Teachers - what would you really like as an end of year present?

[DilysPrice]

DD has ASD and her teacher and TAs have all gone absolutely above and beyond the normal call of duty this year to motivate her. From being a very demotivated child she's made big strides which they've all rejoiced in.

I always give little presents at the end of the year, but this year I really want to choose something that expresses how much I appreciate all they've done (along with a hand made card from DD of course).

So what would you really like? Money no big deal from my point of view, I'm torn between the desire not to be ostentatious and the feeling that the private school teachers shouldn't have the monopoly on nice perks.

[spanieleyes]

For my children not to leave

[clam]

Wine.
Mugs.
Candles.
Flowers.
Pot plants.
Vouchers.

NO CHOCOLATES!!!!!


Thank you!

[MyDingaling]

I know not everybody likes these but I do!!!
willowtree.info/gifts/graduates-teachers

[bobala]

I love it when parents write a nice note in their card - I have kept all of them in 20 years teaching and still enjoy looking back at them and remembering their children. No chocs or wine - flowers are lovely and I personally like handmade things - I have had mugs, cakes, jam and biscuits over the years made by children - much more personal than shop bought things.

[DilysPrice]

Flowers and handmade baking I can do happily, wine and chocs are not universally acceptable I agree so I always steer clear of them.

The big question is, would you rather have flowers and a box of handmade biscuits than (say) a Tiffany pendant?

[Oakmaiden]

I love the Happiness one, dingaling. And they sell them in Argos.

[gordongrumblebum]

A note from parents will do me fine.

And if they want to give something..
wine or amazon voucher, flowers

No
candles, chocs, biscuits, bulbs, smellies, 'my best teacher' stuff, scarves, homemade things.

So.... as people mainly give what I don't realy like or need... a note of appreciation tops my list anyday.

[Teachermumof3]

Wine or lovely letters :)

Please-no ornaments, earrings, mugs, teddy bears, bath crystals or snow globes!

[mrz]

A simple thank you is always appreciated

[Oakmaiden]

Really no homemade things?

My children love making things for their teachers. I mean - I don't expect the teacher to treasure them deeply - but.... Last year my daughter painted a mug for her teacher, and it was not fantastic - but she thought hard about what she wanted to give her teacher and spent time doing it for her. And even though it is not the most charming mug in the world, I rather thought it might be handy for in the staffroom (where experience tells me mugs vanish from on a regular basis).

And my son made fudge for his teacher.

[ZhenXiang]

I like homemade stuff from the kids, cards etc... Whatever I'm given, it is the thought that counts and as mrz said a simple thank you would suffice (they are often thin on the ground these days).

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Not flowers! Because teachers go on holiday too, and if younger then they go home fir the holidays. Something longer lasting.
I liked giving iTunes vouchers so they could chose some music to enjoy.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

I like homemade cards and nice notes. As a pp said, I keep all these.

I would far rather the biscuits than the pendant. Don't like those willow tree things at all. Mugs are useful.

If you sent biscuits in a couple of weeks before the end of term, to be put in the staffroom, they would be very much appreciated I think.

[camicaze]

I always keep the cards that have something really special written in them.

Not candles, smellies...

[jolufc]

www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped-educators/OU5057ED?intcmp=shop_ouhub_list2_teachateacher_191110

[LadyMacnet]

or Amazon vouchers is fantastic.

Even better is cards / notes / letters from the children and / or their parents. I work in a secondary school and many of my colleagues adorn their offices and desks with the thank yous that students or their parents have written them.

[kalo12]

all presents appreciated. wine, bath cremes etc, choc and bics fine although teachers tend to get loads of these all time and not good when trying to be healthy, only thing i would veto is those best teacher teddies and soft toys

[UnSerpentQuiCourt]

Flowers, pot plants, home-made cakes etc. Nothing too personal as tastes differ. Last year I received a bottle of 'cleanser for oily skin'. My favourite present - crafty materials so that dd and I could make candles at Christmas.

[magicmummy1]

We are doing the oxfam unwrapped thing this year - I hope that this will let the teacher know how much we value what they do. DD has also written and illustrated a story - her initiative, but appropriate in view of all the progress that her teacher has helped her make this year.

We'll also be sending in a note of thanks from DH and me, as well as one from dd.

[asdx2]

I made a donation to the autism unit ds has just left and put it in with a letter telling of my appreciation. The head of the unit was really touched when he phoned to thank me and it will be spent on equipment (they'll let me know what when they have decided) that will benefit present and future students and be a reminder of ds.I did send flowers and wine for the head and TAs too though.

[Goblinchild]

What bobala said.

[ragged]

What do people write in their cards? I mean, what sounds nice but not arse-licking? Am really struggling here.

[asdx2]

Well I write my heartfelt thanks for the support they have given but that's because my youngest have statements and so I work closely with the teacher and TAs.
For my others I have sent a simple note thanking them for all the hard work and leave the kids to write their own notes. Some of the more memorable ones have been "The work was good, the games were great, the ties and the jokes were awful" and "I loved the dancing best. Have you ever thought of becoming a ballerina?"

[spanieleyes]

I still have the cards on my fireplace the children gave me for running the Easter school, why would I want anything other than a thank you?

[HappyMummyOfOne]

A nice card and thank you note plus something either personal to them (ie they like costume jewellery, pretty scarves etc) or wine/vouchers.

I know most dont like cheap smellies, anything with teacher on, ornaments and lots dont like homemade cooking I recall from previous threads. Mugs seem to be popular on here but in the past i've seen they get too many too physically use.

I personally dont like charity gifts as they are more about the person giving than the receiver. Giving to charity is a personal decision, not everybody supports the same charity.