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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do teachers actually want?

190 replies

bellarations · 10/07/2014 09:40

At the end of term?
I know teachers don't actually expect presents, but what would like they most like to receive?
Please share your thoughts and ideas.
Is a class collection a better option?

OP posts:
OnlyLovers · 10/07/2014 13:56

My DD chose a pen for her teacher. She said her teacher is always borrowing pens from the teaching assistant, so wanted to buy her one of her own. She chose a pretty one with butterflies on it as her teacher likes butterflies apparently.

That's so thoughtful Smile

wifeandmotherandlotsofother · 10/07/2014 13:57

I love a written note or card thanking me, I keep those in a little file of lovelyness so when I'm having a bad day I can cheer myself up with them.

I am also partial to cake, home made cake/biscuits etc, I loved getting those but now my daughter who is just coming to the end of her first year as a primary school teacher put me off a bit by enquiring how certain I was that the children had clean hands whilst lovingly making my cake.

highlandflingabout · 10/07/2014 13:59

We on holidays already here in Scotland, I am a teacher and got some lovely gifts, but the best was a handmade card listing the things that were great about me as a teacher. Will treasure that one.

judste · 10/07/2014 14:10

I got a box of chocs one year for both my childrens teachers, my daughters teacher then proceeded to tell the whole class she didnt like chocolate and therefore opened them then & there and let all the kids eat them, my daughter was pretty gutted

scrambled · 10/07/2014 14:13

Dd 2 has painted a small pot and we planted lavender in it, dd1 is making a papier mache desk tidy for her messy teacher!

lisej · 10/07/2014 14:16

Someone gave me a vibrator one year. Yeah. So basically, not that.

I was always just very happy and grateful that anyone thought to give me a present at all. Wine is always welcome. But the one that sticks in my memory most wasn't a present, but a Christmas card from the mum of a little girl who was a bit of a tearaway, in the SEN group and didn't have a great attitude towards school already at the age of 7. I got on very well with this girl and she started trying really hard in class. her mum wrote how lovely it was to see her really take to a teacher and look forward to going to school every day, how she was so excited to see her improving etc. It was my first year of teaching and it absolutely made my year.

ObfusKate · 10/07/2014 14:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScouseBird8364 · 10/07/2014 14:18

Oh my Lord, a Vibrator? Seriously?! How old was this child?! Shock

lisej · 10/07/2014 14:18

Also, don't forget the teaching assistants - if there's one who is regularly in your child's class, it would be lovely to write them a card or give them something small - they do such a great job and are quite badly paid.

lisej · 10/07/2014 14:19

ScouseBird - the child was 6. I'm assuming that her mum looked through her cupboard to see what she had to, um, hand.

eosmum · 10/07/2014 14:23

Dd once asked her teacher what she'd like from the class she was only 6 and very forward, she had heard her friends mum talking about it. After all the " oh nothing , just make me a card" teacher said school supplies, Sellotape, chalk (it was a few years ago), blue tack, thumb tacks etc. we got her a small voucher for herself and made a hamper of stationery for the classroom. She still says it was the best present she ever got when I see her. I'm ignoring the strike talk:)

ScouseBird8364 · 10/07/2014 14:24

Nooooo, are you kidding, seriously? I'd actually be quite worried about her mental state, I'd have to pull her and say something, as she was clearly taking the piss in some way or is actually a little mentally ill? Shock Sad

madoldbird · 10/07/2014 14:29

My DS' s class has 1 teacher and 6 TAs, so I will go for the homemade option of biscuits or similar (wrapped up nicely! ), and nice cards as well.

awsomer · 10/07/2014 14:37

Just a homemade card is enough :)
One of my favourite ever gifts though was a big batch of homemade merengues. I had them with strawberries and cream when I got home, so so tasty! (As its just egg whites and sugar it can't have cost that much, but the effort that went into it was VERY much appreciated.)

awsomer · 10/07/2014 14:41

lisej do you think the mum knew the child had bought that in? I've had a stolen suspect gift once!

UsedtobeFeckless · 10/07/2014 14:43

DS2 is leaving middle school and so has lots of teachers he wanted to thank so we had a bit of a crisis in Sainsbury's and ended up getting a card and a selection of chocs for the staff room - that way everyone can dip in or they can shove them in the Christmas raffle ... If they last that long - I reckon end of term is a tad stressy so a quick sugar hit won't go amiss! Grin

hairygodmother · 10/07/2014 15:03

I once asked my daughter's Reception teacher what her preferred presents always were and she replied, without a moment's hesitation, "Wine!". So that's what I do, for the teachers and the teaching assistants (who also deserve a thank you, having been one I know how they feel).

My 6 year old came up with a refinement this year, so we are giving the teachers wine with a hand-made label from my daughter stuck on each bottle!

Xenadog · 10/07/2014 16:19

I'm an English teacher and one of the best presents I've ever received was a lovely card and then an Oxfam donation for books to a third world school. The card had lovely, personal words and the gift was related to my subject but had more value for others than it would to me. I was delighted with it!

Catmint · 10/07/2014 16:39

I noticed that the staff all have to pay for their tea and coffee, so I have bought various tea/ coffee/ instant hot choc/ fruit tea in a cardboard box and then they can share it.

Bottle of wine for the teacher, and DD is making her a felted bookmark.

Scholes34 · 10/07/2014 16:41

They want their pensions protected and an acknowledgement that 13 weeks' holiday a year doesn't make for a cushy number!

JennyCalendar · 10/07/2014 16:43

Agree with others that a heartfelt note is the best.

My other favourites have been when the students have baked cakes that fit with the books we have studied; the perfect replica of the island from Lord of the Flies was a particular highlight.

Apart from that, I am a sucker for pens, mugs and wine (though it only seems to be the men who receive wine at my school).

Rainydayblues · 10/07/2014 16:49

Ds is currently making the bestest ever quadruple choc cookies for his teacher and the class....I'll deliver a bottle of wine or maybe a nice pen.

VioletElizabethBott · 10/07/2014 17:35

WINE is what I would want! (though probably most needed during term rather than after it!). I'm contributing to one class present, and giving wine to the other teacher (same monetary value for both). Plus I'm going to force my entirely uncrafty daughter to think of a lovely comment for both and put that in a card I've made with my child's picture on it. (she's finishing preschool so this is for nursery).

stealthsquiggle · 10/07/2014 17:45

My DC have already broken up. Teachers and TAs (DD's 2 class teacher and class TA, DS's nominated 3 teachers) each got a bottle of prosecco, in a bag that I made, with a note which the DC wrote and I didn't see so I have no idea what they said, but it was definitely personal and from them (one of DS's teachers did tell me roughly what hers said, and she appreciated it). I know for sure that they all got much more extravagant presents from others but this was a combination of what I could afford with my non existent time and effort, and some time and thought from the DC - all round, the best I could do.

odyssey2001 · 10/07/2014 18:18

If you want an honest answer, vouchers are always gratefully received. At my school, parents club together to get a local department store voucher. M&S is good because it can do food, booze, clothes etc. John Lewis is also good because of the variety. Even by yourself it will go down well.