I would not feel obligated to get anything for any teacher unless you really want to! I know that a lot of people give their gifts in gratitude... But parents need to know that eachers do not expect anything! Good teachers teach because they love their jobs.

Unfortunately, your little guy is on the receiving end of a teacher who is having a bad year. Sad for him... but he will be fine! I always looked at those years in my boys' lives as 'character building' and luckily (hopefully) your son is only in a half day of school (unless your school does all day Kindergarten like they do here, yikes!).

I have a couple of ideas that might help...

Maybe you can have him write her a sweet letter telling her to have a good day or bring her flowers... Something to brighten up her sad life. Something is going on (probably at home!) for her to be so unhappy.