy candles and they are the most awesome teacher gifts because they can burn these in their classroom. They are wickless candles and use a 25 watt light bulb to heat them. They are so safe to use that they only get to 125 degrees and will not severly burn someone like other candles will. My son's teacher last year loves them and now orders more Scentsy bars from me because she loves it so much. I'm doing the same for my son's teacher this year as well. If you are interested in seeing what Scentsy has to offer visit my website: www.scentsy.com/kywickless

As a retired teacher, I can tell you that no gift is necessary at Christmas or at the end of the year. I taught for over thirty years and received many "things" that I am sure people stressed over and I appreciated the thought and effort that went into each one. The only things I still have and cherish are the Christmas ornaments and the thank you notes from parents. I made a scrapbook of those notes and the letters I received from students years after they left. Those really mean the most.

I don't think that teacher gifts are necessary past pre-school. Have the kids write thank-you notes for the teachers they like. They can decorate them in any way they want, if they want.
You could also purchase a bouquet of flowers and then let them give one to each teacher along with the card. Or buy those little sample boxes of chocolates.
It really is the thought that counts here.

As a former third grade teacher, gifts are appreciated but definitely not necessary. Does he have all 6 different teachers for the same amount of time, or is one of them his primary teacher and the others for art, music, etc.? I had the kids that I taught almost everything to, but then we did switch science and social studies. I usually got something small from most of the kids in my class, but not anything from the kids I only taught science to. So depending on your situation, you may not need to get all six teachers gifts. Nor do you need to get any of them anything if you don't want to.

I will say the best gifts that I ever received came from the heart. I still have and will always keep letters that some parents or students wrote me that were very sweet and special. Knowing you appreciate them and all the hard work they have done is really what matters.

Some cool but relatively inexpensive gifts I got were pots decorated by the student, a mug with candy in it, a book donated for the classroom library, and a little plastic bowl with a blockbuster gift card for one movie rental, bag of microwave popcorn, and a box of junior mints with a note that said, "Movie Night at home on us."