Another holiday gift for teacher question.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in kindergarten so this is new to me (for daycare the center just collected and pooled monies and gave all a cash gift).

I no for some $20 is a lot but for me it just doesn't seem enough. I was thinking of giving DC's teacher a $20 gc to Starbucks (which I know she drinks and is close to school) and I homemade card. Would it be okay to also give a $50 amazon gc "glassroom supplies"?

I would be particularly interested it what any teachers think.

I don't want to create an ethical dilemma or seem weird in any way. Just want to show appreciation and be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think it's okay to give money for classroom supplies. That is not a gift to the teacher.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do another gift card in your situation because the teacher is still not supposed to accept anything over $20 and it puts her in an uncomfortable position. Give her your $20 gift card and then offer to make a donation of classroom supplies. Ask her if there are book titles she'd like or other supplies that she could use and get her the items a few weeks after the holidays, instead of a gift card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in kindergarten so this is new to me (for daycare the center just collected and pooled monies and gave all a cash gift).

I no for some $20 is a lot but for me it just doesn't seem enough. I was thinking of giving DC's teacher a $20 gc to Starbucks (which I know she drinks and is close to school) and I homemade card. Would it be okay to also give a $50 amazon gc "glassroom supplies"?

I would be particularly interested it what any teachers think.

I don't want to create an ethical dilemma or seem weird in any way. Just want to show appreciation and be helpful.

Oh dear! I just re-read my original post and it is so poorly written. I was in a hurry. I apologize.


Should read as:

My kid is in kindergarten so this is new to me (for daycare the center just collected and pooled monies and gave staff cash gifts).

I know for some $20 is a lot but for me it just doesn't seem enough. I was thinking of giving DC's teacher a $20 gc to Starbucks (I know she drinks coffee from there and it is close to our school) and a homemade card. Would it be okay to also give a $50 amazon gc "for classroom supplies"?

I would be particularly interested it what any teachers think.

I don't want to create an ethical dilemma or seem weird in any way. Just want to show appreciation and be helpful.[/

[Anonymous]

Do the $20 gift card and pick up books to donate to the classroom. Gifting two gift cards is putting her in an ethical tight spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do another gift card in your situation because the teacher is still not supposed to accept anything over $20 and it puts her in an uncomfortable position. Give her your $20 gift card and then offer to make a donation of classroom supplies. Ask her if there are book titles she'd like or other supplies that she could use and get her the items a few weeks after the holidays, instead of a gift card.

This is kinda what I was thinking but I just thought a gift card would be simpler and enable her to get exactly what she needed. Oh and the quotes around for classroom supplies was not to imply that she would use it for personal purchases just that I would write a note.

I really wish she would post a wish list on Amazon from which we could buy things for the classroom and have them delivered directly to the school. I've heard of other teachers doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the $20 gift card and pick up books to donate to the classroom. Gifting two gift cards is putting her in an ethical tight spot.

For what ever reason, I just feel awkward asking her what she wants or to just give her books I've selected.

I think because I'd feel put on the spot if someone asked me - and just say thanks but we're fine. And selecting something myself for her classroom just seems presumptuous.

Really I'd be just as happy to make a donation anonymously if I was sure she would get it.

[Anonymous]

I never felt too awkward to ask: "How are you on classroom supplies? Are you running low on tissues or anything else?"

[Anonymous]

Target has free shipping right now. I'd do that and the dollar store and give a box of supplies of basics to replenish as well as some fun stuff and then a gift card specifically for her.

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-colored-pencils-12ct/-/A-15022620#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-pencil-top-erasers-25-ct/-/A-10805583

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-wood-barrel-no-2-pencils-24-ct/-/A-10805587#prodSlot=medium_1_13&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-broadline-markers-10ct/-/A-15022622#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=markers

http://www.target.com/p/yoobi-2pk-glue-stick-blue/-/A-15125733#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-liquid-school-glue-4oz/-/A-17243517#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-erasers-2-ct/-/A-14046184

(if you search by price then you can pick what looks good and ship it to the school for free to her)


Or, more fun is to get the bulk stuff at oriental trading - fun pencils, erasers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never felt too awkward to ask: "How are you on classroom supplies? Are you running low on tissues or anything else?"

I just send in or drop off extra tissues and clorox wipes every so often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Target has free shipping right now. I'd do that and the dollar store and give a box of supplies of basics to replenish as well as some fun stuff and then a gift card specifically for her.

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-colored-pencils-12ct/-/A-15022620#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-pencil-top-erasers-25-ct/-/A-10805583

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-wood-barrel-no-2-pencils-24-ct/-/A-10805587#prodSlot=medium_1_13&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-broadline-markers-10ct/-/A-15022622#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=markers

http://www.target.com/p/yoobi-2pk-glue-stick-blue/-/A-15125733#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-liquid-school-glue-4oz/-/A-17243517#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-erasers-2-ct/-/A-14046184

(if you search by price then you can pick what looks good and ship it to the school for free to her)


Or, more fun is to get the bulk stuff at oriental trading - fun pencils, erasers, etc.

See I think buying the items you list from Target without knowing what she wants as pushy - I saw what was dropped off at the beginning of the year and it was a lot! Plus I don't think she even uses a lot of those items. They are only allowed to write with fat pencils without erasers and they only color with big crayons.

And I can't imagine what I would get her from Oriental Trading Company.

Clearly I need to ask her what she wants. I just feel odd doing it like I'm trying to gain favor with her.

[Anonymous]

I think sending an extra gift card is looking like you're trying to gain favor, too.

Was there a school book fair? Teachers often make Scholastic wish lists that you could donate off of. Other than that, just pick up copies of some of your DCs favorite books and send them in. My son requested this frequently as he liked to share his favorites with classmates.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher I think this is a really sweet gesture. Asking her what she needs puts her in a funny spot too (though most classrooms always need tissues and clorox wipes since the stuff that school warehouse provides us is crap). I would give her the Target card in a separate envelope and say that it is for classroom supplies. You could ask the principal first if you have concerns but honestly, it is not going to really put the teacher in a huge ethical position especially since it's a donation towards the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think sending an extra gift card is looking like you're trying to gain favor, too.

Was there a school book fair? Teachers often make Scholastic wish lists that you could donate off of. Other than that, just pick up copies of some of your DCs favorite books and send them in. My son requested this frequently as he liked to share his favorites with classmates.

I agree - I just want to do something nice. I am always hearing that the school systems don't/can't provide adequate teacher supplies and I've seen it firsthand with my husband who is a school librarian - each month we pick out 2 new books to donate to his library from Amazon and I would happily do something similar for my kid's class or library. It's not like we even have that money but I really like to support educators and I know that my DH loves being able to get some extra books outside the school purchasing system (which is once a year if he's lucky) throughout the school year in response to student or teacher requests or new publications.

Unfortunately I missed that they had bags of wishlist books for each teacher at the book fair (the place was a madhouse the evening I went and they don't put lists online.

Again, I would love it if there was a mechanism to it anonymously. I really don't want to bring attention to myself or my son in this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Target has free shipping right now. I'd do that and the dollar store and give a box of supplies of basics to replenish as well as some fun stuff and then a gift card specifically for her.

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-colored-pencils-12ct/-/A-15022620#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-pencil-top-erasers-25-ct/-/A-10805583

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-wood-barrel-no-2-pencils-24-ct/-/A-10805587#prodSlot=medium_1_13&term=pencils

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-broadline-markers-10ct/-/A-15022622#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=markers

http://www.target.com/p/yoobi-2pk-glue-stick-blue/-/A-15125733#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-liquid-school-glue-4oz/-/A-17243517#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=school+supply+clearance

http://www.target.com/p/up-up-erasers-2-ct/-/A-14046184

(if you search by price then you can pick what looks good and ship it to the school for free to her)


Or, more fun is to get the bulk stuff at oriental trading - fun pencils, erasers, etc.

See I think buying the items you list from Target without knowing what she wants as pushy - I saw what was dropped off at the beginning of the year and it was a lot! Plus I don't think she even uses a lot of those items. They are only allowed to write with fat pencils without erasers and they only color with big crayons.

And I can't imagine what I would get her from Oriental Trading Company.

Clearly I need to ask her what she wants. I just feel odd doing it like I'm trying to gain favor with her.

Or just buy extra's of what she uses. We use a mix of fat/regular and regular crayons.