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Do you buy a gift for your child's teacher?
Most parents would safely say it's a good idea to buy a holiday gift for your child's most important teachers. But did you know you could give the wrong gift?
Apparently, some teachers don't like certain gifts, including a framed photo of your child (I would've honestly thought that was a sweet gesture), coffee mugs (They already have too many) or poorly-made baked goods - even if they are the work of the teacher's student (Now this one I get).
Honestly, it's not easy shopping for a teacher. You don't want t spend too much. Too little. Do you go with a gift card? Is that too impersonal?
If you're a teacher reading this, please share some suggestions.
Many of us parents would like to thank you for your hard work and profound influence upon the children we sometimes send your way with the occasional runny nose and/or penchant to challenge authority.
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work...
Joy Oglesby has an infant daughter and a sister 13 years her junior, whom she babies to the now-adult...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s...
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters...
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters...
Anne Vasquez is the Online Editor in charge of overseeing SunSentinel.com. She is the mother of a 5-year-old boy and a newborn daughter.
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces...
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 13, and Lily, 6, and is married...
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator, and father of two boys and a girl all under the age of seven.
Comments
It may seem that gift cards could sound impersonal, but I think that they are a great option for teachers. It could be a Starbuck's card or a Macy's card or even movie tickets. Teachers spend a whole lot of their own money on classroom supplies and I know that even a ream of paper is extremely appreciated. As a matter of fact, I know a teacher that has asked that if anyone wants to get her anything at all, it should be simple printer paper. Let's face it--the government has cut the educational budget in Florida and we are suffering for the simplest of supplies. The smallest token of appreciation is cherished simply because there are very few genuine "thank you's" given to the teaching population.
Posted by: Tricia | December 16, 2008 4:30 PM
One teacher can have 120 students. Could you imagine having to find a place for that many framed photographs per year? You can use a lot of words to describe that gesture, but sweet? A wise teacher would accept it sweetly, but a wise student would choose something else to give. If anything.
Posted by: John R. | December 16, 2008 5:06 PM
As much as us teachers appreciate the "un-materialistic gifts" students give us, such as the endless hours of grading papers at night, the headaches after a group assignment or project, the behavior issues we have to deal with on a daily basis, the stress from trying to teach them FCAT strategies.... WE DO want to feel appreciated every now and then, and we DO WANT material things, no matter how much we say we don't. Personally, I like to receive gift cards to anywhere really. Just the fact of being able to take $5.00-$15.00 of our bill is gift enough. As for gift cards being impersonal... I say... heck no! Bring on the gift cards. (hint hint... if you are not sure what kind of gift card to give.... WAL-MART or TARGET is always a winner. Teachers can get anything they need at either store!!!!!! And parents... you will definitely have a very appreciative teacher for that.
Posted by: teacher | December 17, 2008 2:21 PM
well if shes nice then ill get her a cheap computer hardware from tycromedia.com but thats if shes nice
Posted by: Blogster20190 | December 28, 2008 12:26 AM