Teachers

[Sunfl0wer20]

For any teachers on here, could you help me out with what you would like to receive as a Christmas gift from your pupil? I assume you end up with all kinds of things so I would really like to get something that isn’t tat. I will avoid anything with my child’s name on it.

Parents, are you still gifting your child’s teachers this year? Could you hit me up with some ideas of what you will be buying.

My child’s teacher has been incredible, not just through covid so I would really like to gift something nice but I am on a budget so inexpensive would be ideal.

Booze is always a good one. Posh booze even better.

Honestly, I love getting a box of maltesers. Only a pound in Home bargains but they're a real treat (cheap date me😀)

I gave my child’s teacher a lovely diffuser & a small box of chocs which cost less than a tenner .

Most teachers (I am one) are stationery addicts..nice pens, paper clips, post its etc. Or a really nice card with a message is lovely!

Wine or stationery.

The best present I have ever had in 13 years of teaching is a handmade bookmark. The child knew I love reading and went to the effort of making a bookmark with pictures like ahem, chocolate and music on as she knew those were other loves of mine!
Handmade cards are amazing!

I need ideas for a secondary head of year (male) who has gone above and beyond and we would like to show our appreciation, don’t think DD can take alcohol into school, am stuck at the moment so any ideas greatly appreciated. I’m thinking either a Costa voucher or a supermarket voucher with a message to treat himself to a drink, he bloody needs it with the year group he’s had this year.

I teach a lot of art and i have two framed pictures gifted by former pupils that they framed for probably less than £2 up on my home walls. I teach young pupils and these boys are finishing high school by now as an indication of how loved these are!

I'm a TA and my school have suggested a donation to the foodbank instead which is a good idea.

Pictures and cards from the children are always really lovely to receive, I love those. Having said that, I got my DDs teacher a canvas bag printed with 'Miss Smith's teacher stuff' on Etsy. She's young and new to the school so it seemed a nice but useful gift.

Cards with an actual message in are the loveliest.
Can you ask your child if they noticed anything in particular about the teacher/what she likes?

One of the best gifts I got from a child was a 4 pack of Red Bulls. There are a few more that stand out that showed thought because they were linked to the things I really like.. cats,Harry Potter and the colour blue. I'm really easy really.

Tbh I appreciate everything, even the remembered as she passed by biscuit from a pack, given proudly as "your Christmas gift miss". I ate it too.

I would be grateful for anything. A parent made me cry just by asking how I am-that never happens! (I waited until she had gone before crying as I didn’t want to look too neurotic!)

DH was going to pick up DD from Primary school early one day, it was a snow day just before Christmas.

A teacher came out, slipped on the ice and broke her complete haul of Christmas. DH said she almost cried.

I never thought of myself as grabby, but these threads always make me realise I must be. I'm a teacher and I would prefer a box of matchmakers to a 'handwritten message in a card'. 😂

The vital word I missed out was Wine.

We gave one our kid's teachers a bowl made from a melted LP filled with paper clips, pins, star stickers etc.

It's still on his desk 10 years later.

I've also done kilner jars full of similar stuff.

I am a teacher and a card is lovely.

For my DS's teacher I give her an emergency chocolate bar at the beginning of each term. She's my colleague so I happen to know what she likes. She then lets me know the day when she's had to crack it open so gets lots of sympathy as well.

We also used to have a parent who gave the staff a large box of things for the staff room for the year (tea bags, biscuits etc). I always thought this was rather lovely. Sorry this isn't helpful!

If only we were allowed to give Xmas gifts to teachers at DC's school this year.

The class rep arranges for us to pay into a kitty for vouchers to the class teachers/TAs from all the parents. Many parents give individual gifts as well. I've seen parents spend on average about £20 extra on the individual gifts. I usually get the teachers a 'token' tin of biscuits costing just a few quid as I feel we have already made a contribution for the class vouchers.
This year it has been suggested that instead of gifts, parents should buy their own vouchers for the teachers if they want to thank them (despite having contributed to vouchers already). The individual parent vouchers would come from wherever they chose to buy them. But the equivalent amount that I could afford to buy in extra vouchers would look mean. The thank you gifts will have to wait until the present situation has changed!

Private school, large Molton Brown Christmas set, state school, donation to the school coffers and a card to thank the teacher for staying faithful to the state system and thus the give every child the best chance in life agenda (assuming that you are happy with child's teacher whatever tge type of school).

I've got to say, the thing that made me cry was a card from the mother of one of my children saying what a huge influence I'd been, how much confidence I had given her child and how I would always hold a place in their hearts. It was on my mantelpiece for months.
I'm a TA by the way.

A lovely message in a card - home made by the child/family are the best. I have kept every Single card with a message, Going back 20 years!

Nice soap/hand wash
Hand cream
Plants
A water bottle (forever dropping and breaking these)
A lidded/insulated mug
(i know mugs generally get the thumbs down, but lidded mugs and/or the lids do tend to grow legs and disappear, unlike normal China mugs)

I do a £5 Costa voucher

A was given a packet of crisps one year.

How different is primary teaching to secondary! At secondary, gifts is never something we are worried about

Little gifts are the best - my most memorable are a tiny little reindeer decoration and an oxfam gift of books for a developing country.

A message in a homemade card or a letter also means the most to me and I keep every single one.

In the past I have also received flowers, alcohol, jewellery, chocolate, personalised prints/tree decorations etc and they are never expected but so very appreciated. I would be really happy with a Costa voucher as mentioned upthread!

The cards truly are my favourite though.

A note to the head would be fab!