Appropriate gifts for teachers

Kids #1 and #2 are finishing up their school, and by that I mean they are finished forever - homeschooling next year. They go to a great private school. #1 has been there for three years and #2 has been there for two years. A total of three teachers, four teachers aides, an administrator and a secretary are potentials. All female.

We're leaving due to money, so we don't have any to give gift cards or anything fancy. We have until Thursday. Any ideas? Who? What?

Are they hot?

Wife's a 3rd grade teacher...
A handwritten, kind, heartfelt, thank you note will mean more than a Starbucks gift card or another cute "teacher's apple" trinket.

yamaha wrote: Are they hot?

Some of them.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Wife's a 3rd grade teacher... A handwritten, kind, heartfelt, thank you note will mean more than a Starbucks gift card or another cute "teacher's apple" trinket.

Good call

My wife was a teacher for 30 years. For god's sake do not give them something to clutter up their houses. I don't think I've ever seen a woman that would not bite the hand off of a complete stranger that had a piece of fine chocolate in it.

Edit: And the note would be great too. My wife always liked a pat on the back.

When my older kid left school we sent cards to her teachers thanking them with good memories my kid had from her classes.

when I finished middle school my mom bought my teacher that had also been my tutor a bottle of wine.

Kid's craft or artwork w/ a thank you that they will remember, even if it's over something store bought.

edit: over something store bought.... as a bottle of wine like rebelgtp said

I teach public school shop class (Metal, Mechanics, and Drafting).

I've kept all the "thank you" cards I've ever been given on a bulletin board in my office. That way when I have a crappy class/day/week/year, I can look at the wall of cards and know that I made a positive difference in somebody's life.

A simple, handwritten card speaks volumes.

I know my teacher get's the "D".... if you know what I mean. But then again, I'm married to her. Does that even count?

Former teacher. Handwritten note or simple, handmade card.

Food is always good too. Not cookies or other sweets. Teachers get waaaay too many of those. But if you were to fix a lasagna, caserole, quiche, or something like that in a disposable pan, they would be overjoyed to be able to have a dinner or two in without having to worry about cooking.

I have encouraged my wife to institute a no-gift policy but she thinks it will hurt feelings or that they will gift anyway.
Instead, at the holidays and at the end of the year, trinkety gifts get thrown away all the time.
Ironically, there are many Starbucks cards but since 'bucks is not on my wife's commute, the cards are mostly redeemed by me!
Food stuffs and baked goods are either dis guarded or kept based on her opinion of the cleanliness of the child which is then a refection of the cleanliness of the house they were baked in (most get tossed.)

There are a couple of key items that have really been a hit. The most notable is a hand drawn picture. See, we have a Cairn Terrior, Barney, and he comes to school once a year. In addition, my wife talks about him to the class often.
This picture is over a couple years old but when my wife brought it home, she framed it. It is on the foyer table and one of the first things you see entering. Drawn by a 3rd grader.
Drawing:

Actual:

You can never go wrong with skimpy lingerie!

How about a note that says something to the effect of "all your education and training worked out great for our child, but I think I can do better."?

This is a joke BTW.

If money wasn't an issue, I would recommend a decent bottle of wine for all of those in question.

Ditchdigger wrote: How about a note that says something to the effect of "all your education and training worked out great for our child, but I think I can do better."? This is a joke BTW.

In reality, to sum it up, it would be "Thanks for doing a great job with the kids, but we can barely afford your school for the two kids that we have and we have two more coming to school, kthxbye!"

JohnRW1621 wrote: Wife's a 3rd grade teacher... A handwritten, kind, heartfelt, thank you note will mean more than a Starbucks gift card or another cute "teacher's apple" trinket.

And a similar note from the kids is icing on the cake.

We always give teachers a box of pencils or a ream of paper and a note. They are always needing that kind of stuff.

A live animal is always appreciated. It's spring... bring them chicks!

Toyman01 wrote: We always give teachers a box of pencils or a ream of paper and a note. They are always needing that kind of stuff.

Obviously money type gifts are out, but I'd suggest a gift card to a teachers supply store if they have them in your area. I'm tempted to donate some to my friends who teach to shut them up about how much out of pocket they spend on their classrooms (hint: not enough to whine about)

I am thinking of a number of things I would like to give our teachers since they are on the berkeleying picket line again.

SWMBO is a first grade teacher's aid at a private school. The gift cards and trinkets are on a countertop somewhere, unused. The hand-written notes from parents are on her dresser-top in the bedroom. The cards and notes made by the kids (over the past 16 years) are posted everywhere in the house. (I think I drank most of the wine).

Retired teacher here. I still have the notes/letters in a file in my desk, the other stuff who knows?