Christmas presents for teachers

[Sparkler1]

What will you be getting? And where does it stop? I asked dd if she wanted to give her teacher a small present for christmas. She said she did but thing is she named three teachers not just the one. One is her main class teacher, the other is her maths teacher and also the TA.
Having two children at school it all adds up.

well I just let my sone choose something for two pounds for his main teacher - he got her a pen - quite sweet. I thinkI am quite mean but my aunt was a deputy head and she told me that at the christmas party they all bought along the worst gift they had got and voted - the one with the worst gift got some flowers. after that I thought sod it they get loads, more do it for my son than the teacher!

If tehy had an outstanding teacher I might think different but it really seems to be just a token thing. If they have been really great show your appreciation, but otherwise I think a gesture is enough.

Message withdrawn

? what did I miss there then?

Last year, I bought 100 pencils for a school in Africa(developing countries). I bought it 'from the teacher', if you see what I mean. It was easy to do online - from Oxfam or somewhere similar -can't recall the details but you can pick up a xmas gift catalogue in such charity shops or go online and search.

I was really glad not to add to the teacher's store of chocolates, bubble bath etc, and it helped explain to my 5 year old how lucky her and her classmates were to have a school with these resources. I think I'm going to do it again this year. You can choose various 'presents'.

I know there's a whole heap of politics re-3rd world giving, but to be honest, there is in making profit for chocolate companies, etc. I would have thought any teacher would appreciate this sort of 'gift' - in fact, ours said she thought it a wonderful idea.

I think the charity idea is a great one and I intend to take that up for my children's teachers/TAs and write personal cards.

Parents were teachers and husband is. Wine is always appreciated. But, IMO a thoughtfully worded card is just as good, if not better, than any present.

I think the charity thing is excellent too. I really think the train a teacher one or equip a teacher through oxfan looks appropriate so will probably do this.

Does anyone know - does it get sent straight to the teacher or can you have it at home so the kids can take it in? Not sure how it all works.

All the teachers I know really appreciate the hand made cards/drawings from kids - no need to spend anything at all.

DH gets given lots of BEST TEACHER fridge magnets and mugs and plaques, which although he is grateful for, he would much rather a nice card and message to show appreciation.
Although, saying that, the bags of chocolates he brings home always get eaten ...

Also, if the parents bother to write "thank you for all your hard work with ds/dd" or something similar, he is chuffed to bits.

Ds (5) wants to give fudge and I thought I'd give the oxfam 200 school dinners as well.

Body Shop are selling a range of soaps etc that donate money to Womens Aid. Thought that would make nice gifts for teachers.
here

When I bought 100 pencils last year we got a card to give to the teacher which said something like '100 pencils have been bought on your behalf for children in (place) schools'. So my daughter got to see the card and what it said and was able to present this to the teacher. She also wrote sthg nice herself, thanking the teacher for that year..or whatever. I think it worked really well and will do it again this year. I'm wracking my brains to recall which charity it was from - the current OXfam don't seem to do pencils (but do other things like text books, training a teacher, etc)...it must have been elsewhere.

Hex I found your pencils.
Its the unicef site £12 for pencils for a school for a year.

Thanks Katherine - that's useful