Teacher Xmas gifts

[Anonymous]

We are in MCPS and we collect for parties and gifts. Parents can do more on their own, but we only got donations from 7 of 18 parents. Still they expect parties, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As both a parent who spent a lot of time volunteering in elementary school, and as a preschool teacher, I can tell you that a lot of teachers do not want home-baked goods. A gift card is much more appreciated.

I've always assumed that too. At our school the baked goods ended up in the teachers lounge. How many plates of cookies can one consume at christmas before they get stale.

[Anonymous]

I do not think we should give any gifts. Teachers are just doing their jobs. I work in a postal office and I do my job well, do I receive any gifts? I receive my salary. I have 4 children and I rather pay their Imagination Stage tickets than contributing towards teachers gifts. There is so much pressure with collecting the money, they send me reminders all the time through the teachers! (please pay your contribution for the class parties and teacher's gift). My kids do not eat all that sugar anyway!

[Anonymous]

I think homemade sweets are among the best gifts for teachers. I've gotten more-thoughtful thank-you notes for my shortbread rounds than for anything store-bought I have ever given a teacher. When I was growing up, patients gave my dad, a surgeon, all sorts of homemade cakes, cookies, and candies for the holidays, and we loved them, even looked forward to them. I guess there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like to receive homemade sweets as presents and those who don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think homemade sweets are among the best gifts for teachers. I've gotten more-thoughtful thank-you notes for my shortbread rounds than for anything store-bought I have ever given a teacher. When I was growing up, patients gave my dad, a surgeon, all sorts of homemade cakes, cookies, and candies for the holidays, and we loved them, even looked forward to them. I guess there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like to receive homemade sweets as presents and those who don't.

My mom was a teacher, and the entire family looked forward to homeade gifts. We would get really excited the years she had one of the siblings from the families whose mom had a famous specialty (probably like your shortbread rounds). Like you, I have a signature cookie and I have had teachers ask for the recipe, tell me that they finished them off in the car on the way home, etc. It probably depends on the quality of the baked goods. That cookie is the only one I get that response from, so it is the only homeade item I gift.

Although she was always very grateful and gracious when receiving gifts, the items that my mom did not care to receive were the candles, ornaments, trinkets, etc.

Restaurant gift cards were no good if they were from more expensive places where she would have to spend extra money to use the gift certificate, but gift cards to inexpensive places like Panera or Starbucks were highly appreciated.

Gifts for the class (supplies, stickers, books) were very, very welcome.

[Anonymous]

I think Visa or Am/Ex gift cards are fine. At least, I hope so because that's what I plan to give. We can't give anything close to $50, though, as wonderful as DS's teacher is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Visa or Am/Ex gift cards are fine. At least, I hope so because that's what I plan to give. We can't give anything close to $50, though, as wonderful as DS's teacher is.

I think giving those cards is just like giving cash, which is just like bribery. It just seems wrong, for a parent to give it and for a teacher to keep it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think homemade sweets are among the best gifts for teachers. I've gotten more-thoughtful thank-you notes for my shortbread rounds than for anything store-bought I have ever given a teacher. When I was growing up, patients gave my dad, a surgeon, all sorts of homemade cakes, cookies, and candies for the holidays, and we loved them, even looked forward to them. I guess there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like to receive homemade sweets as presents and those who don't.

My mom was a teacher, and the entire family looked forward to homeade gifts. We would get really excited the years she had one of the siblings from the families whose mom had a famous specialty (probably like your shortbread rounds). Like you, I have a signature cookie and I have had teachers ask for the recipe, tell me that they finished them off in the car on the way home, etc. It probably depends on the quality of the baked goods. That cookie is the only one I get that response from, so it is the only homeade item I gift.

Although she was always very grateful and gracious when receiving gifts, the items that my mom did not care to receive were the candles, ornaments, trinkets, etc.

Restaurant gift cards were no good if they were from more expensive places where she would have to spend extra money to use the gift certificate, but gift cards to inexpensive places like Panera or Starbucks were highly appreciated.

Gifts for the class (supplies, stickers, books) were very, very welcome.

Thanks for sharing. Lovely to read about your family's looking forward to the homemade treats from your mother's students. I'm the one who posted up-thread about her surgeon dad's patients and the wonderful treats they would send. My very favorite was the tin of fruitcake cookies from not a patient but his office receptionist. My dad passed away last year, and the holidays will not be the same.

You signature cookie must be really good. May I ask what cookie it is? Though my signature is the shortbread round, I am always on the lookout for another good thing to bake for gifts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Our family's favorites were a lady who made a German stollen and another who made these yummy zucchinni mini loafs.

My cookie is a variation on a heath almond cookie with a few very secret ingredients added One year I gave it to the UPS driver and he returned the next day to thank me for them. The following year he asked around November if I was going to be giving them out for gifts again that Christmas too, lol. My other baked goods are mediocre and inconsistant, so I stick with the one that actually works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think homemade sweets are among the best gifts for teachers. I've gotten more-thoughtful thank-you notes for my shortbread rounds than for anything store-bought I have ever given a teacher. When I was growing up, patients gave my dad, a surgeon, all sorts of homemade cakes, cookies, and candies for the holidays, and we loved them, even looked forward to them. I guess there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like to receive homemade sweets as presents and those who don't.

My mom was a teacher, and the entire family looked forward to homeade gifts. We would get really excited the years she had one of the siblings from the families whose mom had a famous specialty (probably like your shortbread rounds). Like you, I have a signature cookie and I have had teachers ask for the recipe, tell me that they finished them off in the car on the way home, etc. It probably depends on the quality of the baked goods. That cookie is the only one I get that response from, so it is the only homeade item I gift.

Although she was always very grateful and gracious when receiving gifts, the items that my mom did not care to receive were the candles, ornaments, trinkets, etc.

Restaurant gift cards were no good if they were from more expensive places where she would have to spend extra money to use the gift certificate, but gift cards to inexpensive places like Panera or Starbucks were highly appreciated.

Gifts for the class (supplies, stickers, books) were very, very welcome.

Thanks for sharing. Lovely to read about your family's looking forward to the homemade treats from your mother's students. I'm the one who posted up-thread about her surgeon dad's patients and the wonderful treats they would send. My very favorite was the tin of fruitcake cookies from not a patient but his office receptionist. My dad passed away last year, and the holidays will not be the same.

You signature cookie must be really good. May I ask what cookie it is? Though my signature is the shortbread round, I am always on the lookout for another good thing to bake for gifts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP, for letting me know the cookie. That HEATH almond cookie sounds killer!! I don't know anyone who doesn't love toffee bits. I may have to work up a recipe for a cookie like yours. Yum.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher. I think homemade baked goods can be very appreciated, if they are of good quality. One year some parents chipped in and made a variety of delicious homemade Christmas cookies, to help with holiday entertaining. I loved that!

I have received plenty of mugs, candles, one year a nightgown! I was grateful for everything; these were not well-off families and it truly is the thought that counts. Many items I just turned around and doonated to the thrift store, but the look on the children's eyes when they gave me their presents was really special to me, especially as a young, not yet jaded teacher.

No one ever handed me cash, but I don't think a $20 bill in a nice envelope is any more offensive than a $20 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, which I don't think is offensive in the least.

It's DEFINITELY not enough money to bribe me. Write a lovely note or better, have your child write the note, and that's what is the most important thing.

[Anonymous]

"It's DEFINITELY not enough money to bribe me. Write a lovely note or better, have your child write the note, and that's what is the most important thing. "

I'm a teacher, too. I don't think it's about whether or not it's actually going to bribe me-I think it reflects upon me poorly if other parents, teachers, or community members find out that I accepted cash as a holiday gift. Of course I'm not going to change grades for $20, or any amount of money. But, the fact remains that teachers are held to a different standard than some other professions and I prefer not to put myself in what I think is a questionable position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"It's DEFINITELY not enough money to bribe me. Write a lovely note or better, have your child write the note, and that's what is the most important thing. "

I'm a teacher, too. I don't think it's about whether or not it's actually going to bribe me-I think it reflects upon me poorly if other parents, teachers, or community members find out that I accepted cash as a holiday gift. Of course I'm not going to change grades for $20, or any amount of money. But, the fact remains that teachers are held to a different standard than some other professions and I prefer not to put myself in what I think is a questionable position.

Have you ever actually returned a gift to a student? Would you accept a $75 Barnes & Noble card? I agree with a PP - I just don't see the difference between cash and a gift card. I think either is fine.

DH is a teacher. He gets WAY too many sweets (some homemade and some not) - most end up in the teacher's lounge. It's very thoughtful and greatly appreciated, of course - but I he prefers more practical items that can be used in the classroom (games for indoor recess, as a PP mentioned, books for the classroom library, supplies, etc.). Probably his favorite and most memorable gift so far was a crate of Asian pears he got from one student. We thought it was so odd at first - but then we all discovered how delicious Asian pears are! The oddest was an earring/neclace set - I liked it though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As both a parent who spent a lot of time volunteering in elementary school, and as a preschool teacher, I can tell you that a lot of teachers do not want home-baked goods. A gift card is much more appreciated.

Oh la tee da, well I happen to know many teachers and they always appreciate baked goods. What a snob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not think we should give any gifts. Teachers are just doing their jobs. I work in a postal office and I do my job well, do I receive any gifts? I receive my salary. I have 4 children and I rather pay their Imagination Stage tickets than contributing towards teachers gifts. There is so much pressure with collecting the money, they send me reminders all the time through the teachers! (please pay your contribution for the class parties and teacher's gift). My kids do not eat all that sugar anyway!

Are you comparing stamps to children?

apples and oranges, PP

apples and oranges