Yes, give something, but don't stress about monetary value. It is the thought that counts. Not everyone can afford to spend and ton and teachers recognize that (or most do, anyway.)

I was a preschool teacher for many years, and I'm also a parent and grandparent. I feel that gifts for teachers should be each person's individual decision - what to give, how much to spend, and even whether, and when, to give a gift. It's true that teaching isn't a very high paying profession, and I think every teacher appreciates gifts, both personal and for classroom use.

However, parents all have different incomes, budgets, and financial responsibilities. I don't think parents should feel obligated to buy gifts when they can't afford to, or even if they can afford it but choose to support the school or teachers in other ways.

Some of the best "teacher gifts" I've ever received have been small, craft-type items, handmade by a child with help from a parent, and I appreciate a $10 Starbucks gift card as much as a gift of a 1 hour massage. The best gift is knowing that parents appreciate us for loving, teaching, and caring for their children.

I think it is important to remember that the tuition and everything you pay to the school, goes to the school. Yes it pays salaries and supplies for the classroom, but is also covering the school bills and insurance ( if you are daycare or private). You may pay a lot, but it doesn't meAn the teachers have high salaries. We pay a lot ( what I consider) for daycare for our two, but I see it going into the school environment, not teacher salaries. On the last day I gave $140 to the infant and toddler teachers to buy lunch. It boiled down to 10-12 dollars a person, but all of them had an impact on my DD's lives this past year. They were all appreciative of it. My husband balked when he found out because we do pay so much, but as a teacher myself, I know that the small gesture goes a long way to making someone feel appreciated. So no matter how much you pay for someone to watch your child for 6-10 hours a day, a small gesture of appreciation is always nice, wether monetary or a note.

I do feel teachers should get appreciated, as do the mail carriers, doctors, dentists, baby sitter, swim instructor, people who have to work during the summer, etc….. Yes, all people deserve respect for their career they have chosen and all are paid to do their job. So if we bought gifts for all we appreciated we would be buying gifts all the time and be working just to buy gifts. A simple and personal thank you note or kind deed for them could show more appreciation then a material one.

We do $20 gift cards for Target. I figure they can buy something for themselves or for the classroom.

I will get a gift for end of year but I do think teacher appreciation week is all blown out of proportion. It's ridiculous to have parents toting in bagels, lunch and everything else.