As a teacher and a parent, we don't expect or want gifts. We want your child to be on time, prepared to learn, present every day possible, and supported at home.

If you really feel called to give a gift, write a kind note about how I've impacted your child. If you absolutely must put in a gift card, $5 or $10 is plenty.

More than that often comes off as a bribe--seriously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your elementary schools not give class gifts? At ours we pool money and teachers typically end up getting $800+ in cash plus a basket of their favorite snacks, things for the classroom, etc.

No I've never seen that. I actually think a class pool would decrease the amount that people put in. How do you get $800? I bet 95% of kids give $25 or less.

I would think that might the case, too, but we’ve been at this elementary for close to ten years now with many different classes and it always works out this way. Room parents send the same letter stating that it’s completely voluntary and cap for the year is $100. I think the majority do $50 at Christmas and $50 at the end of the year. I love it because I just have to Venmo someone and it doesn’t single out who gave what. Or make kids feel bad if they come with nothing (not that they should feel bad, but sometimes kids notice these things)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

100% disagree. Professional employees are given cash bonuses, not gift cards. Gift cards are some pink collar thing to denigrate the work that professionals do.

No professional is given an envelope of cash from an 8 year old. WTF are you talking about. If the county was giving bonuses, sure. But as a teacher gift, gift cards are completely acceptable.

I got enough **** on my plate. Thanks to teachers who work really hard, but in between doing 99% of everything for xmas at home, my job, my ailing parent, and my raging perimenopause, I have nothing left.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

Cash would just feel weird. Why not a gift card?

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

Are you in private? Our public has a limit on what they can accept.

We give $25 Amazon or Starbucks gift cards to kid's most involved teachers/staff members. High school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

100% disagree. Professional employees are given cash bonuses, not gift cards. Gift cards are some pink collar thing to denigrate the work that professionals do.

NP. A gift from a little kid isn’t a “cash bonus” for an employee. A kid giving their teacher a gift card from Target does not denigrate the teacher’s profession. Jfc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

I’m so confused. I thought teachers are not paid well and that’s a big problem.

Anonymous wrote:Do your elementary schools not give class gifts? At ours we pool money and teachers typically end up getting $800+ in cash plus a basket of their favorite snacks, things for the classroom, etc.

No I've never seen that. I actually think a class pool would decrease the amount that people put in. How do you get $800? I bet 95% of kids give $25 or less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

100% disagree. Professional employees are given cash bonuses, not gift cards. Gift cards are some pink collar thing to denigrate the work that professionals do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

Target, Amazon and Starbucks all allow those with the app or an account to type in their gift cards so they are automatically applied to purchases. Teachers no longer need to fumble with a stack of gift cards at the register.

Anonymous wrote:Do your elementary schools not give class gifts? At ours we pool money and teachers typically end up getting $800+ in cash plus a basket of their favorite snacks, things for the classroom, etc.

No.

Do your elementary schools not give class gifts? At ours we pool money and teachers typically end up getting $800+ in cash plus a basket of their favorite snacks, things for the classroom, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!