[DPline]

Do you give your child's teacher a gift at the end of the school year? I am just curious. My husband thinks I am nuts, but "everyone does it" here so I feel like I should. I really like his teacher and have no issue with getting her a gift. I am just wondering if it is a regional thing or if it is common everywhere.

My son came up with the idea of a new copy of Charlotte's Web as her's was falling apart and I also got her a Target gift card thinking she could use that for herself or supplies for the classroom.

[BrandyHagz]

I've lived in a number of places - from the south to the east coast, up north and now in the south west - and this is pretty common everywhere I've been.

I don't participate usually for one reason or another...but I know a lot of parents who do and that's great

[katsco]

We have always given my daughters teacher a gift certificate for dinner at a nice restaurant. After a year with all those children, she needs a night out.

[JohnnaMJH]

Yep, we gift a gift. The book idea is great. One year, kindergarten I think, we did a group gift where each kid brought in a book to beef up her in class library.

[mommytoEli]

DPline....as a former teacher, married to a teacher, with a sister and m-i-l who are teachers....your gift could not have been more right on. I am sure your teacher's gift made her feel appreciated. I loved getting gifts at the end of the year (who wouldn't) and even a nice card and a candy bar made my day. Now I must say, that when I worked at a school in Korea, I used to get the best gift ever.....cash!..however, please don't try this in the U.S.

[Anne1377]

Hi Debbie!

Yes...we always give gifts to the teachers at the end of the year. I was just thinking about what to get them...there are some good ideas here. Thanks!!

Diane

[VReed]

As a more than 30 year teacher with a son, daughter, and son-in-law who are teachers, I can speak from personal experience. I have received everything from a donation to the Heifer Society (in my name; bought a sheep or something for an under-privileged country) to the usual apple things, jewelry, donations to the library, etc. I can honestly say that while everything is truly appreciated, to get a gift card to a restaurant, movie, mall, etc. is a wonderful gift for a teacher. Just to let the teacher know how much you have appreciated her/him throughout the year to mold and teach your child is an enormous blessing. I had some classes where the room mom would ask the kids to bring in just $5.00 each or whatever they wished, and then a nice larger gift card was bought. You can not imagine the time, energy, and money that each teacher spends to make each child's year special. Thanks for bringing this topic up. Vicki (grammy to 2 precious Guat. angels)

[crick]

While we didn't do an end of the year gift this year, we have in the past. In our community, it's pretty common to give gifts at the end of the year as well as giving one around the holiday season.

This year though, I decided their teachers have had enough of the gifts they might not use and already have etc. And without really knowing what kind of food they like to eat, etc. I decided to do something different this year.

My kids are writing a letter this summer to their teacher thanking them for being a great teacher and sharing their favorite things about the school year.

Edited to add - not saying at all that a material gift isn't a good idea! I just really didn't have a feel this year of what their teacher's personal interests are! If there's something specific, like the book etc. that they would love, then by all means! This year was just different for us, that's all.

[WesieMom]

We did! We did! In fact we have a running joke with my sister. She always says I send gifts at the end of the year and the teachers argue over who gets my kids next year based on the gifts...laughing.

This year we sent wall flowers from bath & body. Last year we sent a beach bag full of summer things, like sun screen,Sun Glasses, Tanning lotion, a towel and book. It was a hit.

Lisa

[becky]

I always do the end of the year gift, until they hit middle school when they have 6 different teachers.

We usually do a class gift....you send in any amount you want and then the room mothers buy something. We did a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant and then a Visa Gift Card, so she could buy whatever she wanted.

[sandeebear]

I live in Northern california...and the "room mom" ask for $30.00 a family to go toward year end presents for the teachers and aids...

I think it is very important..these people that educate our children DO NOT make enough money to live on......and they have a very important job that they do with our children.....it is a way of saying Thank you....

[Twizzlelips]

Yep I give 2 gifts per year, one to the local parent teacher store at the end of the year, and during christmas I get a more personal gift, I try to stay away from mugs and stuff like that. My friend it a teacher and she has more mugs then walmart I think..lol

My children have had some younger teachers and I have found that alot of the teachers love lotions from Victorias Secret and sometimes they have suede purses with lotions a spritzes in them and the teacher love it..

[Mandy4President]

We give presents here in Wisconsin. It stinks a little when you have like a thousand of them (teachers). For example, my middle son had a speech teacher, the school counselor, the teacher, and the parapro because he is in special ed. That's not even counting my other son's teacher. So our presents are normally smaller (like I could never afford the $30 thing! but I agree that it's a good idea!). I think that the Charlottes Web book was a perfect idea...I think the best ones are personal and creative. Next year I'll be teaching and I'll appreciate anything that I got!

[DPline]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I love hearing all the other ideas. And it is great to hear from teachers too! I have to say that anyone who can keep 22 1st graders (or 2nd, or 3rd, or whatever) under control and actually learning, deserves presents! One field trip and I need to lie down!

Crick - LOVE the idea of the letters! I was going to make my son at least sign a card, but now am thinking I am going to try to get a favorite thing out of him as well.

WesieMom - Too funny! Now we know how they REALLY determine who gets which teacher!

[wvamom]

Katsco,
I think you hit the nail on the head. I always give a gift certificate to a restaurant--I figure the teachers deserve a dinner out after having to put up with my kids! At Christmas I usually do bath and body works, or last year, a movie gift set for a male teacher.

Carolyn