My son is in kindergarten and besides his regular teacher he has:

art teacher
gym teacher
computer teacher
librarian
Spanish teacher


He LOVES gym and computers and I would really like to get them each something, but then what about the rest? I could give all of them cards, but only put a gift card in certain ones?

Do you give to all of them, or am I just going way overboard?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I give to their main teacher only. I think it IS overboard to give to them all (but maybe that's just me). I think a small $5-$10 gift to his main teacher (ie: the one he's with the majority of the time) is more than enough. The only exception I would make is when my kids are in a sport or after school activity. I then usually give the teacher and/or coach a small something as well. I read something in a mag about the correct "tipping" amount for the people in your life for the holiday and it's joke. I do not tip all the service people in my life. It's their job. If I went by what the mag said for tipping, I would be out an extra $500-$700 just "tipping" the servicepeople in our life. I think you should *keep it simple*. Much less stressful or have your child make them a card

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I like to acknowledge the 'special' teachers and office staff. I won't spend but about a $ on each. You can usually find a nice note pad or something for a buck. All I want to do is acknowledge and say Happy Holidays. Of course I do spend a little more for their meain teachers.

I really can't afford to give all of his teachers something, which is why I ask. I did want to give the gym and computer teachers something since he enjoys their classes so much, but I didn't really want to buy for all of them, kwim. The Spanish teacher is mean and he just doesn't really talk about art or the librarian.

But is it tacky to just give something for those 2 teachers? His homeroom teacher will know I didn't give to everyone either and I am sure they all talk, I don't want any hard feelings or them to be mad they didn't get anything either.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I only give to the main teacher, too. There are too many others involved in my kids life, I'd go broke trying to give to them all!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I usually just give something to the main teacher. If you really want to give something to the others but can't spend any money, what about having your son draw a picture for them. Scan it into your computer and make a card out of it then have him write a note of thanks to each teacher. My DDs CCD teacher told me the other day that she still has a picture my DD drew for her last year on her fridge.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

If you want to acknowledge the other teachers and staff, how about a giving each a small bag of cookies/Hershey Kisses wrapped in a clear bag with a ribbon? You could make a few dozen cookies without spending much $ and it would go a long way. I make up little bags for all the teachers this way - and actually my "cookies" are simply honey-wheat pretzel rods that I dipped in white chocolate and/or milk chocolate, throw a few sprinkles on, and let cool. They look very festive with some Hershey Kisses thrown in, and make a nice treat/gift! Each baggie doesn't cost me more than a few cents.

We did talk on another thread about who everyone buys for, and the general feeling seems to be to stick with main classroom teacher, with maybe a few aides or specials teachers sprinkled in. However, if the gifts are kept really small, I believe anyone you remember will feel special. Even just a little note and a candy cane. The classroom teachers seem to get more gifts than they know what to do with, and so many of the special service teachers (speech, special education, etc) get nothing. They appreciate being remembered, if you want to go that route!

Nothing against ANY posters but I know about 10 teachers (including MIL) and every since one say they throw out homemade cookies, etc because you simply do not know how clean a person's kitchen is. May sound rude but I have personally seen cookies MIL got that had cat hairs in them.....eeeewwww

Like I said, nothing personal against anyone (I'm sure your kitchen's are fine...honestly!) but I wouldn't want you to waste time and money on something that could simply get tossed. I DO think the kisses in a holiday baggie with bow would be fine if you feel you must do something (or see my post above )
Off my step stool...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I Have 3 sons in Elementary school so they have a lot of teachers!! I decided to buy gifts for the main teacher and my DS #1's resource aid. For all the others I am making little candy gift bags. I will take the boys to school early on the last day and let them go pass them out to all their extra teachers and office staff

Yes, we give something to all.
To the three homeroom "main" teachers we give a 10.00 gift and to the rest of the School helpers/Auxillary teachers we do something in the 2 dollar range. Our list this year...

3 Homeroom Teachers -
1 Speech Teacher - seen twice a week
School Nurse (Seen Daily - Special needs kid)

Principal
Vice Principal
2 Front office Secretaries
2 Guidance Counselors
Art Teacher
Music Teacher
Computer Teacher
Librarian
PE Coach
Head of Speech Department
5 Duty Aides that do Lunchroom and Carpool duty

I encourage this because this is a lesson that money really can't buy. My kids need to see the "joy" in giving to others during the season. They get so excited that they can make someone enjoy Christmas a little more and not expect ANYTHING in return... (these are people that will not be giving my children a gift like their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends do)

I don't care how much it costs... I will do without something fancy-smancy for my kids to learn this.
In our case we use this opportunity to reinforce Giving is Better than Receiving in a typically ME, MY, and "I" society. Even if it ends up in a yardsale next spring, the moment that my child shared with that individual is priceless as a life lesson.


That's why you didn't hear me complaining yesterday as I was doing all that wrapping!

X

I too give a little something to each of my kids teachers

For my 2 kids in elementry school, they have the same PE, Music & Library Teacher, so these gifts are from both of them

2) Main Teachers $25.00 GC
Reading Teacher: small gift from B&BW
Librarian small gift from B&BW
Music Teacher small gift from B&BW
2) Spanish Teachers box of chocolates from Costco
PE Teacher little gift bag filled with Lindt chocolates- this is his 1st yr at our school, don't know him well
3) Bus Drivers Little gift bags filled with Lindt chocolates
Office Staff - Box of candy

Middle School kid

Homeroom Teacher - small gift from B&BW
Reading Teacher - small gift from B&BW
Math Teacher - small gift from B&BW
Science Teacher ??? male not sure what to get him
Computer Teacher ??? male not sure what to get him

Thank goodness for those $10.00 of $30.00 at B&BW, made each gift like $7.33 each

I am a teacher. I would just give something to the main teacher. If you do give something to the gym teache make it small (note pad or something). The teachers at my school do not compare gifts. I love getting cookies etc. Buy store cookies if you think the teacher will throw away homemade. I get coffee cups and Starbucks gift cards but I don't drink coffee. I use the coffee cups to hold pencils, etc. My dh uses the Starbucks.

Nope. Only his main teacher. And DH doesn't know we got her a gift (shhhh....). We got her a $10 Waldenbooks gift card in one of the pop-out snowman cards they sell for $.99. It was either a gift card or fuzzy socks from JCPenney, and I figured the gift card was the better choice.

Edited to add : At the end of the year, we always get the teacher a package of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. That is a wonderful, special treat they can savor after school is out!

I'm with you! Even if homemade cookies could possibly be thrown away, my kids won't hear that! LOL. They'lll learn to feel good for giving without expectations of receiving. And all the teachers/staff who aren't typically acknowledged will feel appreciated, too.

I am a mom that gives to ALL including:

DD- 5th grade
main teacher
english teacher
math teacher
reading teacher and helper
gym teacher
music teacher

DS 1st grade
main teacher
resource teacher and aide
DS' 1:1 aide
OT asst.
speech

And then we have a Speech and OT at the hospital which I get a little something for too

I usually spend anywhere from $5-10 on a gift for each. They all work great with my kids and I think they need to know that and how much I appreciate them.

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AUTISM Awareness


MyCoupons Is #1 For Holiday Shopping

I give all of my daughters teachers gifts. She has her art teacher two times a week and her 2 gym teachers 4 times a week. It is just a way to say thank you. Since her coaches are men I bought them a 2 can pack of nuts and her art teacher is getting body wash from BBW. The library stff (2) will get the BBW pump soap. Her 3 main teachers are getting BBW body wash and lotion and her man math teacher is getting the 2 pack nuts. The 2 assistants are jsut getting BBW bady wash. I no longer give to the principal and office staff. Since the security guard and maintance staff are friends of mine they will be getting gifts as well. They are usually loaded outside with gifts. She really likes to give gifts and I always remember the feeling of giving my teachers gifts growing up. (I did buy a Learn Your Letters the Gator way for the athletic directors daughter since he is a huge Georgia fan and we are 100% Gators.)

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That's what I mean. I don't know if people give to everyone and if he loves the class and looks forward to going because of it, then they should receive some appreciation, even if it is something small. When we went to back to school night we went to the gym to meet the teacher because we heard that no one goes there. He has gym 3 times a week with the same teacher for the next 6 years, we really should see who she is!

That's a wonderful point about learning that they aren't going to get something back every time you give someone something too, I didn't think of that. He will have fun giving things out.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I give a gift card of $15 for each of my childrens teachers (1 each). The last 3 years I have bought the hand soaps at BBW for all of the staff at school. With coupons they ended up being less then $2 each. This year I found bath/shower gel at Kohls on black Friday that came to less then $1 each. I bought 20+ bottles put in bags with Hershey's kisses and a note. I will pass them out to the playground aids, cafeteria workers, janitors, librarian, nurse, office staff, principal, etc... A lot of these people never get anything so they are very happy to be remembered. I have also given them bags with Herseys Kisses and Hugs. And then the note says something like thank you for helping my children, many kisses and hugs. I doesn't cost much, but lets them know you are thankful for what they do for your child.

Don't forget the office staff! Even if it's a small box of cookies or candy to share, the office staff is usually overlooked. These folks work hard for ALL the kids. In our school, they are the ones that hand out lunch money if your kid forgets it, changes them if they have an accident, calls you if they get hurt and comforts them until you get there. They are the ones that are vigilant to make sure your non-custodial ex doesn't pick up your kids, walks them to class if they are late and walks them to class to pick up their things when you come to pick them up early.

These are some of the hardest working folks at my school, and lots of people forget them at holiday time.

Ok...getting of my office staff soapbox now......

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This space for rent

I give to all the 'main' teachers, so this year that is 5.
DS#1 is in 1st grade and has one teacher. She is getting a gift card to a local mall that she likes to shop at and a set of handmade note cards.

DS#2 is in preschool and has 4 teachers. They are each getting a $10 Target gift card and a set of handmade note cards. I also made notecards for the two directors of the preschool program.

I also made notecards for all the 'volunteer' teachers -- Sunday school, choir, etc.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin