Teachers: What gifts do you throw away?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I also like cash! Thank you?

[Anonymous]

Starbucks gift cards- can't go wrong!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks gift cards- can't go wrong!

Yes you can--I have probably $150 of them in my wallet. I hate coffee and I'm not waiting in that line for a muffin. I give them away, which is fine, but not really a gift to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom (a teacher) always said the best gift you can give a teacher is a crisp $50 bill. So I give one to the main teacher and one to the Aide with a sweet note. I feel weird and tacky doing so, but they have always liked it!

Your mom sounds tacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow! What a great idea. As a teacher I would be beyond thrilled to get this.

Anonymous wrote:If I am a room parent, we go in as a class and get a full car detail and put the envelope in a nice car tote with car scent sticks, baby wipes, mints, hand lotion, chapstick, mini first aid kit, individual tissue packs, gloved ice scraper, pens, mini notebook, and de-icer. Always a huge hit. It is personal and very much needed during the winter months going to and from school.

Would be a good idea except I already have all that stuff in my car so it wouldn't be useful to me. Proving, yet again, why gift cards are the only good gift. Even the ones that are nice ideas could well be duplicates or something that particular teacher wouldn't use, etc. Not everyone appreciates the same stuff. Gift cards (and even then, best to stick w/ something really broad like Amazon or Target and not to a restaurant or smaller store that doesn't have as many options) and personal notes are the only true winners. Nothing else.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, do you run that car tote idea by the other parents every year? I would be pissed if our room parentvused the contributions for something so stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, do you run that car tote idea by the other parents every year? I would be pissed if our room parentvused the contributions for something so stupid.

I thought the car tote idea was pretty bad too. Useful for one family does not translate well into useful for each family.

Our room parent did a "beach tote" that was along the same lines. They put a lot of heart and a lot of useless items (monogrammed beach towel, flip flops, sunscreen, junk magazines, gum, etc.) together in it. I would much rather the $ have gone toward a gift card that would have allowed the teacher to select something she wanted/needed. Parents were not consulted but were all asked to chip in for this creation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, do you run that car tote idea by the other parents every year? I would be pissed if our room parentvused the contributions for something so stupid.

I thought the car tote idea was pretty bad too. Useful for one family does not translate well into useful for each family.

Our room parent did a "beach tote" that was along the same lines. They put a lot of heart and a lot of useless items (monogrammed beach towel, flip flops, sunscreen, junk magazines, gum, etc.) together in it. I would much rather the $ have gone toward a gift card that would have allowed the teacher to select something she wanted/needed. Parents were not consulted but were all asked to chip in for this creation.

Agree. I would rather get a gift card in less a teacher is specific with a gift. I emailed the teacher and specifically asked if what store she and the other teachers in the room wanted. Luckily they all agreed. I sent out an email to everyone sharing the information. I would not want magazines, flip flops that may not fit, gum, etc. I also would want to pick my sunscreen. Its nice thought but waste of money especially if the teacher does not go to the beach. I keep my car clean so I wouldn't want it detailed vs. something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks gift cards- can't go wrong!

Yes you can--I have probably $150 of them in my wallet. I hate coffee and I'm not waiting in that line for a muffin. I give them away, which is fine, but not really a gift to me.

+1, never go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks gift cards- can't go wrong!

Yes you can--I have probably $150 of them in my wallet. I hate coffee and I'm not waiting in that line for a muffin. I give them away, which is fine, but not really a gift to me.

+1, never go there.

We should get teachers nothing then. Ungrateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks gift cards- can't go wrong!

Yes you can--I have probably $150 of them in my wallet. I hate coffee and I'm not waiting in that line for a muffin. I give them away, which is fine, but not really a gift to me.

+1, never go there.

We should get teachers nothing then. Ungrateful.

You are being difficult. It has been said over and over again gift cards to Amazon or Target. Universally appreciated. Why are so many people trying to be creative? Isn't it nice to just get the most simple and useful gift for the teachers?

I do think the Starbucks pp is a ungrateful. A Starbucks gift card had to be one of the most regifteable presents ever. If you give your kids' teacher that, than you don't have to use your own money. Unless you throw them away, you did get a gift.

[Anonymous]

I dont drink coffee. I just leave them in the teachers room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont drink coffee. I just leave them in the teachers room.

I'm sure THEY appreciate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont drink coffee. I just leave them in the teachers room.

I'm sure THEY appreciate them.

Or, why not put thought into your child's teacher and get them something they can use and appreciate. The gift should be about the receiver, not just the giver pretending to care and give as it meets their needs. Not much of a present if they cannot use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont drink coffee. I just leave them in the teachers room.

I'm sure THEY appreciate them.

Or, why not put thought into your child's teacher and get them something they can use and appreciate. The gift should be about the receiver, not just the giver pretending to care and give as it meets their needs. Not much of a present if they cannot use them.

But teachers here have proven they don't like much of anything.