Gift for LOR writer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son gave everyone who helped with his application (recommenders, counselor, teacher who gave essay help) a thank you note and a very small token of appreciation- homemade cookies.

Good job raising a kind son. Back in the day, i gave each recommender a pie or cake from a local bakery as a thank you, but it was not homemade.

[Anonymous]

My child gave each of her letter writers a hat from the school she was committed to (right before graduation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child gave each of her letter writers a hat from the school she was committed to (right before graduation).

Why would they want that?

[Anonymous]

I sent a case of wine to their homes graduation week. I knew they both drank.

[Anonymous]

$50 Amazon gift card plus a handwritten note

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child gave each of her letter writers a hat from the school she was committed to (right before graduation).

Why would they want that?

Why wouldn’t they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Son really likes the teacher who wrote his LOR. What can we give her in thanks?

Our district has a $50 value limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child gave each of her letter writers a hat from the school she was committed to (right before graduation).

Why would they want that?

Why wouldn’t they?

Because it is a meaningless clothing accessory for the recipient.

[Anonymous]

Yes to a prompt, handwritten thank you card from the student.

Also, if you are really feelin’ it, yes to a Coffee/Target gift card at the end of the school year, with thanks from the parent for a wonderful year of learning and support. The gift should in no way be tied to the letter. We like to gift our teachers in the years when they don’t write letters too! Thus, end of year does not feel like a bribe to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s actually not a part of a teacher’s job. These letters are not mentioned in our contracts, nor is a single minute of our workday all year long devoted to this task, which can take over 40 work hours a year. We are allowed to say no. It is a common misconception on DCUM that this is a part of our job.

We do it anyway out of respect for our students, but be aware this is 100% done on our own time and out of support, not obligation.

OP, a letter is sufficient. I write over 50 a year and usually get 1-2 thank-you letters. I’m thrilled when students show appreciation for these letters! It doesn’t happen often.

There are dozens of things you do that are part of your job but aren't specifically named in the contract. This is one of them. It's 10x as important as grading the 50th makework homework assignment.

If you don't like it, lobby the principal to ban LOR and send letters to colleges telling them.

It's not fair to keep some children in or out of a college based on teachers' whims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes to a prompt, handwritten thank you card from the student.

Also, if you are really feelin’ it, yes to a Coffee/Target gift card at the end of the school year, with thanks from the parent for a wonderful year of learning and support. The gift should in no way be tied to the letter. We like to gift our teachers in the years when they don’t write letters too! Thus, end of year does not feel like a bribe to me.

These gifts really should be pooled and delivered as a group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s actually not a part of a teacher’s job. These letters are not mentioned in our contracts, nor is a single minute of our workday all year long devoted to this task, which can take over 40 work hours a year. We are allowed to say no. It is a common misconception on DCUM that this is a part of our job.

We do it anyway out of respect for our students, but be aware this is 100% done on our own time and out of support, not obligation.

OP, a letter is sufficient. I write over 50 a year and usually get 1-2 thank-you letters. I’m thrilled when students show appreciation for these letters! It doesn’t happen often.

There are dozens of things you do that are part of your job but aren't specifically named in the contract. This is one of them. It's 10x as important as grading the 50th makework homework assignment.

If you don't like it, lobby the principal to ban LOR and send letters to colleges telling them.

It's not fair to keep some children in or out of a college based on teachers' whims.

I very, very clearly stated that we do write letters, but it is not done out of OBLIGATION.

I wasn’t complaining about it, nor was I saying that we don’t / won’t write them. We obviously do. And whims? Do you really think I won’t write one because of some whim? I write 50 a year, and I turn down very few. When I do, I alert counseling, explain my good reason why, and help find alternatives. Because I care.

I was merely fixing a common misconception. And since two posters before me said “thank you” letters aren’t needed because this is part of our job, I felt a kind, reasonable explanation was warranted.

It is absolutely acceptable for teachers to explain the -reality- of our profession to others and you don’t need to assume we are complaining. We aren’t. Perhaps it’s time you assume good intentions, because that’s what the majority of us have, and we work very hard and sacrifice more than we should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes to a prompt, handwritten thank you card from the student.

Also, if you are really feelin’ it, yes to a Coffee/Target gift card at the end of the school year, with thanks from the parent for a wonderful year of learning and support. The gift should in no way be tied to the letter. We like to gift our teachers in the years when they don’t write letters too! Thus, end of year does not feel like a bribe to me.

These gifts really should be pooled and delivered as a group.

PP here. You aren’t wrong. Yet our enormous school is not organized for that. But I like your thinking. Moving forward, gift cards will be anonymous. I don’t want our teachers to feel an obligation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Son really likes the teacher who wrote his LOR. What can we give her in thanks?

Write a thank you note and express sincere thanks not only for taking the time to write the LOR, but also for what they learned because of the teacher - they must have been significant in your child's academic journey if your student requested they write a LOR.

Forever grateful for how much my daughter's teachers did that was above and beyond their contracted hours - including letters of rec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent a case of wine to their homes graduation week. I knew they both drank.

That's probably way over the maximum value of what the teacher is allowed to accept.