Anonymous wrote:Our school PTA collects money and divides it between all the teachers and staff for holiday gifts. It makes it very easy. I started giving a little more when my kid got to middle school since they had more teachers.

My small private does the same for us. It's handy for teachers, since we have a rough idea what's coming and can plan a nice gift with the collective support.

But cards with heartfelt notes are great too. If you want to give something directly, Starbucks gift cards are modest but always usable.

Our school PTA collects money and divides it between all the teachers and staff for holiday gifts. It makes it very easy. I started giving a little more when my kid got to middle school since they had more teachers.

Parent here at a Christian K-8.
Our school does the lists too. I asked DD if she wanted to give to any teachers and she picked 3. One is the coach/PE teacher who had been amazing. I’ll get them a GC and an item off their list. The other 2 I’m getting their fav requested candy only.

My child writes a handwritten note and gives perhaps a small gift card or personalized guft -- but not to every teacher. The truth is my child does not have a close connection with every middle school teacher she has. At the end of the year I write notes and do a small gift card for those who went above and beyond and challenged my child or were simply excellent educators. Both of my parents were educators and they both said the heartfelt notes mattered more than any gifts they may have received.

I'm a recently retired MS/HS teacher. In my 30 years my favorite things were always the heartfelt notes from parents or kids thanking me for what I did every day. If they had a small gift card attached that was all the better but certainly not necessary. Honestly, most teachers just want a thank you. I've saved some of the best notes I ever got because they were reminders that some people really noticed my dedication to their kids.

I'm a private school teacher/parent and do not give gifts for MS/US teachers. However, I plan to do something (bagel breakfast etc) for the entire school during senior year for each kid, as a thank you.

I am a middle school teacher and parent. I've never had much money to spend on gifts, but I have always felt it important to give something. Trader Joe's is great for this. Hand creams, lip balms, chocolates, succulents, etc. attached to a handmade card from my DC has always been a nice way to show appreciation. And as a teacher, those are the gifts I have always appreciated most. Simple things, or gifts that came with a card that read "thought of you when we saw this..."

Anonymous wrote:What is a "teacher favorite" list?

Teacher here.
At the start of the year we are asked to fill out a cute form with things like your favorite teams, kind of music, candy, etc., and the PTO or Secret Santa participants use them.

Small gift cards, like Starbucks, McDonald's, Dunkin are always cool. Small items like holiday socks are cool.
Mugs multiply but if you find a cute one and put some candy or hot chocolate spoons in them, it makes a cute gift.

A homeroom teacher would warrant a larger gift, as they probably are the ones who wipe tears away or advocate for your child.

What is a "teacher favorite" list?

I am surprised that teacher favorite lists are still being distributed. It feels like a lot of teachers to buy gifts for, and though we don't get any FA, this school is a stretch for us. What's expected these days?