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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Best teacher present

28 replies

JennyBlueWren · 05/07/2019 19:08

I've often seen and contributed to threads about teacher presents for end of the year. Our school in Scotland broke up today (most did last week) and I received boxes of chocolates, pots and bunches of flowers and stationary. I loved it all.

But the best present was a book a child made for me. A book about me and what a super teacher I am. As in me having super powers linked to teaching. She even "laminated" it with sellotape to protect it from my children.

By all means give your teacher chocolates, drink or flowers but if your child has the best teacher tell them so -not with a "best teacher" pen or comercially produced card but with something the child makes for their teacher that they think their teacher will love.

The chocolates will be eaten, the plants may survive but that little 6 page book will be treasured for ever! (Along with the several personal messages written in cards.)

However, next year's class will be getting double spelling lessons!

OP posts:
daphine2004 · 05/07/2019 19:14

That’s adorable! I actually asked my son’s Teacher and she said nothing but if you do want to do something a lovely home made card.

So we are making a card and I’m going to buy some flower seeds as we know she has green fingers. Just a little token thank you for hard work she has put in.

MatildaTheCat · 05/07/2019 19:19

I read about a little boy who insisted on buying his teacher an Action Man because he liked her so much. That’s just adorable.

Original poster
JennyBlueWren · 05/07/2019 20:28

I love when a child thinks of something THEY want to give because they want to say thank you and good bye.

OP posts:
Epcar · 05/07/2019 22:45

Double spelling lessons. I hope someone will teach them that "stationary" is the wrong homophone to talk about writing materials.

Becles · 05/07/2019 23:01

A card made by the child with a drawing. Failing that:

Vouchers for stationery or a coffee shop chain / amazon. NO HOME MADE FOOD or plants or anything generic with teacher on it. That's going straight in the bin or charity shop.

LostInNorfolk · 05/07/2019 23:04

Double spelling lessons. I hope someone will teach them that "stationary" is the wrong homophone to talk about writing materials.

Well you are the ray of sunshine aren't you? How does it feel to be the misery on the thread?

Plus homophone means each two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling and the op was spelling and not pronouncing.

Epcar · 06/07/2019 02:26

@LostInNorfolk What are you on about?

I wouldn't normally comment on a small slip, but to be professing to be an amazing teacher, criticising the kids' lack of accuracy in a card, and then failing to get something really simple right, is a bit rich.

A homophone is a completely different word with its own meaning, which is spelled differently from one which sounds the same: homo=same, phone=sound. OP mixed the spellings up because they sound the same when pronounced.

Seahorseshoe · 06/07/2019 03:08

Special needs mum here. Grown up DD leaving this school. She can't write or draw - hellllp. She has 2/1 care at all times, lots of TA's to buy for too as she's leaving this year. I'm stumped. These educators have gone above and beyond for years (still in nappies, violent meltdowns). I just don't know what to get. Also one TA has been especially helpful for years - can I pick her out of the other TA's as a favourite without hurting feelings?? I will probably have 10 people to get for.

Catbot · 06/07/2019 06:49

Seahorseshoe would your daughter be able to do a hand print or finger print that you could turn into a card?

mummypie17 · 06/07/2019 07:20

In my previous school, I received chocolates and wine for Christmas and end of term. However, in my current school I get hand-made Christmas cards and drawings

luckylavender · 06/07/2019 07:28

Sorry but posting about what am amazing teacher you are (by default), in AIBU for traffic & spelling stationery incorrectly is pretty bad. Look at me, look at me.

Muddlingalongalone · 06/07/2019 07:30

Glad the children's own ideas are appreciated. Doesn't make the box of green biros dd1 insisted on getting at Christmas seem so bad now!!

OpportunityKnocks · 06/07/2019 07:33

@seahorseshoe what about a card where she can record a verbal message?

MumOfDiamonds · 06/07/2019 07:38

My DD is currently in Y6 so this is her final year before secondary. She's a bit creative and is currently practicing calligraphy. I bought her some cheap picture frames (£1.25 each) and she is currently making water colour splashes with lovely teacher quotes for her teachers.

NCforthis2019 · 06/07/2019 07:43

😂 - dear oh dear.

rainbowstardrops · 06/07/2019 07:55

When my DS left junior school (so year 6), we bought a notebook type thing and on each page, he wrote something or drew a picture or stuck photos in that corresponded to each letter of her name.

So for instance, say her name was Miss Smith, on the first page he wrote a big 'M' and wrote some of his favourite memories of being in her class.

On the second page he wrote a big 'I' and wrote inspirational quotes and so on and so on.

It took a while to complete but she said it was one of the loveliest gifts she'd ever received.

LellyMcKelly · 06/07/2019 07:56

To the people banging on about someone using the wrong stationary - Jesus, get over yourself. It’s not the end of the world and you knew what she meant. The thread it not about spelling or grammar as you well know. Stop trying to derail it just because you know what homophone means.

WoollyMummoth · 06/07/2019 08:02

Before opening this tread my first thought was something made by the child, a card or a piece of ‘art’. As lovely as it is to receive shed loads of chocolate it’s the special personal messages I love best. And yes, please god nothing with the generic best teacher ever on it.Sorry they do tend to go to charity or the bin.

TabbyMumz · 06/07/2019 08:04

I think it's very presumptuous of teachers to think they should get presents at all.

dentydown · 06/07/2019 08:09

My son was especially worried that he hasn’t got his teachers anything (he has autism) so we got Parker pens (on offer from amazon) and post it notes. They did say they were happy with them. (I suppose pens go for walkies a lot in schools, and post it notes are always used!)
My other son didn’t want to get them anything. Very adamant about that. “Why do I get them presents for shouting at me?”. I respected his wishes on that.

My eldest son made a bracelet for his teacher when he was in reception. Plastic pony beads and alphabet beads with her name “miss xxxxxx”. She treasured it apparently!

Littlebluebird123 · 06/07/2019 08:15

@TabbyMumz

?
She didn't presume. She received presents. She said the loveliest one was hand made.

She made the point that although it is lovely to receive a gift, no-one does the job for the gifts.

But to know you've made a difference is special - and a hand made card or message shows that.

If you don't want to say thank you with a present (or at all) then don't.

Epcar · 06/07/2019 08:54

@LellyMcKelly

Itbecame about spelling in the OP as soon it said they (the children abnd gift givers) needed double spelling lessons!

It was implied that these children, who were providing gifts for their teacher, were spelling inaccurately in them. But the teacher is responsible for teaching children spelling! And the teacher made a mistake that it's understandable for children to make (like they're, their and there, the words sound the same in ordinary use until you know they're different words with different meanings and their own spellings).

It's less acceptable for a qualified teacher not to know the difference.

Unless, perhaps, OP didn't get any pens and bits and pieces after all. Maybe the children gave her the gift of sitting still for once! 😊

crocsaretoocoolforschool · 06/07/2019 09:14

@Seahorseshoe

Totally ok to single out 1 person who has worked with your young person for years -some people may mutter but that's their problem not yours

When pupils are as complex as your daughter sounds the relationship we build up with them over time is thanks from her, and reward in itself -it's why we do the job we do

-recognition from parents is highly valued. Often we only see parents once or twice a year and all other communication is fairly remote (home/school books, emails etc)

A card with a note about impact, a letter to the head, a treat that the team can share are all very well received and a lovely surprise as they are never expected

Pinkyyy · 06/07/2019 09:20

Shouldn't have posted in AIBU, OP. Everyone's a savage😂

Seahorseshoe · 06/07/2019 11:52

Thanks so much for the feedback. She is non verbal, but I love the handprint idea. Crocs that's really useful to know, this TA has been with her for years and is very emotional about her leaving. I'd intended to write to the head about how amazing and supportive they've been. ALL the TA's have worked hard with her, which is why I hope I don't offend by singling her out, but she's been with her for 7 years.