I was a teacher a long time ago. I STILL have the ornaments the students gave me and put them on my tree, as well as the little trinkets they gave me throughout the year. I remember each kid, even though I'm sure they've long forgotten me. I'm not much for collecting stuff, but I'll never get rid of these things. I also have all their notes and cards, and my own kids love looking through them.

As a room parent now, I send out a brief survey to my kids' teachers early in the year and ask them their favorite restaurants, where they like to shop, whether there's anything they need for their classrooms, anything they dislike (coffee, chocolate, etc). I do an optional class gift collection of $5-$10 per family and buy accordingly. Mostly gift cards but often some other small stuff, too, depending on how much is contributed. Some kids still bring in their own gifts, which is fine, but other families are definitely happy to just chip in for the group gift and call it good. The teachers seem to really like this, as they get what they need plus some extra things they'll enjoy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Travel mug, yes!

Chinese ceramic mugs that contain lead, no!

If you wouldn’t want your family to drink out of it, it isn’t a good gift.

Where do you think your travel mug comes from if not China? Why are you so xenophobic about China?

I love ornaments - not teacher ones per se, but regular ornaments. I keep them all on my tree!

I do leave chocolate and cookies behind in the faculty room, give Starbucks and manicure cards to my teens (money I would have spent anyway) and can’t use lotions, but I do write thanks yous for everything.

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused on the anti-mug sentiment. Most teachers are coffee guzzlers who are always looking for/appreciative of coffee mugs. If you despise mugs, I’m sure someone in the school will want it.

They’re drinking it out of lidded travel mugs. Not breakable mugs that contain lead.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Travel mug, yes!

Chinese ceramic mugs that contain lead, no!

If you wouldn’t want your family to drink out of it, it isn’t a good gift.

I can recall great joy in giving gifts to the teacher (usually flowers from our garden). Let your children have a similar joy. Enough with the gift cards (cash bribes).

My mom worked in an extremely poor inner-city school and she treasured every gift given her by a student. Some were re-gifted or donated but she still appreciated the gesture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you aren’t so great with reading comprehension.

There is a difference between being appreciative and not wanting more junk that will clog up a landfill.

Considering a GIFT ‘junk’ is not appreciative.

NP. It's not very appreciative to give someone a mug or junk. Just stop people.

Clearly you don’t know what the word ‘appreciative’ means or even which one of the gifters should feel that way. Go back to your ‘Teachers Don’t Deserve Gifts” hole, Scrooge.

What? No I DO think teachers deserve gifts. I give gift cards. Cash to my daycare workers, gift cards to teachers.

People on this thread have also stated what teachers like: white board markers, copy paper, pens, kleenex, hand sanitizer. All of those show your appreciation without being clutter.

Mugs end up in the teachers’ lounge cabinets for anyone who needs to use one that day. I never use them at school and won’t jam up my cabinets at home with them. Sorry.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you aren’t so great with reading comprehension.

There is a difference between being appreciative and not wanting more junk that will clog up a landfill.

Considering a GIFT ‘junk’ is not appreciative.

NP. It's not very appreciative to give someone a mug or junk. Just stop people.

Clearly you don’t know what the word ‘appreciative’ means or even which one of the gifters should feel that way. Go back to your ‘Teachers Don’t Deserve Gifts” hole, Scrooge.

I’m confused on the anti-mug sentiment. Most teachers are coffee guzzlers who are always looking for/appreciative of coffee mugs. If you despise mugs, I’m sure someone in the school will want it.

Is a 25 dollar amazon gift card appropriate ?

My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Be grateful and turn it into something fun. One of my good friends is a teacher and she hosts a fantastic holiday party for us non-teacher friends and one of the highlights is a big white elephant swap. But we don't bring gifts, we have to pull a gift from under her tree that's something from a student. It's a huge blast and I know she's thankful for the gifts and usually people who really want Starbucks cards and coffee, for example, get those things.