If you are a teacher, what's the best Xmas present the kids give you?

[ssd]

seen the other thread and wondered what teachers ACTUALLY like to receive!

good idea Foxtrot - will definitely think of something along those lines. I don't know if it's jsut me but I'm always slightly concerned that I'm doing the wrong thing - like embarrassed at being over-enthusive and trying hard to get the balance right.

i got loads in year sevena nd eight
the it petered out

don't rub it in! Still you pay the price with all those double mounted wall displays!

You people have seriously dented my faith in human nature

malory you will be delighted to know I did my teacher present shopping in SpaceNK this year. they are all getting this which is very yummy.
$16 in the US (sob, should have bought it there last week)....

How about something practical then? Like loo roll? You always need loo roll don't you?

I was always pleased to get - card/letter saying thank you; wine; chocs (dh very happy!); christmas tree ornaments etc.
Can't believe the amounts some of you spend... I would be so embarrassed if my kids spent so much. We do get paid after all BUT do like the idea of parents clubbing together. The thing I loved best though were always the lovely letters and cards - made me feel really appreciated rather than thinking parents just felt obliged IYSWIM

what about the bloke teacher though?
I feel booze is a bit of a cliche (and if I give it to him why not to the women?)
maybe I should follow Rhuby's thought and give him some of that bog paper with crosswords printed on it. Intellectually challenging, useful, and we all know that men take AGES to have a dump so gender specific too...

So far my presents have been
Pre-school - individualy wrapped mini voltive candles with thank you labels. (DD1) Home-made blackberry and apple jam with nice fabric covered lid (DD2) The pre-school had up to 20 various helpers and so this was cheap, but personal and useful.

Reception - DD1 baby clothes from next - with 5 others (she was going on mat leave) spent about £40 between us
DD2 this year, I am thinking some running socks!! (Her teacher goes running, so do I so it is personal, but apt too)
YR1 DD1 handpainted a mug.

In teh summer they all got mini bottle of pink fizzy cava (M&S £2.50) one bath bomb (Lush - DD's choice) some mini cakes DD's had made.

hmmmmmmm.

are you trying to tell me you don't like my crossword loo roll idea?

chicken appears to be still alive, yo'll be delighted to hear

The funniest present I ever gave a teacher (as organised by my Mum), was when I was 9 I gave my best ever teacher (a male) a pompom I had made, attached to a long piece of wool with a picture showing how you hang it to the garage roof so it hits your windscreen when you have parked your car in the right place. He was a very meticulous, even anal, type and I'm sure he didn't appreciate the suggestion he needed help with parking!!

best present I ever received was a bottle of bubble bath from a Y9. Wasn't the present, it was the fact I actually got a present from the child and his parents as a mark of appreciation for the effort I had put in. He was a little oik, and very badly behaved, due to the fact he had some difficulty getting his ideas from his head to paper. I allowed him to dictate to me in lunch hours, and then gave him extra time to type up his essay. Meant he was finally able to show what he was capable of. I pushed for a staement, but left the school not long after.

I'm planning to make sure DS1's class clubs together, and gets vouchers or something. Might ask main teacher what to get TA, and TA what to get main teacher?

my mum used to give me flowers picked from the garden to give my teacher

Personally I am grateful if any of my pupils or their parnets even entertain buying me a present. At the end of the day, I am just doing my job. Can't recall a favourite Christmas pressie but my Yr 13 class made my ds a cot quilt this year as i went on maternity leave -and its not been put in the bin - and my form, who were not normally very "giving" clubbed together and bought him a beautiful teddy bear. If I get unsuitable gifts, i donate them to local charity shops, but thats only ususally body lotion you get in gift packs because i don't use it!!!

Although I'm not a teacher, I have worked with children in the past and I have to say the worst present I could ever receive was smellies. I have to be so careful what I use in the bath as I can get all sorts of horrible reactions, I know several other people like this too, so unless youknow that the recipient likes a certain smelly, I would advise getting something else.

I dont care if the stuff my dds have made end up in the bin - they like doing it and it is CHEAP!

teachers - is this a good idea? mug
get dd's to paint a mug - they will make a right mess, but thought they could use it in the staff room?

Rhubarb, I have always given something to ds's teachers (he has special needs and they have always gone out of their way to help him). I don't think any less of any parents who don't give anything and equally, I don't think any more of any other parents who do give something to the teacher - it is a free choice and who am I to judge when I have no idea about why they have made their decisions?