What do teachers like best for Christmas?

[Youremindmeofthebabe]

As the title . I was going to go with the mandatory tin of celebrations for DS's reception teacher and Nursery nurse (both are women), but wondered if you lot had better ideas, I imagine they will be swimming in chocolate really.

I gave vouchers last year as my DD wanted to buy her reception teacher a book but managed to persuade her that she'd rather choose her own book so we gave vouchers. She wanted to buy her one of the children's books because her teacher loves books so much. I do think its important the the present is from the children and as a secondary teacher the personal gifts mean much more (we don't get many at this age anyway).

also I should say, I don't expect any either!

Vouchers are great. Teachers do get so many chocolates and biscuits. When I was teaching in Reception one year I got 30 Easter eggs at Easter!

Wine.

Not mugs, chocolate or bubble bath!

Wine good, gift tokens good, had some tasteful Christmas tree decorations before which were nice.

wine good :) book bags = nice touch (never have too many)

But tbh, a card with 'thank you' would be best of all. :)

What do you do at nursery school where there are 4 or 5 of them? They aren't going to want 40 tins of Quality St.

Also, as an aside, do you get the lollipop lady anything?

Champagne has always been appreciated, or I give a decent scented candle.

This Christmas I will be giving nothing to DS2's teacher who is officially mean. (see previous thread about her rejecting his chocolate offering).

This year I have no spare money, so may have to resort to a poinsettia.

wow lynette you are really generous :)

Remember reading about the chocolate thread; she was very mean.

candles, wine, fizz, hand cream, shower gels, cook books, posh jam and christmas decorations are my best ever!!
have only every had a voucher when 4 or 5 mums all chip in with a £5 each which is amazing!!

I also had a hideously behaved DS1, who usually had brilliant teachers, and I really wanted them to still like me!

Rose bushes go down well on birthdays, I find.

I still feel uncomfortable about the idea of gifts. It feels as though you are putting a monetary value on your gratefulness and marking out different degrees of gratefulness towards different people, depending on your ill informed understanding of who actually does the most for your child. What if you thought a particular TA had been especially understanding and the teacher a bit mean? Would you flourish a particularly lavish gift under the TA's nose and proffer a 25p card with the price label still on it to the teacher????? Or what if you just assumed the teacher should get a bigger present than the TAs, as most people on here seem to think, when one of the TAs has actually, without your knowledge, spent a lot of time working especially with your child over a particular issue? I think giving presents is a minefield when it is not the case any more that each child has one class teacher and that is it. What is the present even supposed to mean????? That you view the teacher as a personal friend? That you think they've gone above and beyond the call of duty? That you want them to be nice to your child? Clearly giving someone champagne is about more than wishing them a Happy Christmas - I don't give champagne to everyone I send a Christmas card to. It's sending them a message about what you think of them or what you would like them to do for you, or what you think about what they have done for you in comparison to what you expected, or just giving them something because you think it's expected of everyone, regardless of what you think, which makes it a meaningless gift (or a bribe, or part of someone's remuneration...). Basically, it strikes me as a bit of a confused and confusing message, because it could have so many interpretations (if the teacher gives it any thought at all, and if not then what is all the effort for?).

Yup, I analyse it too much and end up deciding that if I do give a present, I might get it all wrong and end up offending someone, or being seen as showing off/going over the top/being mean/being partisan, instead of effectively showing my gratitude for all their hard work and commitment. Yet because so many people seem to give presents these days (when I was at school I don't remember anyone coming in with presents for the teachers...), I also worry that I am sending a bad message by not giving presents (ie I think it is all getting to the stage these days that people are giving presents as a result of parental peer pressure rather than because they spontaneously want to).

And what about the Head Teacher? What if they had turned the school around so that the good teachers could get on with teaching? Should they get a present from every parent every Christmas? The mind boggles once you get started.

DD went to a nursery with lots of staff and we don't have much money so I wasn't sure what to do. In the end, I made up a big bag of those little boxes/pars and packets of chocolates and sweets you can get from Throntons etc and took it in early so they could have it with their coffee or take it home. I think they had two or three each. They seemed to like it.

May do the same again this year.

I've said it before and I'll say it again- Two weeks away from your children is the gift that keeps on giving.

I'm with you rabbitstew.

A Y7 child once gave me chocolates and I felt severely embarrassed by it. I think it shoud stop at primary. Am I alone in that?

I would rather not do the present thing but had to conform when ds was in reception so that he didn't feel left out by being the only one not taking something in.

I went for a box of biscuits as there is usually a class teacher plus one or two TAs and volunteers as well, so I figured something shareable for the staff room would be best. However, this year ds's teacher is the one who runs the science club, which ds really enjoys, so I'm getting her these, which are a bit extravagant by my standards, but she'll hopefully use them for science club and ds will get the benefit of as well. I'll also chuck in a little packet of biscuits for the staff room as well. However, now feeling that I should also send in a book or something for dd's class rather than just the usual tub of biscuits. Still trying to decide.

I have always felt awkward giving gifts with monetary value, and have always done hand-made cards and Christmas decorations made by the children. We will be doing decorations again this year (hama bead stars, I think) but I am tempted to buy the teacher and TA each a bottle of gin for coping with DS2 (who is lovelier than the universe itself but a handful in several ways :))

hama beads and gin would be top of my list

I have a scrapbook of cards and pictures that children/folk I've worked with in adult learning disability services have made. way better than anything else. (but I never complain at the occasional bottle of wine )

I'm a primary teacher and please don't under-estimate a card. If your child is taught by a teacher that has gone above and beyond and impressed you then telling them so will mean the world. I treasure the letter from a parent telling me 'that thanks to you I've got my happy son back' or the one that said 'we're so quick to complain but we don't mention a job very well done and you've done a great job' and so on. Those are soooo appreciated and make everything worth it. If you and your child like your current teacher pick up a pen and tell them why. It means everything! (and I also make sure I tell parents and children how much I appreciate them - I do know it works both ways!)

The Ds's teachers get those mini bottles of wine - you know, the 'one glass' ones? I take a bundle in and dole them out to the teachers and TAs because, basically, Ds1 is hard work.

Thanks all. tethers you made me laugh, I imagine that most teachers are really bloody glad to see the end of any term! Wine it is then, I think, and I will get DS to make a nice card.