Comments on: Beyond coffee mugs - easy teacher gifts

By: NKOTBFAN4LIFE

NKOTBFAN4LIFE — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:11:44 +0000

My daughter is in preschool and we made 2 recipe in a jars for each of her 3 teachers. We made a Rocky Road Brownie mix and a Fudge Mix. My daughter helped with both jars and wrote her name on each of the cards. They were inexpensive but my girlfriend and I got together, split the costs, and made the jars together. It gave us a chance to get together before the holidays and also allowed the girls to help.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:01:42 +0000

I am a middle school teacher, so my students have at least 7 teachers. I have found that most teachers end up throwing away food because we don’t know what some of the homes are like. The creative gifts you mentioned like the bookmarks and paper are nice ideas. In my opinion, I am always grateful for the few gifts I do receive but do enjoy gifts that I can use in the classroom the best. Since I personally stock my classroom with supplies for the most part, gift cards to bookstores, books that are currently popular that I can’t keep in stock in my classroom library, and classroom supplies are all great gifts. Let me reiterate though, I am grateful for the few gifts I do get. As teachers, we know how tight money is and NEVER expect gifts from any student.

By: Baylee

Baylee — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:48:56 +0000

For a GREAT Holiday gift, Bid on Rachael Ray’s custom made Lunchbox for Foodbank of NYC!!!

The Lunchbox Auction presented by Gourmet to benefit hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa. More than 50+ celebrities from film, television, fashion, art, music and the culinary world are uniting to remind us that food matters and that hunger is an on-going problem. Each is creating a one-of-a-kind lunchbox that will be auctioned off online just in time for the holidays!

This spectacular fundraiser goes live on the World Wide Web on 12/12 at midnight at http://www.thelunchboxauction.org and will run through December 18th (at 12 p.m. EST). A sneak preview of some of the celebrity lunchboxes to be auctioned can be seen at http://www.thelunchboxauction.org.

Among the “power lunch-boxers” are: Alice Waters, Beastie Boys, Cameron Diaz, Conor Oberst, David Chang, Diane Von Furstenberg, EDUN, Ellen Page, Eva Mendes, the cast of Gossip Girl, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heatherette, Kelly Klein, Lanvin, Lisa Marie Presley, Liv Tyler, Mario Batali, Michael Stipe, Mike Myers, the New York Giants, Rachael Ray, Ruth Reichl, Salman Rushdie, Sara Moulton, Sean Avery, Spike Jones, Thriving Ivory, Tom Colicchio, and more.

Each lunchbox reflects the personal style and individual flair of the person designing the box and no two lunchboxes are alike. Collectors will find that each box is signed and numbered, and some will even contain hidden surprises inside.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:42:15 +0000

I love the ideas… My toddlers are in preschool and my Mother-in-Law is a retired teacher. I cant count how many coffee cups she has!

We always make homemade treats and add a gift card (dinner or coffee)… also adding a Xmas ornament adds a personal touch!

By: Brenda Poole

Brenda Poole — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:59:21 +0000

I have been a teacher for 18 years and before that, was a teacher assistant for 12 years. I have always appreciated anything given, but I also suggest that their child can donate to the Humane Society or St. Judes’. Even the tiniest bit of money can add up for any of these worthy causes. I think any donation in honor of you is truly a wonderful gift.

By: Brenda Poole

Brenda Poole — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:56:58 +0000

I have been a teacher for 18 years and before that, was a teacher assistant for 12 years. I have always appreciated anything given, but I also suggest that their child can donate to the Hummane Society or St. Judes’. Even the tiniest bit of money can add up for any of these worthy causes. I think any donation in honor of you is truly a wonderful gift.

By: michele

michele — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:20:03 +0000

I am a teacher and I love getting school supplies as a gift. Teachers lay out so much of their own money its nice to be thanked

By: Sher

Sher — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:31:35 +0000

When my son was little & in our local preschool disabled program, I wanted so bad to thank his speech teacher. She was the reason that he was able to talk. My son had verbal apraxia. His first year with his teacher I picked up a recording photo frame. I put in his school pic & had him say (as audible as possible) “I love you Miss Winson”. And every year since I did the same thing & had my son say the same thing over & over. Miss Winson told me that this was her most meaningful present she ever received. Years later she still plays the recordings to her new parents of her students.

By: JWisecup

JWisecup — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:14:42 +0000

I too am a high school teacher, and I can say I remember each of the little gifts given over the last fourteen years; all five of them. It seems that when kids grow up, they forget about all of the time their teachers spend helping them earn the skills they will need for their lives after school.

Every year the ornament I got my fifth year goes on my tree. The outfit given to me by an aide when my son was born was one of my favorites. A gift card to the book store in town was much appreciated last year. The potpouri my fifth year scented my classroom for the rest of the year. The recipe in a jar was used as a decoration.

Personally, I crochet scarves for my sons’ teachers. I make sure to ask my sons what colors they should be. It takes some time, but it does show how much my sons and I appreciate their teachers, and doesn’t cost much more than the time spent in front of my tv in the evening.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:22:39 +0000

As a middle school and high school teacher at a very affluent school, I have received many gifts (also from seniors who I helped through the college application process). While gifts are lovely, I like the cards and notes best. When a student asks what I might like, I always say a note. I have received the greatest letters of appreciation from students, and these are more precious than gold. I actually keep them in an album and look at them on the days when teaching is especially difficult. A note, from the heart is the best gift to give.