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June 4, 2008 at 10:58 pm #587123
BonnieParticipantAny ideas for teacher gifts for elementary school teachers? My son has one teacher and one asst. teacher that both live here in West Seattle. I’m thinking gift certificates for them to do something for THEMSELVES (not getting something for the classroom) Any ideas or suggestions? Of course there is always Barnes & Noble and Starbucks but I’d like something different (than I’ve given in the past).
Thanks!
p.s. just realized his teacher might read the blog. I do post under my real name. LOL! Oh well, maybe they’ll know what’s coming.
June 4, 2008 at 11:01 pm #626483
WSBKeymasterSpa!
June 4, 2008 at 11:04 pm #626484
JanSParticipantTR…funny..my first thought was…massage, of course !!! :)
June 4, 2008 at 11:05 pm #626485
BonnieParticipantThat’s a great suggestion. The asst. teacher is a man but his teacher is a woman. I got a gift certificate for Head to Toe last year and loved it.
June 4, 2008 at 11:09 pm #626486
JanSParticipantBonnie…remember…while she may appreciate the spa day/treatment a lot, he may appreciate the massage on it’s own…hard to get things for men, isn’t it?
June 4, 2008 at 11:15 pm #626487
flowerpetalMemberI’ve given spa gift cards as part of a group gift and found that the receiver never used it. Some people just don’t like those sort of things. And some men might like it more than women. There’s a high end barber downtown that will do the haircut, shave, massage, etc for guys. Perhaps you know a little about these teachers Bonnie or have a good hunch on what kind of people they are. Trust your intuition.
June 4, 2008 at 11:25 pm #626488
BonnieParticipantWell, neither seems like much of a ‘spa’ person but I really can’t say for sure that they wouldn’t go. I do know she likes to read so I’m sure she likes to relax. She’s in a book club with one of my neighbors (that I don’t know very well). Maybe I should go knock on her door and ask her. LOL!
June 4, 2008 at 11:27 pm #626489
BernickiMemberI usually get the teachers gift cards from Square One Books instead of Barnes & Noble–independent local booksellers rock!
June 4, 2008 at 11:37 pm #626490
changingtimesMemberit would be cool if you got together with some of the other parents and went up on a gift cert for a bed and breakfest somewhere near seattle. If i was a teacher that is what i would want- to get
a-w-a-y :) doesnt have to be ritzy.
June 4, 2008 at 11:43 pm #626491
flowerpetalMemberI like that idea. There are lots of spots on the coast; an old hot springs hotel in the south central part of the state; and cabins west of Port Angeles at Whiskey Creek. If I were a teacher I might not want to ever come back!
June 5, 2008 at 12:23 am #626492
BonnieParticipantWell, my son is in a special ed class and there is only 11 kids in the class. Out of the 11 there is only one other kid whose parents would give a gift. The other parents are basically ‘non’ existent. Never see them. It’s kind of sad.
June 5, 2008 at 12:28 am #626493
JanSParticipantor…how about gift certificate to a nice restaurant…a treat that the teacher/s might not give themselves…
June 5, 2008 at 1:31 am #626494
amydunnParticipantMy sis is a teacher and she really loves anything that is practical. Spa gifts are great as are restaurants. Teachers tend to get enough coffee/book/and teaching-related gifts. That is really sweet of you to do something nice like that!
June 5, 2008 at 2:37 am #626495
seattlesueMemberAs a former teacher anything is appreciated! I do agree with the other posts though. Make sure it is something the teacher can use for themselves. (everyone deserves to be selfish now and then)
June 5, 2008 at 3:27 am #626496
mhogfossMemberWhat about Target or gift certificates for practical places? Everyone shops at those kinds of stores.
June 5, 2008 at 3:46 am #626497
addParticipantI have given gift certs to Coffee to a Tea or Easy Street to our teachers, especially for those who live in or near WS. Restaurants are always nice, too – and if you know they have a family, maybe choose a restaurant that they might want to treat the whole family to.
Also, if you know your teacher has particular interests or hobbies – like camping or renovating their house, you could target gift certs to specific places like REI or Home Depot!
June 5, 2008 at 3:48 am #626498
RainyDay1235MemberMaybe a fun idea would be to send a little questionairre with your child to class. Have them write it/copy it themselves and get the answers from their teacher.
My favorite color is:
My favorite movie is:
My favorite book is:
My favorite thing to do on the weekend is:
Then you can go the store with your child and use those answers to put together a gift basket of like items.
If the favorite thing is playing with her dog, get dog toys – if it’s gardening, get gloves and seeds – hiking, a gift card to REI…
June 5, 2008 at 4:11 am #626499
TheVelvetBulldogMemberIn order to reduce the amount of “stuff” in the world, I often try to give experiences instead of things. How about passes to a movie theater or ArtsWest?
June 5, 2008 at 4:13 am #626500
alkivikingParticipantAwesome ideas! Movie and theater tickets are a great gift.
June 5, 2008 at 10:40 pm #626501
BonnieParticipantOh, I love that idea! Thanks Bulldog
June 6, 2008 at 12:36 am #626502
jMemberI’m an elementary school teacher and I love any type of gift certificate except for Starbucks. I can’t tell you how many Starbucks gift cards I get and don’t use. My kids know that I’m a Jamba Juice fan so I usually have that remembers that. Most of my friends enjoy getting clothing gift certificates too for school clothes shopping in late summer.
June 6, 2008 at 12:41 am #626503
WSMomParticipantI purchased the two movie ticket deal at Costco. You get 2 tickets to either AMC or Regal cinemas for about $15. Pretty good savings.
June 6, 2008 at 6:20 am #626504
BonnieParticipantI am not a Costco member but will check out movie tickets. Love that idea. I’ll stay away from Starbucks. Jamba Juice sounds good too. I like the clothing shopping too. I’m hoping to get her something by Wednesday because she is planning on having a little party for ME because I am the only Mom who volunteers. ME?? I think they deserve a reward for putting up with unruly kids and parents who are non existent in their children’s lives.
J, what is your favorite gift you’ve ever reeived?
I don’t remember my parents ever giving my teachers a gift. Must be a new thing.
June 7, 2008 at 2:27 am #626505
jMemberBonnie, it sounds like you are a treasure to your child’s teacher!! Something to consider, my school district has a limit to what we can accept from parents. I think it’s anything over $50 if it’s just one family pitching in. Gifts tend to vary from year to year depending on how involved parents are. With that said, my favorite gifts are gift cards. I’ve received so many over the years and I can’t say there is one that I’ve loved more than others (excluding Starbucks). :) I think the more personal gift cards the better like shopping, restaurants, and spas. I’ve gotten Barnes and Noble gift cards before, but I feel obligated to buy books for my classroom than myself.
June 9, 2008 at 12:17 am #626506
JulieMemberI am a teacher, and I’d like to add to this discussion that, really and truly, the very best teacher appreciation gifts are simply notes from students expressing specifically what they appreciate. Second best are notes from parents expressing what they appreciate (not always the same things as their students!) I do also enjoy gifts students themselves put some effort into, whether successful by adult standards or not; it’s always touching when a student finds time to make something because they want to share it with a teacher. All the Starbucks/B&N, etc, gift cards in the world, kind and generous as they are, don’t hold a candle to a genuine, heartfelt “thank you” from a child.
Now, please, I don’t say this to make everybody think they must force their child to make something or write an epistle. Just encourage good manners with a standard “thank you” note.
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