From a teacher to couponers regarding "teacher gifts"...

[walkingoffthebuz]

I see people post a lot on here and they say "I'm thinking of teacher gifts for these"....or "These free candles will make nice teacher gifts..."...or
"I need lots of these coupons to get these for DD or DS teachers.."

As a teacher, I have to tell it like it is... How much appreciation are you showing by giving a gift based on what was free? I personally think gifts for teachers is a completely outrageous concept...In elementary school, teachers were leaving school with bags of stuff...just STUFF...and wondering where they were going to put it.

Over lunch we discussed the generosity of the parents...and also the thoughtlessness. You can only regift so many candles and lotion gift sets....

Please take a moment and hear me out...perhaps I'm alone here when I say this...and not to sound ungrateful...but if you really wanted to thank a teacher, write them a nice card that shows how appreciative you are of what they have done for your child...or bring in an extra wish list item on parent night...or just email to say "Have a terrific week." I can guarantee you the majority of us did not chose the job for free candles... we just want to be truly appreciated.

While soft hands and smelly good homes are great, a soft heart is much more important to me and for someone to take the time to pen a heartfelt note, would mean much more than whatever it was that was free with a coupon. Gift cards were always nice too if you just have to give a gift.

[lbrown1618]

well said

[melodyjg]

I too agree!

[hotcouponmama]

I don't think a candle or lotion set is thoughtless....even if it was free/cheap.

By the time I buy for 3 teachers, the teacher's aid, the student teacher, the two daycare teachers after school, that adds up quick for three kids.

In our district, they have:

Teacher appreciation week
Secretary appreciation day
Bus driver appreciation week

And then there's Christmas and birthdays and kids, while not expected to give something, you look like a schmuck if you don't.

I don't just do candles and lotion sets, but really, if I had to be out full price for all those school "occasions" that we celebrate, I'd be broke.

And it's not like the teacher knows it was free with a coupon. And not everything I buy for teachers is free.

I appreciate your thought process from the teacher side of things, but I wouldn't necessarily discourage people from gifting what they can give to show appreciation. In some areas, I would imagine gifting anything at all would be a financial hardship. In our area, a standard teacher gift is things like a manicure or expensive GC value...it gets a bit ridiculous.

Remember though, it's the thought that counts - even if your parents send you something you can't use or want.

[brandasa]

We do get a LOT of candles - but it is certainly the thought that counts. I actually tell my students that the best gifts are those that are handmade. I put up a small tree and love when they make me ornaments. I really would like to send home a letter at thanksgiving telling parents not to get me something and instead do a classroom "toys for tots" drive and to give me toys so that our classroom could make a donation. Is there any way to do this and not be tacky? what is the parent perspective on this?

[hotcouponmama]

We do get a LOT of candles - but it is certainly the thought that counts. I actually tell my students that the best gifts are those that are handmade. I put up a small tree and love when they make me ornaments. I really would like to send home a letter at thanksgiving telling parents not to get me something and instead do a classroom "toys for tots" drive and to give me toys so that our classroom could make a donation. Is there any way to do this and not be tacky? what is the parent perspective on this?

I think you just put that out there - I don't think it's tacky to divert from you to someone who's in need. Know that there are parents that will still do for you anyway, and some that will even do both....

[walkingoffthebuz]

By the time I buy for 3 teachers, the teacher's aid, the student teacher, the two daycare teachers after school, that adds up quick for three kids.

And that was my point...please reread my post. I stated PLEASE don't BUY stuff just for the sake of having something to hand the teacher. I think people underestimate what teachers want/need...A nice card with a heartfelt comment is just as useful.

And a lot of teachers I know coupon...and we do realize what was free. And if we don't, sometimes the kids will tell us...I once had a kid say, "My mom got a ton of these for free!" heh. Oops! Mom turned ten shades of pink.

The gift card comment was a joke...as noted by the laughing gif. And as for giving lots of gifts for lot of occasions...I think it is an outrageous concept, as I stated before...but I completely feel your pain....we teachers are expected to buy for every birth, death, administrative professionals day, custodians, and any other occasion that comes up! It is out of control.

Save some money and some time and write a nice card.

Also, I did not state the a free gift was a bad gift...I was simply stating that it is not necessarily thoughtful to give a gift based on what was free. If you got 10 portfolio folders for free and donated them to my class, then praise you! It's useful, and it was free! Good job on saving money and getting something useful.

Otherwise, save your gas, and your car, and your miles, and your time spent couponing and give someone else the gift. I'd rather have nothing than something that was just given because it is expected.

[hotcouponmama]

Don't get me wrong - I do like to buy for my kids teachers - I am beyond appreciative of what they do for my kids - I don't even want to imagine being with them all day trying to cram things in their heads!

Sadly, in our district, the gifting thing is the status quo....unspoken, but status nonetheless....

[justmeagain]

I am just amazed at how much places differ. Gifting here is definitely NOT the norm.

[tmsmalley]

We do get a LOT of candles - but it is certainly the thought that counts. I actually tell my students that the best gifts are those that are handmade. I put up a small tree and love when they make me ornaments. I really would like to send home a letter at thanksgiving telling parents not to get me something and instead do a classroom "toys for tots" drive and to give me toys so that our classroom could make a donation. Is there any way to do this and not be tacky? what is the parent perspective on this?

I'd say send home a note that says:

This holiday season we will be hosting a Toys for Tots drive in our classroom. Please consider donatating a new unwrapped toy or something for use in our classroom instead of teacher gift this year.

Tess