Teacher gifts.

Yep, it's that time of year again when I try to come up with a gift for my boys' teachers and as usual I'm a bit stuck. I'm starting a little earlier because it's not so easy this year.

DS1's teachers this year are chalk and cheese. His English teacher is a young guy who enjoys boxing, going to the gym and getting tattoos and has a bit of a mod aesthetic going on and his Italian teacher is a quite traditional woman who is close to retirement age. What the hell do I get them both that is same same yet suitable for both of them especially since neither of them appear to enjoy chocolate? Senora S taught DS1 kindy and I gave her a nice mug that year so the mug is out.

DS2's teachers are similar in that one of them is fresh out of uni and the other is a much more experience teacher.



Help.

I can't give them nice smelling stuff because last year I did that and 2 of this year's teachers were last year's teachers. Or could I? Is it ok to give ambient perfumers 2 years in a row?

I ordered biscuits from Beck. Ashton's teacher got them last year too, but I can't help if he got the same teacher this year LOL. She loved them last year and said they were to nice to eat. We are not giving Lachlan's teacher anything. Both Lachlan and myself don't like him. So Lach doesn't want to. Therefore the spare box of biscuits will go to Ashton's part time teacher.

I'm with Astrolady. Beck is making DD's teachers cookie biscuit thank yous. I'm so excited and can't wait to see them

DH has said:
Theater tickets
Good quality coffee beans
Mind books, he has one on Maths which he really enjoys
Plants
Puzzle games
He has been given wine and as we don't drink have either kept or given away
Chocolates
Home made biscuits
Calenders


What we don't need:
Socks
Hankies
Mugs
Pens or pen sets

These are just some ideas of the top of my head, no doubt I will think of others later

My mum's a teacher and brings home boxes upon boxes of chocolates and biscuits from the kids, so I tend to stay away from those. I am having a mug painted by a WAHM on FB with DD's teacher's name on it, I'll fill it with chocolates. I also want to give her something else because she's been DD's teacher for the last 4 years, next year she will have a different teacher but can't think of anything yet.

Last year I got DD"s teacher a funky dog garden ornament made of wire, the year before I got her a man made of terracotta pots and the year before that I gave her a plant in a hand painted pot with 'teacher' written on it.

Last year I was given a nice note pad and pen and that was nice. That could be an idea for you?

we are going to give recipes in a jar ie you find your favourite biscuit/slice recipe and put all the dry ingredients layered in a jar with a note on it with how much wet ingredients to add and how long to cook for. Perfect if they get too many chocolates because they can cook it themselves any time

I've started giving really nice Christmas Decorations. Having said that, DD's teacher LOVES leopard print and when shopping yesterday DD saw a pair of Leopard Print boots and asked if we could get them for her teacher...

We've done voucher cards for places that teachers have mentioned, eg one teacher loved a particular coffee shop.

we are going to give recipes in a jar ie you find your favourite biscuit/slice recipe and put all the dry ingredients layered in a jar with a note on it with how much wet ingredients to add and how long to cook for. Perfect if they get too many chocolates because they can cook it themselves any time

This is what my sister got for one year and she loved it. I think it was for cookies and it was layered in a nice glass jar, looked awesome. She also got some lovely platters, some hand painted by the patents.

i have no clue, dd's teacher wears purple shoes mostly, so i guess she likes purple, that's the only clue i have picked up, all year (about what she likes). Somehow, asking the teacher personal questions, feels like a no-no to me, so i haven't quizzed her (even casually), to find out what she likes. Such a big class, i worry about taking up her time.

I'm buying hot chocolate for them

From your ABA fundraiser? Splendid.

Another Beck's biscuit fan here - I am getting them all the jars of mini apple biscuits and can't wait.

Last year I bought some really nice infused cooking oils in neat tall bottles, they were a hit too and they normally let me know when they've cooked with them this year.

ok, so what are Beck's biscuits??

Also, what sort of money do you spend? I have four to buy for and no clue

I'm doing travel coffee mugs with some nice coffee in them (sachets) and the cups with straws (you know the ones you have smoothies in???) with some little recipe cards for yumy smoothies.

I'd stay away from choccys, soaps, lotions, mugs etc. best thing I ever got was a Gloria jeans voucher!! :-)

Speaking from a teacher's point of view, any gift is a lovely thought but personally I would stay away for the chocolate/ biscuits ideas. You have no idea how many teachers get. I end up giving a lot away.

I always love Christmas decorations as you can never have enough and I can. Always remember the child that has given it to me. I have a classroom tree I put up and I put the decks on there.

Movie vouchers or gloria jeans vouchers are a great idea. I have had parents get together to get one nice gift.

A nice vase for the teacher to put flowers in. I sometimes get flowers from kids, even if it's from there own garden and I always think, it would be nice to have a vase in my classroom instead of sticking them in a mug! Lol!

Manicure or pedicure voucher. I got one from a student last year and it was my favorite gift!

Bamboo plants (you know those mini ones).

I Will keep thinking...