a peek inside the fishbowl

1 | Lara

June 8th, 2010 at 7:33 am

So far I’ve only had to give gifts to my home daycare provider and I’ve gone with Michael’s gift certificates, which is not unique, but I know she uses them a lot! I also have teacher friends who definitely don’t like the tchotchkes and wish they didn’t get so much chocolate because it’s a bad idea for them to be eating all of it.

Beach Mama is hosting a workshop run by A Crafty Mom this friday to make sets of thank you cards to give as gifts – personal, useful and a bit different I think. http://lifeisgoodatthebeach.ca/?p=852

2 | Stefania (Ingredients for Life)

June 8th, 2010 at 7:46 am

Last year I gave LCBO gift certificates and they were much appreciated. I gave homemade cookies to the dance and gymnastics instructors (young adults). At Xmas this year I gave the dance instructors GCs for iTunes and the teachers a box of chocolates (I know, boring). For the end of the school year I’m giving a package of beautiful paper napkins that are recyclable along with a little bottle of Italian spices.

3 | meg

June 8th, 2010 at 8:00 am

lots of teachers in my family. food is bad idea unless you know they are ok with sweets (my sister gives them all away). teas often get thrown out or passed to someone else or donated to the common room. mugs are also a bad idea (just too many).

my sister often buys school supplies for her class out of her own money. i would think a michael’s gift certificate or one of the teacher supply stores would be a good gift. it might not be for personal use, but it will help them out.

i would say definitely yes to wine if you know they drink.

4 | coffee with julie

June 8th, 2010 at 8:04 am

I too find this very challenging!

Usually I give a Chapters gift certificate with a child’s book and a note along the lines of “A book for the classroom and a book for you.” With a note from my DD to accompany it. (If you live in my neighbourhood you’re not allowed to copy! :)

That card-making class sounds fun though! I might just have to join that one!

5 | bushidoka

June 8th, 2010 at 8:12 am

Mugs and another nick-nacks are terrible gifts. We have the same issues with our Sensei at the dojo – I finally put my foot down as a Member of the Board and declared that we will only be giving consumable gifts. Teachers literally have their drawers and cupboards full of this junk they’ve collected over the years – they don’t want it!

I also am very against gift cards. My parents used to give me money for Christmas every year, and every year I used to complain to them about. If you have to resort to giving someone money, then you probably just should not be giving them anything anyway. In the case of my parents, finally 3 years ago they had listened to my complaining enough and went out and got a nice portrait done of the two of them, and sent everyone pictures. They had not had a nice picture done of them for decades.

Food is always a good gift IMO. It gets consumed so there is not a mountain of junk building up. Sure, you may end up getting them something they don’t like, but they’ll be able to regift it to someone who will appreciate it. And it is the thought that counts – so home made stuff is extra-appreciated. With all the preserves we do, that’s normally what we do for teacher gifts. Jams, jellies, sauces, pickles, etc – it is always appreciated. If we know someone drinks coffee, home-roasted coffee is also a good gift.

6 | Lee

June 8th, 2010 at 8:13 am

Ask Moxie has a couple of post in her archives about this:
http://www.askmoxie.org/2007/08/making-life-goo.html
http://www.askmoxie.org/2007/11/more-holiday-br.html

Some of my favourite points include:

– “If you really want to buy a gift, please please please no cheese balls and teacher mugs or tchochkes or ornaments. The most appreciated gifts I ever got were books, office supplies, or gift cards to Borders and Staples.”

– “The greatest gift your child can give is a handwritten letter — something like, ‘Ms. Maura, this is my favorite class. I really loved the project we did on X. I’m always going to remember you because of X. Thank you for teaching me X.’

– “So, the best gift is cash on the barrel, closely followed by gift cards to retailers so large and ubiquitous that they are cash equivalents. So cash it is for daycare providers. I don’t know what we’ll do for teachers once we hit elementary school. Gift certificates to places school supplies are found, plus other stuff, sound great.”

– “Both schools I worked at had policies about accepting checks/cash.”

If your teacher writes thank you notes back to their students, then chances are notecards would be welcome. (And I’m not saying that just ’cause I sell them!)

7 | Ginger

June 8th, 2010 at 8:36 am

I taught for 6 years. I worked in low income schools and at the middle school level and didn’t receive many gifts from children. But…if I had received gifts…gift cards to buy school supplies or supplies for the classroom would have been perfect. I spent tons of my own money to supplement my classroom. There just wasn’t money in the budget and most of my students also didn’t have money for supplies. It was so much easier if I had a class set of supplies and such. Also, if you have any “teacher stores” where they sell instruction materials and things specifically for teachers that would be a good place to have a gift certificate to as well. All those class decorations and posters and teaching aides came directly out of my pocket.

8 | Cath

June 8th, 2010 at 8:39 am

I’m struggling with this as well – I’m knitting fingerless gloves for the two aides who help the three year olds get in and out of the car at preschool drop-off and pick up but I’m on the fence with B’s teacher – I’m leaning towards a Chapters card, since we know she’s a big reader, and a knitted cowl or something if I don’t run out of time. (generally I don’t like to do knitted gifts if I’m not sure of a person’s taste but I know the fingerless gloves will be appreciated by those who are constantly pulling their mitts off and on when wrestling with car seats!)

9 | hillary

June 8th, 2010 at 8:55 am

I’m a teacher, too, and I’m with Ginger… gift certificates to teacher supply stores are always nice! Though sometimes you want the gift to be more for the TEACHER than for the classroom… I think gift certificates are great – Starbucks cards will always be used, and if I had anything to do with it, I’d get all my parents together to pool their money and get one big gift… to a spa! hehehe.

Alas, I teach at an inner city school, and don’t got many gifts, which is ok. Though there HAVE been some memorable gifts. One Christmas I got over ELEVEN POUNDS of chocolate. One colleague got a gold glittery stretchy DRESS. Another got a 6-pack of XL dollar store underwear! (She was preggers and she said they were the most comfortable undies she owned! HA!) I don’t suggest the underwear, though! ;)

I’ve had friends who send their kids on recon missions – finding out if the teacher likes movies, or coffee, outdoor activities, etc… I’d also LOVE to receive a gift cert to Mountain Equipment Co-op! Heavenly!

Good luck! Let us know what you decide, if it wouldn’t spoil the surprise for your kid’s teachers!

10 | karen at virtually there

June 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am

I’m stealing an idea I saw on Savvy Mom… I’m going to buy three small clay pots, have the girl decorate them, shallac them and then fill them with fresh herbs and then put them in a nice basket for the window. I figure everyone loves fresh herbs in the summer, even if you’re not a gardener.

11 | karen at virtually there

June 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am

Another idea I had… if I run out of time and don’t get those pots filled or done… is a gift cert for a really good gourmet food store here in Waterloo.

12 | karen

June 8th, 2010 at 9:41 am

I usually give Chapters gift cards which seem to go over well. Once I gave a Farm Boy gift card because we saw my son’s teacher there quite often and she really liked it.

13 | Marianne

June 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am

I’m an elementary teacher. I love receiving cards of thanks with a hand written note from the parents and/or child (it can be brief, but can mean so much!) I teach in a school in a very economically challenged community, and so gifts are few and small, but I’m always pleased to know a family has appreciated my work with their child.

As for gift cards, I recommend Chapters, Scholar’s Choice (or other teaching supply store), or a coffee chain such as Starbucks or Tim Hortons (because a non-coffee drinker can always find some other treat there). I had never thought of the LCBO, but it’s a good idea too. If your child’s teacher participates in the Scholastic book program, you can also go online and order them a gift certificate from Scholastic. I also like the idea of a donation in the teacher’s name.

A nice potted plant or small bouquet of flowers is a great gift idea if you want to go that way, and they don’t have to be from an expensive florist — Loblaws has lovely arrnageemnts for a reasonable cost, or a hand-picked bouquet from your own garden is great, too.

14 | bushidoka

June 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am

OK, after seeing some of the comments and realising that so many teachers buy supplies out of their pockets, maybe gift certs for a supply store are not a bad idea afterall. Though really I guess if someone wanted to help out in that way they’d just ask the teacher during the year for a list of needed supplies. I like the idea above about the knitted fingerless gloves.

15 | Betsy Mae

June 8th, 2010 at 11:54 am

GIFT CARDS!! Sure they aren’t personal but have your child make the card you put them in.

LCBO gift cards are my usual gift. Even if they don’t drink they will probably serve it or give it over the summer (or Christmas when I also give them).

There is a coffee shop across from our school so many parents get gift cards there because so many teachers pop over there for lunch/coffee.

This year I am getting one teacher who was exceptional a gift card for a garden store because I know she is in a new house and was discussing what her summer plans were (getting her property into shape). I figure if she can’t use it this summer she can buy her Christmas tree next year or a mat for her front door!

I love the idea of getting something for the classroom too. Paintbrushes, glue, stickers, all are useful in primary grades. Considering our teachers ask for kleenex donations I assume there is a whole lot they need for their classrooms!

BTW, we did buy the dreaded tchotchkes too. Pretty glass hummingbird feeders to go with the gift cards. I figure they can use them or pass them off as hostess gifts this summer lol! I do know that two of the teachers are into this type of thing so fingers crossed.

16 | Jay

June 8th, 2010 at 1:25 pm

We tend to go the route of gift cards and/or books for the classroom.

Gift cards to Staples or Scholar’s Choice or Chapters.

I have a friend who’s a teacher – she was given a gift certificate for a gas station – which she LOVED because she drives to and from school every day. She thought it was a great idea.

Consumables all the way:)

17 | Judy

June 8th, 2010 at 1:49 pm

We get a lot of people coming in for gifts in the store. We have laminated maps and posters on How to go organic, how to build commuity, how to build global community, etc. In addition to the coffee, tea, etc. Some have been buying cookbooks and such lately too. Or if the kids did a special project on a country, they buy an item from that country.

My mom often bought flowers for the teachers when I was a kid.

Good luck!

18 | Erica at KitchissippiKids

June 8th, 2010 at 1:50 pm

It’s not a bad idea to remember that ultimately “it’s the thought that counts”, that sometimes the process involves the child picking something out or making something (and then the process rather than the end result is more important) and that ultimately one shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I think helpful suggestions are good but if people are too critical of what they receive then they should have a “no-gifts” policy…or gifts may simply stop coming.

Some suggestions:

1) group parents together and purchase a gift certificate to a day spa or a place like Thyme and Again or Supperworks;

2) if you know the teacher has children buy a nice childrens’ book;

3) too many mugs can be donated – shelters and soup kitchens may be grateful.

19 | Marla

June 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Holy responses, Batman!

I volunteer in Josie’s class often, and know how small the teacher’s budget for art supplies is and how classroom books and things take a beating. I’ve always given gift cards, but sometimes enclosed within something – a little felt zip purse from a craft fair, or a book or once or twice in a plant with a note saying “Thank you for helping Josephine to grow”. When I knew she had a new apartment, a card for Ikea was what we gave.

At Christmas I found out her teacher’s membership to Scholar’s Choice was about to expire (by asking at the store’s desk) so I renewed it for her and gave her a gift card too. http://www.scholarschoice.ca/ Josie had mentioned that one kid had wrecked these little signs she uses to remind kids to look and listen, and they sell teacher aids like that there.

I know they end up with too much personalized, thoughtful “stuff”, and as a classroom volunteer and lunchroom supervisor, I think one of the best gifts to give the teacher every day is a kid who has had a good sleep, comfortable clothes, healthy food and lots of love.

20 | Marianne

June 8th, 2010 at 2:57 pm

@ Erica … I don’t think I know any teachers who are ungrateful for the gifts received from children and their families. I am very touched by gifts that children make or select themselves. (I have a pair of bright orange plastic earrings in the shape of large triangles that I have worn once, for the sake of the young boy who gave them to me … they left my ears sore for a week afterwards but they’re carefully stored in my jewelry box as a reminder of him.)

And of course if you know the teacher well you may have some great gift ideas. But when I’m asked by friends for generic teacher gift suggestions, I can make recommendations of items which would pretty much be welcomed by any teacher.

21 | Marianne

June 8th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

” I think one of the best gifts to give the teacher every day is a kid who has had a good sleep, comfortable clothes, healthy food and lots of love.”

This made me cry. Because I teach far too many children who are missing one or two or even all of these things on a regular basis, and it is my most fervent wish that these things be granted to all my students.

22 | Patti

June 8th, 2010 at 3:17 pm

I know when I was teaching I appreciated all gifts that parents took the time to select.
I got gift cards from the Bay ,Starbucks,and a few others.
Also received a beautiful gift basket from edible arrangements we the staff had it on our last day at lunch it was great.
Now that I own my own Toy Store I have many parents that come in from the local schools and daycares and buy gift cards from me at Tag Along Toys and I can say the teachers I know in Kanata always say when they redeem them that was such a thoughtful gift.
So gift cards to your local Toy Store orTeachers Store is a great gift for a teacher.

23 | Anna

June 8th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

In the past four years, the class DS is in got together and organized a group gift. In both cases they ended up being digital cameras that the teachers are using both privately and extensively in the class room. The teachers were delighted and also got some cash that were left after the purchase.

The great thing with this was that the families could contribute anon, with the amounts they could afford.

24 | Melissa

June 8th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

My friend Lisa and I organize class gifts. I pass out letters with 4 little cardstock cards to each kid in class. If they wish to participate, the give us $20 (total) and the kid signs each of the cards (french teacher/english teacher, assistant in both classes). Usually we collect approx. $500. So we get 4 $125 gift cards either to the movies, or to a restaurant in town. Then we divvie up each of the 4 signed notes from each kid into the 4 cards and add the gift card. That way each parent only pays a total of $20. We have also given wine if we have a bit extra.

My good friend who is a kindergarten teacher says please no food. He can never eat all the chocolate/treats they get.

25 | Freda

June 8th, 2010 at 7:29 pm

I hate to play devil’s advocate here but WHY do you buy the teacher a gift at the end of the year? It is their job to teach our children and they are well paid in Ontario I might add. I understand that we may be showing a ‘token’ of our appreciation for the year spent with our little darlings but it irks me. I didn’t send a gift last year and my daughter came home devastated that she was the only one who didn’t give the teacher a present!!!! Now I feel obligated to get one as I hate to see her so upset.

We don’t give gifts to our Doctors or nurses for caring for our little ones when they are sick, the custodian for keeping the schools clean or the librarian for helping to pick out books. Why just the teachers?!

26 | Littlehouse

June 8th, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Teachers in Ontario spend in the region of 1261 hours a year with our children. That’s more than many parents.

Some of us only see a teacher once or twice a year if we don’t pick up or drop off. How much of those parent/teacher conferences do we spend saying ‘thank you’ for holding our children’s golden ticket – their education, self esteem, and care in their hands?

Not enough.

Over the year teachers work at the least double what they are paid for (and ‘well paid’ is a relative term…) and, as we have seen, spend money from their own pockets on basic things to make the experiences of our children richer.
They re-invent themselves a million times a week to meet the needs and demands of a huge diversity of temperaments and learning needs.

Gifts aren’t about monetary value (because its unquantifiable anyway) but its about taking a little time to think about that person, and send a little appreciation their way.

OK. rant over. And feel free to give the custodian a gift too ;)

27 | andrea

June 9th, 2010 at 7:28 am

Well, this has been a very interesting thread. :) Your comments have been great… so many amazing ideas! Thank you for that! You’ve given me some great ideas.

Here’s something to think about… when you give a teacher gift, does it come from you (the parent) or your child? Mark thinks it should come from the child as a thank you. But I’ve been approaching it from a different perspective. The thank you gift comes from the parent, the thank you card accompanying it comes from the child.

In past years we’ve bought small boxes of very good chocolate, stationary, wine, gift cards to office supply stores as well as local coffee shops. If I’m buying a consumable or knick-knack of any kind it’s only if I REALLY know the person we’re buying it for. But most parents only see the teacher three or four times a year.

Littlehouse, I like your response to Freda’s comment.

Teachers do a lot for our kids and more often than not they’re going above and beyond the call of duty, and as some of the commenters above had pointed out, reaching into their own pockets to buy school supplies and improving their classrooms which ultimately improves our children’s educational experiences.

YES. Teachers are doing the job they’re paid to do, but they’re doing so much more. They are, in part, helping raise our children to be smart, fair, kind citizens of the world. They’re preparing them for the years ahead by grounding them in the knowledge they need to succeed. Great teachers inspire their students and help make the person they’re destined to be, don’t they?

I wouldn’t be doing what I do if it wasn’t for a few of my teachers.

I can’t comment on how much they’re paid… but whatever it is, we’re not paying them enough for the huge task they’re expected to do.

Freda, I presume that you tip the hairdresser and the serving staff at your favourite restaurants? Consider a gift for your teacher a well-deserved tip for a job well done.

28 | Melissa

June 9th, 2010 at 7:47 am

I’m a teacher’s kid and many of my friends growing up were also the children of teachers. More than once, my brother and I got by with “less” so that my mother’s classroom could have “more” as we grew up in a less-affluent rural area where kids couldn’t always afford all their supplies and the classroom budget provided by the school was laughably small.

We tend to give homemade gifts — handblended teas, home-roasted coffee beans, jams, pickles, etc — but I tend to pair them with something that is more personal and specific to the teacher. If I can’t think of or find something that “fits” the teacher, I’ve given a Chapters gift certificate.

The teachers have always come up to me the next year to tell me about the books/resources they picked up for the classroom. I didn’t know Scholar’s Choice did gift certificates – I’ll have to remember that!

29 | BeachMama

June 9th, 2010 at 7:49 am

I always bake a little something and I always get asked for more! This year I am making Thank you cards as the teachers are always writing them to parents and such. Along with the cards, I will stick in some homemade treats just because I love to.

Anyone is free to join our cardmaking this Friday evening if you wish.

30 | Aurelia

June 9th, 2010 at 8:34 am

We do something a little different in our school. Each class has one person who emails everyone else, passes on messages etc, and they also organize the class gift.

We each chip in $$ to her and after some kids and parents nose around, we use the whole amount to get one decent gift. Depending on class size and how much we decide on, it can add up. ($20/per family x 20 kids in a class = $400, which buys a real gift)

We got one teacher 2 tickets for the ballet one year. Another year we got a really nice baby gift for a teacher who was pregnant.

Sometimes we just put it into one gift card, like for movies, or a mall, or a store we know they like. But regardless, we make sure we attach a gift receipt to it, in case we guessed wrong.

Just something I didn’t see on the thread, in case it helps.

31 | Jen

June 9th, 2010 at 8:46 am

I actually just took care of this yesterday!

I bought a mall gift card, and will attach it to a small box of Laura Secord chocolates (french mint – mmm!) along with a thank you card that our son is making.

I have done movie gift certificates in the past as well.

32 | Kelly

June 9th, 2010 at 9:18 am

I have been giving LCBO GC for a few years. It’s quick,easy and I have yet to meet a teacher who doesn’t drink! Seriously, if I were a teacher with 20 or 30 kids in my face every day, I would be reaching for the Chardonnay! The kids make a personalized card and we’re done!

33 | Edumama

June 9th, 2010 at 10:50 am

As a teacher of the higher grades, presents really don’t happen that often, but when they do, I tend to appreciate the thought and often it is because it comes from the student. the best gift I ever got was a scrapbook made by the kids and on their initiative- they let me know what they appreciated the most over the year and what they will remember. Having someone do something personal really counts because they took the time to think of you. I love cards from the students and in terms of ‘gifts’ i love the consumables- gift cards, etc were lovely, and can be very useful and practical. Knowing what the teacher likes and gearing it to that makes it more meaningful.

34 | Melissa

June 9th, 2010 at 11:35 am

Hey Andrea,
I like to give our teachers gifts, regardless of their salary for the year. But, to be fair, I’m at the school most days and talk to the teachers regularly. If I did not have as much contact, maybe I’d feel differently. Plus – my kids are SK and Gr. 1 right now – so it’s a lot of extra work getting things prepared.

That’s why I like the group gift thing. The kids make the cards, and each parent only has to put in $20. Because I suppose – how do you decide what to spend and how to spend?

Each of my kids has 2 teachers and 2 teachers assts. So that’s 8 people. If I do individual gifts, I’d get everyone $5 to starbucks or timmys or local coffee shop.

35 | andrea

June 9th, 2010 at 11:49 am

Melissa, I think your idea is fantastic. What makes it so great is (a) parents give as much as they think is right and (b) you know the person you are buying for and you can be certain they will love the gift!

You’re awesome for putting so much effort into this. How do you find the time (and energy!) to collect from 30 parents?

36 | Laura Quirk

June 9th, 2010 at 12:53 pm

Here comes another point of view from a teacher. The best gift is the thoughtful one. If your child has been paying attention they should know something that teacher likes. One year I got a U2 CD as I had mentioned I liked them or I got an Animalia DVD for my kids, when I had brought the book into the class to share with my own kids.

If you don’t know what they like or would appreciate – go with Chapters. Even if they don’t like to read, they can buy a book for their classroom. This can be for themself or the class. As for other gift cards, make sure you know if they drink booze, drink coffee, etc. I have 3 gift cards for Tim Hortons left from last year because I don’t drink coffee, so they take longer to get through.

As for homemade goodies – be careful. I love them, but some teachers at my school won’t touch them, especially if the kids made them.

Personally, I like a thoughtful note, something that shows you have taken time to tell my why they enjoyed my class. Makes me happy that I took time to do things properly and realize that it was noticed and appreciated.

37 | andrea

June 9th, 2010 at 1:05 pm

After reading all of these great comments I have totally decided to get a Chapters gift card.

And you’re right Laura, if the child has been paying attention they might already have a good idea about what the teacher likes: whether it’s gardening or cooking or taking photos. Thanks for a great POV.

38 | Rae

June 9th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

I’m late to the party, but the girls paint a pot, and we plant a small cutting from our very large, very old coleus plant for the teacher :)

Every time I see them I get plant updates from teachers of our past :)

39 | Lynn

June 10th, 2010 at 10:53 am

We often do the Chapters gift card, but I like the idea of a Staples gift card, too. I’ll have to think about that one for next year.

This year at Christmas we broke from tradition and got custom paper pads from Sweet Life Paper:
http://www.etsy.com/people/sweetlifepaper

I ordered them with the teachers’ names on them (be sure to check the spelling!). They’re good for the teachers to send home notes to parents and things — pretty, and also not too expensive if you are watching the budget.

40 | Annie

June 10th, 2010 at 5:21 pm

As a teacher, I often dread the gift-giving time… I send home notes saying that I don’t want/expect gifts, but they come nonetheless!! I understand why families want to gift something, but as someone who is trying to live a less “thing” filled life, I am usually happy with a card!

Though some memorable gifts do stand out:
– Three Cups of Tea (a book about starting schools in rural Afghanistan), and other books that really speak to me as a person (I have felt very lucky when these parents have tapped into that!).
– Chapters gift cards (really, they are the BEST!! I can get whatever I want!! I have gotten books for my class and books for me).
– a cutting board made by a parent (she was a shop teacher at the high school). Her son was my biggest handful that year (but one of my FAVOURITES) and I still think of him when ever we use it (almost 4 years later!).
– flowers (a beautiful bouquet) and flowers for my garden.
– donations to charities made in my name.

I don’t drink wine, coffee, or tea, so those things usually get re-gifted, and the dust collectors make their way to garage sales/diabetes association drop boxes…

I think that the best thing to do is really know what are the teacher’s values and interests (ask if you need to!).

Just my 2 cents, from someone in the trenches!!
Annie.

41 | Marla

June 10th, 2010 at 8:39 pm

We’ve been discussing this in the parent council, and I used suggestions from the comments. Thanks, everyone.

We like to thank parents of graduating students who volunteered a lot over the years too with movie gift cards – and this year our Principal is being moved to another school. We found out he likes the Jays, so we’re having a good-bye fete, and a gift certificate toward tickets it will be; and it’s going in a basket with notes, a school tee shirt, and a map to where all the places with the spicy Indian food he likes are near his new school.

But, I can also say, that at our very small school, the Parent Council always sees to it that the lunch room supervisors, the custodians, and the secretary are thanked. People we “hire” for additional programming through parent council funds get hand-written thank you notes, at the very least. Those who donate to the silent auction (over 65 items) get hand-written thank you letters. Our school’s budget each year for “extras” is less than $40,000. I can’t run a household on that, let alone a place for 192 students. This year we are writing a letter begging the new principal to find a way to keep our librarian on full-time, and she will get a parting gift if she can’t, because she can’t afford to stay only part-time. She revolutionized our library, re-vamping it on her own time and bringing us the Forest of Reading through grants she procured. I’d buy her a car if I could. We just do a lot of thanking, it seems – but sometimes we want a tangible reminder of our express gratitude.

And – I do gift my doctor close to the holidays, with a thank you note and a coffee card. After sixteen years of visits, she’s seen parts of me my husband hasn’t, and has taken care of me through childbirth, post-partum depression and warts in horrible places. I am very grateful, and am happy to show it. And whenever my parents and in-laws are in the hospital, I bring a fruit tray to the nurse’s station, and write a thank you to the doctor. This week, the custodian in our school offered to get all of the “roofed” tennis balls now for me to give out as lunch room supervisor, instead of over the summer when he’d usually do it – I’m baking him cookies tomorrow, and he gets a gift certificate at the end of the year too. In our family, we almost never go anywhere empty-handed and no good turn goes without something reciprocal, be it a word of thanks, a favour or a token like flowers or a bottle or something personal when we come across it – and most of my friends are like that too. It’s almost like a culture, or a norm. I’m just going to guess that it’s just one of those differences that can’t be chalked up to anything other than habit and nature and nurture.

But I ran into Josie’s teacher in Winners recently, so that’s what I’m thinking. And I know that as gym teacher and track coach she needs two wardrobes for school, so I’m thinking there’s the ticket for this year!

42 | J

June 13th, 2010 at 10:19 pm

wine.

I was a teacher for 8 years. Now, I’m a stay at home mom.

wine.

I always loved it. It was for me. Period. It made me feel like the parents understood and now it was time for me to take a break.

wine.

Those that gave me wine, were the cool parents.

My kid is in JK. He will proudly bring in a bottle of red wine for Mrs. Montgomery this June.

wine.

43 | Michelle

June 24th, 2010 at 9:03 am

I do feel obliged to buy a gift. I buy the gift proportional to the teacher, though, and the best teachers always get a handwritten thank-you card detailing what I liked best about the way they worked with my children.

Generally, I try to pay attention through the year to our teachers likes and dislikes. I always figure if I buy them something I know they like, it will definitely get used. I know I’m getting one teacher a GC to the pet store. She got a puppy this year and the classroom has a guinea pig. I’m going this afternoon to the pick-your-own strawberry farm: we have had a temporary principal who has been great and she mentioned to me that she love strawberries. She’s from out-of-town and asked me last month where there was a strawberry farm near the school so I’ll beat her to the punch and provide her with a basket of berries.

Other things I’ve done that teachers have said they’ve really liked: Bath and Body Works anti-bacterial hand soap. A lot of people don’t like bath stuff & lotions but everybody needs to wash their hands, especially teachers who work with little kids all day! At Christmas, I give GCs to local bakeries rather than baking them something myself. That way, they can buy Christmas goodies if they want or a special dessert or homemade bread. Both male & female teachers said they loved those.

I’m sad to hear some say their teachers don’t thank them for the gifts. Almost all of my children’s teachers have opened the gifts that day and sent a note home the same day. Those who opened the gifts at home mailed a thank-you note.

44 | Kathleen

June 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Presents are definitely deserved. Yes, teachers are paid to teach our children, but so many of them do such a wonderful job and they deserve all the thanks we can give them.

One lovely parent of a child in my daughter’s class organizes a group gift for gift giving occasions. This lovely mom sent out an e-mail to the class parents asking if we’d like to contribute any amount up to $10.00 towards a group gift for the teacher. I love that she specifies only $10. You can always give more, but at that price point everyone can join in the fun.

At Christmas time, the group gift was a gift certificate to La Librairie de Soleil, a French book store in the Byward Market. My daughter’s in French Immersion, so the choice was perfect.

Now it’s the end of the year and the gift is going to be for La Nordik Spa, in Chelsea. How perfect is that?!? You can buy the gift certificate on-line. I love this mom and hope our daughters are in the same class forever. What a relaxing treat for the end of the year. Also, I love that there’s no waste.

My daughter and I have also signed a personal card and are giving some locally produced honey — something sweet for someone sweet. It’s personal but consumable.

Happy summer everyone!

45 | Cara

July 12th, 2010 at 10:47 pm

I love the idea of donating school supplies. When I was working in the classroom, I spent so much money on school supplies. My second year, I had several parents buy gift cards. I really appreciated the gifts.