End of year gifts for preschool teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We wrote out nice notes and gave a box of yummy chocolates.

If people can hopefully reshape their thinking on this. Remember these teachers have been with the kids shaping them everyday, although chocolates are nice, remember they don't make much. If every family gave 100 bucks. That's less than a penny for everyday they've comforted your child they can probably take a nice vacation. More memorable than a starbucks card or food substance. They will never ask for it, but their all hoping for money to pay bills. I have talked to alot of them.

I am the poster who said they gave the nice note and chocolate.

I understand your point in wanting to give more to the preschool teachers than that. And I realize preschool teachers do not earn a whole lot. However, as a former public school teacher myself, I always appreciated the expressions of thanks given to me in whatever form they were given. We don't have an extra $100 to give to our preschool teachers, but I want to make sure they do realize how grateful I am to them. So even if my note and chocolates aren't appreciated for what they are, I hope they can be seen simply as a token of my gratitude. They are gifts and I want them to like them even if it's not the cold hard cash they prefer.

I am the 13:18 poster (and a teacher) and I would certainly appreciate your note and chocolates. For me, it is the effort that is made and a note shows effort on the parents' part. I really would think it was weird to have a parent give me $100 cash. Even a $100 gift card would be crazy. Granted I am a high school teacher and probably make more than most preschool teachers, but I am certainly not poverty stricken and don't expect, nor really want, cash from my students' parents as a reward for being with their kids. It would actually make me sort of uncomfortable. I knew getting into teaching that I would not get paid big bucks, but I actually make a decent salary and while it is not as much as many make in this area, I do OK!

[Anonymous]

Here is the interesting, though. Alot of elemetary and high school teachers are responding. There is a huge difference in what a preschool teacher makes and what a school teacher makes. Unfortunately alot of preschool teachers feel that their not only on the low end of the pay scale but also the respect scale when it comes to teaching. I heard one say that their not even considered real teachers because of the lack of degree that you need to be one.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that about preschool teachers at all. But I do question whether it's really up to the parents to supplement their salaries.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for weighing in everyone and for your suggestions. I think the take-away message I got from the replies is that it is nice to include a personal note with whatever gift I give, be it cash or chocolates. I personally would feel a little strange giving cash, even though I know preschool teachers make a modest salary. At least at our school, the teachers are our neighbors too and are in the same socio-economic class as the parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you mean that they are paid enough, that's one position. If you mean that they are not paid enough, but someone else should make up the difference, I don't see who's going to do this. I'm sure most preschools would like to pay their teachers more--if they could find enough parents willing to pay higher tuition. But failing that, they can't really increase salaries substantially.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, was responding to 14:36.

[Anonymous]

Our parents contibute to a group cash gift, to which we contributed generously, but anonymously. My kid made an art project for each - just so she'd know that it is important to thank your teachers.

On chocolates: I've learned from experience that it's very hard for diabetics to be handed multiple boxes of chocolates. Just be sure, when you give food, that the teacher will be able to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher myself, I would feel uncomfortable receiving cash....even though it's not much different than gift cards. I think gift cards to a place with lots of options like the mall or Target are great. If you want to give a small token of appreciation, Starbucks cards for even $5 or $10 are nice. If you know your teacher well, you could give a gift card specific to what she likes. Several years ago, I was getting married over the summer. The parents asked around and figured out where I was registered and bought me a group gift card to that store.

Also, just a thought....it's really helpful with Thank You notes when you give gifts a day or two BEFORE the last day of school. I've started mailing mine the last few years because I know my students get a kick out of mail. Also, I know it doesn't get tucked away in their desk or bookbag before it ever makes it home (I can only imagine how many parents think I didn't send Thank Yous!!). However, if teachers want to just tuck the Thank You note in the child's bag, they have a day or two to do this.

As for the high school teacher who commented on not getting gifts, it's much more common in the preschool and elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher myself, I would feel uncomfortable receiving cash....even though it's not much different than gift cards. I think gift cards to a place with lots of options like the mall or Target are great. If you want to give a small token of appreciation, Starbucks cards for even $5 or $10 are nice. If you know your teacher well, you could give a gift card specific to what she likes. Several years ago, I was getting married over the summer. The parents asked around and figured out where I was registered and bought me a group gift card to that store.

Also, just a thought....it's really helpful with Thank You notes when you give gifts a day or two BEFORE the last day of school. I've started mailing mine the last few years because I know my students get a kick out of mail. Also, I know it doesn't get tucked away in their desk or bookbag before it ever makes it home (I can only imagine how many parents think I didn't send Thank Yous!!). However, if teachers want to just tuck the Thank You note in the child's bag, they have a day or two to do this.

As for the high school teacher who commented on not getting gifts, it's much more common in the preschool and elementary.

The cash thing is usually a check, not a envelope full of cash. Usually it's drawn on a bank and the teacher can go cash it.

[Anonymous]

High school and middle school teachers don't need to spend a lot of their own money for classrooms. This is totally the opposite for elementary and preschool teachers...they spend much more money on their classrooms and on their students. Cash or gift cards would be great!

[Anonymous]

One teacher responded to a Christmas gift thread with a terrific suggestion. She loved getting a gift certificate to Staples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One teacher responded to a Christmas gift thread with a terrific suggestion. She loved getting a gift certificate to Staples.

The thing with gift cards is your telling them where to go. That particular teacher liked it but with cash, sure they can use cash at staples or they can do something else. There are more choices for them in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

it is so tacky to say all they want is cash. It is a "gift". Give what you want to give. There is no need to break the bank over this.

[Anonymous]

I had a relative who taught at a DC private school. I was astounded at what parents thought were suitable gifts. A flat screen TV. A ski weekend. Gift certificates to some extremely nice restaurants.

I was upset that she accepted the gifts but bit my tongue for the sake of harmony. What could those parents possiblly expect in return for such generosity? And could she remain completely objective when writing up junior's evalutions?

[Anonymous]

I used to teach in an elementary school and someone once gave me and $20 in a card... cash. It was a little wierd. One of the best gifts I ever received was a framed picture of me and the student and a nice note.