Holiday gifts for teachers
Recently, a friend asked what would be a suitable and welcome gift for her son's preschool teachers. Now, I don't teach preschool, nor do I ever want to, but I have received some pretty poor, well-intentioned gifts from students and their families. As a service to all blog readers, please allow me to make some suggestions.
You can buy supplies for the classroom...new books, construction paper, ink for the printer (if they have one), a Staples/Office Depot gift certificate.
If you want something specifically for the people who teach your child or children, I'd suggest nothing that lasts...soaps, lotions, coffee, Starbuck's gift cards, etc. They don't need or want another coffee cup, figurine or paperweight.
Something you make with your child to give to them: Christmas cookies, a homemade ornament, get butcher paper and make stamps by cutting sponges so you can make homemade wrapping paper, a simple card with a picture from the student and a note from you, the parent or parents.
Hard for a working mom with two more little ones, but: you could volunteer time in the classroom, helping out with an art project that requires more hands, organizing a field trip or assembly. Write out an I.O.U. and give times that might work for you, e.g. Any Thursday or 9:00 to 10:30 on three mornings of your (teacher's) choice, whatever you can do. If your child is a bit older, you might even be able to volunteer at home. Certain assignments are easy to grade, but 30 at a time takes a while. Write a note to teacher that says you could grade one assignment a week if she sends it home with an answer key. (Be sure you can get them back to school in a day or two, though.)
Cash is always nice, especially if you team up with another parent or group of parents. It sounds crass & unfeeling, but you'd be shocked at how little these teachers make and how much of it they put into their classroom supplies, especially in Catholic schools.
If you want something specifically for the people who teach your child or children, I'd suggest nothing that lasts...soaps, lotions, coffee, Starbuck's gift cards, etc. They don't need or want another coffee cup, figurine or paperweight.
Something you make with your child to give to them: Christmas cookies, a homemade ornament, get butcher paper and make stamps by cutting sponges so you can make homemade wrapping paper, a simple card with a picture from the student and a note from you, the parent or parents.
Hard for a working mom with two more little ones, but: you could volunteer time in the classroom, helping out with an art project that requires more hands, organizing a field trip or assembly. Write out an I.O.U. and give times that might work for you, e.g. Any Thursday or 9:00 to 10:30 on three mornings of your (teacher's) choice, whatever you can do. If your child is a bit older, you might even be able to volunteer at home. Certain assignments are easy to grade, but 30 at a time takes a while. Write a note to teacher that says you could grade one assignment a week if she sends it home with an answer key. (Be sure you can get them back to school in a day or two, though.)
Cash is always nice, especially if you team up with another parent or group of parents. It sounds crass & unfeeling, but you'd be shocked at how little these teachers make and how much of it they put into their classroom supplies, especially in Catholic schools.
Happy gifting!
posted by Pegs at
7:28 PM
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