Wednesday
Dec082010
Christmas Gifts for Teachers? What to Think of When Buying a Gift
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
It is almost time for Christmas break at most schools in North America. As children get ready to run out into the snow and enjoy a few weeks off from school, many parents and children may be looking to give a gift to their teachers to show their appreciation. In some schools it seems this is not done. In other schools everyone contributes to a group gift (which brings its own challenges). In other schools each parent is on their own, trying to decide whether to buy a gift, how much to spend, and what to buy.
Note: For simplicity sake, I've used she when referring to teachers in this post. I recognize that teachers can be male too and these tips would apply regardless of gender.
Our school is one of those where each parent is on their own. Some families give gifts. Other families don't give gifts. Some spend a lot. Others spend a little. But ultimately, each year we are left with the task of figuring out what to buy for the teachers, both at Christmas and at the end of the year. We have given a variety of different gifts over the years. I some cases, I know they have been appreciated. In other cases, I hoped they would be but wasn't entirely sure if I was making the right choice.
I asked people on my facebook page what they would suggest and got a lot of interesting responses. I thought I would share some of the best suggestions and some of my suggestions here.
A few things to ask yourself:
Do you have any other tips? Suggestions for great gifts for teachers or other things that people should think about when buying gifts?
Image credit: Cláudia*~Assad on flickr
Note: For simplicity sake, I've used she when referring to teachers in this post. I recognize that teachers can be male too and these tips would apply regardless of gender.
Our school is one of those where each parent is on their own. Some families give gifts. Other families don't give gifts. Some spend a lot. Others spend a little. But ultimately, each year we are left with the task of figuring out what to buy for the teachers, both at Christmas and at the end of the year. We have given a variety of different gifts over the years. I some cases, I know they have been appreciated. In other cases, I hoped they would be but wasn't entirely sure if I was making the right choice.
Top gifts for teachers
I asked people on my facebook page what they would suggest and got a lot of interesting responses. I thought I would share some of the best suggestions and some of my suggestions here.
- Gift Cards: The number one suggestion seems to be to give gift cards. This is something we've done in the past, including giving a gift certificate to a nice restaurant as an end-of-year present to a teacher that did wonders for my son as well as a series of smaller gift certificates to a nice breakfast place for all of the teachers at the end of the year last year. People have also suggested gift cards for book stores, coffee chains, spas or more generic gift cards like Visa gift cards that they can spend anywhere.
- Plants: Giving something green and living is a suggestion that a few people made. I think it is generally a good one. I know some people who do not like houseplants, but I think for the most part people appreciate having a bit of green around (which reminds me, now that our destructo cat is gone, we could probably add some green to the indoors in our home).
- Charitable donation: I would never choose a charity on behalf of a teacher, but I liked the suggestion that a few people made of donating to charity on the teacher's behalf. In Canada, the website CanadaHelps provides gift cards that the recipient can use for a charity of their choice. Or you can give gift cards for Kiva and allow the teacher to choose an entrepreneur in a developing country to support (that could become a class project of interest too if the teacher wanted to).
Other considerations when choosing a gift
A few things to ask yourself:
- Do you know the teacher well enough to give that? If you are giving a bottle of wine, are you sure the teacher likes wine? Do you know that she isn't a recovering alcoholic? If you are giving scented products (e.g. creams, bubble bath, soap), are you sure she isn't sensitive to scents. If you are giving food, have you considered that she might be trying to lose weight, that she may be allergic to certain things, or that she may not want to eat homemade food if she doesn't know about the hygiene standards you keep in your kitchen? If you are giving something religious or specific to a certain holiday (e.g. Christmas ornaments), are you sure that the teachers shares the same faith as you?
- Is there something you know the teacher will appreciate? Sometimes you may get little hints over the course of the year about something you know the teacher would appreciate, but that otherwise might not be an appropriate gift. If you do know the teacher well enough, then go for it. My son's teacher had commented on something I was wearing numerous times and asked where I bought it. We ended up getting one for her and she was thrilled with it. But if I didn't know it was something she would want, I wouldn't have bought an item of clothing for a teacher. Similarly, if you know something about the teacher's interests, then that may give you hints about possible gifts.
- Will the teacher really appreciate a craft? A lot of families seem to like to give homemade crafts to the teachers. I have heard from some teachers that they don't really want a homemade mug, picture frame, tree ornament or other craft from each child. If they receive one from each child, every year, over many years, their house will just be cluttered with them. While no teacher wants to throw away a heartfelt gift from a child, keeping 25 slightly crooked coffee mugs or dozens and dozens of homemade decorations can get to be a bit much and may not fit with the way that teacher wants to decorate her home. If she puts one child's mug on her desk at work, and not the other, then one child is likely to get upset.
- Can you give it a personal touch? If you opt not to give a craft for the reasons listed above or just because, it doesn't mean that you cannot personalize the gift. Having your child draw a picture or make a card is a nice way to personalize the gift and gives the teacher something she can display for the season and then easily tuck away in a keepsake box, rather than something she needs to display or use on an ongoing basis. You can write a personal note to the teacher as well, expressing your appreciation for everything she does for your child.
Do you have any other tips? Suggestions for great gifts for teachers or other things that people should think about when buying gifts?
Image credit: Cláudia*~Assad on flickr
Reader Comments (49)
May I make a wee suggestion? Don't forget the crossing guards, if your school has them. I always give our two a card with Tim Horton's gift certificates/cards in them. (Course, i know they both drink coffee, so there's that.)
I've given to World Vision to support girls' education on behalf of Reid's teachers. I know it's risky to choose the charity. I like the CanadaHelps gift card, though. It seems like a safe option.
I've bought hardcover books for the classroom. They always seem welcome, especially since teachers seem to buy many from their own funds. Reid likes to give them because we put a book plate in before we give them.
Call me a curmudgeon, but I'm generally for not giving anything. I think it perpetuates the thought that somehow we have to give gifts for certain requisite holidays. To me it becomes more of an obligation than a showing of appreciation. That's why I'd rather give my partner a gift on a random day than on Valentine's day, or something like that.
But back to the topic at hand. I'm sure teachers appreciate acknowledgment, since we tend not to pay them what they should earn. No one could afford that. I also appreciate that teachers may not want 150 crooked mugs, though that would be interesting. So my vote is for a homemade card. It's small, packs nicely, if the teacher wants to keep it. If not, it can be recycled. It's personal and heartfelt. And, if you want, you can put a gift-card in it so the teacher, who already spends too much of her hard-earned salary on things for her students, can buy more for her classroom.
Those are just my random thoughts.
Mom on the Go:
Our school had a book fair today. We could buy books for ourselves or choose to donate a book to the classroom (from a wish list that each teacher had prepared). The donated books will include an inscription indicating that our family donated that book. They also expect to invite our children back to their old classrooms once they are older to invite them to read that book to the class. So, for example, once Emma learns to read, she could go back to her former preschool classroom and read the book that we purchased to the kids in that class.
Karen Sugarpants:
That is a great suggestion. We don't have them at our school, but there are many people involved in our children's lives that parents may not otherwise think about. When we went to Cuba last year, we bought small gifts for the Grade 6 students that were volunteer tutoring Julian in French during the after school program. They were so excited to receive something.
Jacob:
I think for us it isn't so much about giving for holidays, but more about giving before each major break. So we give something before the Christmas break and we give something at the end of the school year.
My husband is a teacher and I like your list. He loves gift cards and donations. Also some kids that know he likes the Steelers football team have gotten him Steelers stuff and since those are thoughtful he has enjoyed those.
But there are only so many apple themed things teachers need haha. Also homemade baked goods may seem like a good idea but for us my husband and I eat an organic diet and also I'm allergic to a lot of things so we try not to bring the stuff home. Plus to be honest it's not always safe to eat things from people you don't know. So anyway my point is, I'd skip the homemade food.
I read somewhere that some teachers appreciate receiving children's book donations for their classroom or the school. I would ask if that was something that would benefit your child's classroom. It's a meaningful gift that can keep on giving. I think a nice card letting the teacher know how much he or she is valued or what a child's favorite thing they have learned from them makes more of an impression than anything else. Especially since teachers get so many gifts from so many children.
The only problem with gift cards or charitable donations (good as these ideas are) is one of expense. I'm sure we're not the only family in the world that cannot afford to drop $20 or more per teacher on gifts. Bearing in mind school, preschool, and extracurricular activities, we're talking about 15 individuals, plus something for the admin staff at the school as well.
Despite what seems to be the general feeling against it in this thread, what we do is to give home-baked goods - this year, gingerbread and shortbread. They are all made gluten free and I also make one batch dairy and egg free for the gym coach who has those intolerances. I do ask each year if it's OK to give them food, and tell them what it is that we plan to make. That's how I found out that one of my 7 year old's schoolteachers can't stand ginger (she's not getting gingerbread!) but loves shortbread, and also about the gym coach's food restrictions. It's ultimately an issue of trust, that they believe that I understand how to cater for their dietary needs and that I will do so carefully. I think asking explicitly aids that trust, as does the relationship that has been developed over the year.
Yes, there is a risk factor in eating other people's homemade food, but I have never had anyone demur on these grounds. In Australia I would venture to say that giving home-made food is quite common at seasonal times, especially in areas like ours where the socioeconomic profile would absolutely not allow most families to give things like gift cards or expensive shop-bought items. I spend about $4 per teacher on the cookie packs and the relevant child draws a picture to insert into the Christmas card, and that I can encompass. But I'd feel odd and silly giving a gift card for less than $10 (even assuming you could buy them!)
Wow! Living in Australia it had never crossed my mind that someone might have concerns about eating home cooked food which was given as a gift, allergies aside.
This post is timely for us as we bought Christmas gifts for teachers today. For my son's teacher we got some nice lavender scented hand cream, as this teacher mentioned two years ago (whe our daughter was in her class) that she loves lavender. For my daughters teacher this year, we considered giving her a voucher for a manicure to help her hands recover from a year of marking school work (!), but decided against this as she will be moving to a new school next year and we weren't sure if she would have time to book in for the manicure before moving. My daughter ended up wanting to buy her some nice soap instead.
In the past we have given sweets, plants etc.
Kathy:
I don't think that gifts should be expected or that they need to be extravagant. A lot of teachers I've spoken to said that a handwritten note or card was sufficient and some even said that they are embarrassed by anything more extravagant than a $5 gift card. It really depends on the person and the school, I think.
I always at least send a card, and a personal note. I think it's appreciated and in the true spirit of the season. That applies to crossing guards and bus drivers too. I have had to buy for as many as six teachers at a time (and have another child eligible for school next year, that's at least two more teachers) so even a moderately priced gift each adds up fast so what I give depends on the circumstances that year.
I have often given small gift cards for Starbucks; there's one near the school and the kids report seeing the white paper cups in the mornings. We also have done homemade treats, complete with recipe card. That way they know exactly what's in it, and they can make it again if they really like it. They can always use it for holiday entertaining if it's not to their taste - one less thing to make. I buy those foil cake pans with the cardboard lids and have the kids decorate the lids. This year we are making homemade bits n bites and the kids are decorating cardboard toppers for the cello bags. This is a great inexpensive gift for crossing guards and bus drivers, or "bus buddies". I always let them know in the card that the child made it himself.
I find the idea of giving alcohol really inappropriate. I can't help but think that if I can't send nuts, eggs, dairy, seafood, pineapple, strawberries or kiwi to school there has to be some rule about sending alcohol...?...
I worked at a school where gifts were not permitted, and students were only allowed to make a donation towards the classroom - a book, or some type of resource that everyone would benefit from. It was a great system, really, and no one stressed about giving me a gift and I didn't have 30 thank you cards to write on the last day of school :)
That being said, I do think the home-made gifts are most special to me. I still have many items that students made for me, and I look at them fondly and remember those students when I see them. A home-made card with a poem, note, or a collage of some type is very special and so appreciated. Home-made treats or snacks are also good, b/c I don't always eat them all but can take them home and share with my children and family. I have had students ask me which charities they should donate too in my honour, and I've always told them. It's nice, b/c then I can often tie it into a lesson of some type.
Not that I turn away the liquor store gift cards, or Starbucks for that matter. I do agree with Jacob's comment though, and think it is a shame that parents feel they *should* give us gifts . . . I would be more touched if a child came to me mid-year with a card that said "hey, thanks for making a difference in my life".
A donation to the classroom, or for children's books, are great ideas! In the States, at least, teachers often have to pay out of pocket for many things that are necessary for the classroom, especially materials for projects and books. Unlike something that may die (a plant) or just clutter up the teacher's house (no matter how thoughtful or well-liked), a "donation" of some kind to be put to use for the children sounds great, especially since it will save the teacher money. I guess that doesn't sound so much like a gift for *her*, though.
I have so say that my mom was a teacher, and I LOVED it when she came home with an armful of homemade baked goodies.
But isn't it kind of strange that there are some people in our lives who get bonuses or Christmas gifts and some who don't? It's like who gets a tip and who doesn't? I'm not opposed to thanking people for their hard work, but it's worth considering why some and not others? (Does it have to do with how poorly compensate the said person is generally?)
My oldest child just started JK this year, and I really like what his school suggests for the teachers. For $10 we can buy a book for the school library, and they'll paste a card on the inside saying who it was bought for, and by whom. They sent forms home for us to fill out and return, then we get a certificate which we can put inside a card for the teacher on the last day before break. Easy for the parents, good for the school and teachers!
That's a great idea, I wish they'd do that here. Did you know when you get a new school it comes with an empty library? Our parent council has spent tens of thousands of dollars stocking it and it's still nowhere near full (last I heard 25% capacity). Donating a book would be an awesome idea.
Erin:
For me personally, I can't think of anyone more important to tip than the person I trust with my children. The teachers are top on my list of non-family members in terms of who I spend money on.
I love the idea of donations to a classroom and I often do that throughout the year. I've hesitated to do it as a gift to the teacher though, because I want to get her something for herself. The year I bought book store gift cards, I even worried the teachers would feel they had to use them to buy books for the classroom instead of buying ones for themselves.
I didn't think of the crossing guard! I'm getting him a Tim Horton's card. As for teachers- in the past I've bought books for the classroom or gift card for the book store. This year I bought homemade soap from a friend on Twitter. I am a little bit insecure but hoping that a consumable item is less clutter.
This is the first year that my kids have teachers, so I don't have any past successes to share. However, I was a teacher before I had kids, and the gift that meant the most to me was a hand written note from parents that explained to me why they appreciated me as their child's teacher.
I agree about alcohol not being appropriate. If my child is too young to buy it's not a good gift for them to being too school. My husband buying scotch for his professor-different story.
I think my husband wishes he was your husband's professor.
My boys aren't in school yet so my gifts are for daycare workers. I am paying a significant amount of money each month for daycare but I know that the workers are not paid nearly as much as I feel they are worth. I give each of the workers in my boys' rooms a gift card to a grocery store.
When my boys get to school, I love the ideas above about donating books or supplies to the rooms. I know teachers here in Alberta make good money but do spend a lot of their own money for the classroom so hopefully books would be appreciated. But for the underpaid daycare workers who treat my kids with so much love and respect and really are shaping their toddler years... they will get the gift cards.
My mother-in-law loves when parents bring things for the class - art supplies, books, DVDs. One family even bought them a new microwave one year (she's in special ed so they have some interesting needs). Giftcards that let her buy things always go over well. As one commenter mentioned, many teachers do have to spend their own money on supplies.
We either make handmade gifts (this year some teachers are getting notepad cases with the notepad and pen included- I sewed the case, a couple others are getting hand knit necklaces with a stone doughnut in the center, another is getting a soup sack and washcloth also hand knit with a handmade soup we bought from a local seller) or purchase gifts where part of the proceeds go to a charity we support (this year it's silk scarves from a fair trade cooperative in Columbia and 60% of the proceeds went back into the organization). Always with some homemade baked goods (breads, cookies or candy) and a handmade card. Last year I was in my last month of pregnancy and had been very sick plus been traveling so it was Starbucks gift cards.
For our "regular" teachers (we homeschool so these are teachers we see once a week in our university model homeschool program) we keep it simple but for our more specialized teachers that we have one on one classes with or see more often (i.e. piano, guitar, private ballet, etc.) we tend to give more largely because our children feel a deeper connection with these teachers. We keep it flexible.
I agree that teachers do not expect extravagant gifts, or any gifts at all... my mom used to work in a school daycare and came home with sooo much stuff that she never really knew what to do with. Candles, chocolates, mugs... I can honestly say that what she appreciated most was a heartfelt note/card. Not that she didn't appreciate the effort of the gifts, but they weren't expected or needed. She's been retired for almost 4 years and still has many of those gifts collecting dust because she just feels bad to give/throw them away.
So, my son painted a card for each of his teachers and we've been practicing writing something so that he can add to it... he's only 3.5 so it'll just be his name for this year. I think that may be all we do for the holidays.
“hey, thanks for making a difference in my life”.
I love that... we often forget what the point of the gift is... and truly it's just that. A little gesture for someone that really IS making a difference in my child's life. Thank you for that.
Yes, I get the point about dust-catching craft items, and that's one of the reasons we give food. At some point, it's no longer there to gather dust!
Re the expectation for gifts - I agree, but I think it really depends on context. At my eldest daughter's kindergarten 2 years ago, there was a really competitive culture, fuelled by a cohort of mums. This upped the ante at Christmas to the point where anyone who hadn't been intending to give gifts to teachers (and cards / candy to all the other kids as well!) was effectively shamed into doing it. I was on the committee at the kinder that year and one of the teachers mentioned to me (in mingled amazement / dismay) that she had never had so many gifts from one group. I don;t think that this was a good or healthy thing.
At my daughter's school, there is a very strong culture of card / note giving. Almost every family writes a card or note to their child's teachers, and many of the kids give seasonal cards to each other too. (My daughter has just finished writing out her cards for her 21 classmates!) I say seasonal cards advisedly, as 25% of the school's population are Muslim and we all tend to use non-Christmas-specific cards & items for that reason. Here in Australia, Christmas is also the end of our school year, so we are marking the transition of years as much, if not more, than Christmas itself.
Gifts are entirely optional; some do, some don't, and no-one fusses either way. Of those who give gifts, I reckon probably 50% give homemade food, and the rest give small inexpensive objects (last year one mum gave soy candles to all her kids' teachers; another family always gives packs of fancy post-it notes; and one of my daughters' friends mums, who read this post when I sent her the link, just emailed me to say that she's giving a pot of growing herbs, from cuttings in her herb garden, this year). I will honestly say that I haven't heard of anyone giving a gift voucher at our school.
At our school parents are asked to contribute $80 for the year. That is $40 for the Winter break and another $40 for end of the year. There is no "obligation" to do so, but there is some pressure that comes with it. It is not easy for all families to do it.
However, it covers teachers, aides, janitors, security and the crossing guard. So when you break it down it is not that much per person. Makes it a little bit more palatable but not necessarily easier to do.
I'm a teacher at a community college now, but I have taught at the high school level, and I must say that I was always perplexed and slightly anxious about the gift cards. It would be unprofessional to accept money as a gift from a student or parent, and accepting a gift card made me uncomfortable, though I don't think there is really a graceful way to decline them (except perhaps in advance, which I would do if I were still teaching at the high school).
I think the idea to give baked goods is lovely, and if I were to receive a treat I didn't care for (unlikely!), I think it would still be well-received in the teachers' lounge or appreciated by the office staff.
I admit, as a teacher, it's nice to be appreciated. Where I teach, technically we aren't allowed to accept gifts, but it happens anyway. No one really polices it. As I tried to intimate, teachers here are so underappreciated and often trampled by the media or politicians or anyone wanting a scapegoat for why the world isn't perfect that it's nice to be acknowledged -- despite my curmudgeonly post. :)
The kid's school does a gift tree where the teachers put what they'd like for the classroom & the corresponding number in the Montessori catalog - takes the guesswork out & then you know its something the teacher would use & also a portion of every order made through the catalog goes back to our school. Double win! :)
I've done that, and I've given gift cards to the local houseware shop (for things like cloth napkins & placemats, pitchers, trays) or a bookstore.
And we usually include a small photo of each of the children w/a card they made themselves.
My sister's a public school teacher and every year laments that she doesn't get more Staples or OfficeMax cards so she can restock on classroom supplies-- something she generally has to do out of her own pocket at great cost (she also buys a LOT of classroom books herself, so donations towards that would be wonderful too, I'm sure). She really appreciates the stuff the kids get her, but since she lives in a tiny city apartment, most of the time it's stuff she doesn't have space for/can't use. I know it'd make her life easier to get supply gifts more often-- it may not SEEM like a gift for her, but it's just as good or better than anything she could get.
This probably doesn't apply to private schools or wealthier public schools, though. And yes, if you can do both donations and gifts for teacher and only teacher, that's wonderful as well!
I meant to add the bus driver too...we usually bake him something yummy.
I thought the interesting thing about the comments on my post is that unanimously, the teachers all said what they wanted was some kind of note, or acknowledgment of their effort and impact on the students.
Also, cookies. And wine. Surprise!
Our teachers always did so much for our sons, and we always wanted to express our appreciation. But the cost was formidable with four boys in school. One year we had 23 gifts to give. That was the year we gave gift bags full of fruit and nuts.
I usually scour the stores about two weeks after Christmas - when stuff is 75 or 90% off - and buy gifts then for the next year. I've purchased holiday themed napkins, ornaments, stationary (for those thank you notes!), books, and music. And I always buy with re-gifting in mind.
I did our shopping tonight. We got gift certificates for DeSerres (http://www.deserres.ca/) and will also probably get a little chocolate to go with each one and add a card from the kids and a note from the parents.
From an ex-preschool teacher: GIFT. CARDS.
I cannot count the years when I had to haul home what basically amounted to junk--home decoration stuff, etc. (I don't have my own place, so most of that ended up at the Goodwill or fodder for my mother's Secret Santa raffle at work.)
It wasn't that I wasn't grateful--frankly there's nothing to be ashamed of if gift cards are too expensive. Some of the best gifts I ever got from parents were heartfelt cards that I still take out and read when I'm feeling down. The knowledge that you've made a positive impact on a child's life and a parent's experience is one of the best gifts possible.
thank you so much for the suggestion you saved my ass from getting something that my teacher might of not liked and helped me get a gift card from star bucks couse she has coffe all the time
I agree with this. Don't forget the teachers or other staff that might otherwise get overlooked. My son has a teacher and an aide in his classroom, and we gave them gift cards. The teacher mentioned at Halloween that she gets her lunch a lot from a little cafe across the street from the school and they have great soup, so I got her a GC to there. The aide got Dunkin Donuts because she's also a student and has a job and according to my son, drinks a lot of coffee. (I probably would too if I were a kindergarten teacher.)
We also gave homemade peanut-caramel popcorn to the office staff, and the gym teacher, and homemade cocoa mix to the crossing guard. The crossing guard nearly fell over when I gave her the gift, so I think she probably gets overlooked a lot. We also gave homemade perler bead ornaments with magnets glued on the back to each teacher, because it was something personal and cheap and I don't really care if they throw them away eventually.
Oh, and for my daughter's preschool class with 4 teachers, each family kicked in 5 to 10 dollars and each teacher got cash and a small plant.
[...] Christmas Gifts for Teachers? What to Think of When Buying a Gift: A recent post, but in case you missed it, here are some ideas and tips for getting the right gift for your children’s teachers and other important people at their school. [...]
Someone mentioned not to forget crossing guards. That goes with all "other" staff at the school. Especially those of us who are not as visible to parents like the secretaries are. Librarians, computer teachers, aides, and of course the custodians who keep the school beautiful. I know some people can't afford it, but if you have the means to do so, please don't leave them out. I know one custodian who kept the only drawing given to her by a child for 5 years! If you can't afford gifts (home-made or bought) I can say that a hearfelt hug from your child and a thank you for helping me, teaching me, cleaning my classroom, etc is a high we will live off of for weeks. Most of the staff at schools that aren't teachers are rarely thanked for what they do.
10 years working for an elementary school here. Honestly, I don't have a problem eating homemade food from most people. There were two occasions a homemade treat has gone straight to the trash. One was from a smoking home and even the wrapping over the cookies reeked of cigarettes. The other was from someone who sends their kids to school filthy every day and another teacher had been in their home and confirmed it was barely considered livable.
My husband is a teacher and he actually likes it when parents buy books for the class. He also does not expect a gift. After 15 years in the classroom, not only does he not need or want another box of chocolates but he recognizes that some families simply don't have the money. A personal note is hugely appreciated.
Just some ideas I know Teachers have loved are things she uses or he uses in the classroom like prizes for kids (stickers,pencils,bookmarks) things like note pads, sticky notes and my favorite to give SHARPIES!!! Every teacher loves things they can use in the class. I volunteered every other day for 3 years and I know all the teachers in the staff room loved these items. Chapters and michales gift cards we're also on the top of there favorites :)
I am a teacher and a parent. As a family we give the school several dozen sweet rolls from a local bakery for Diwali. For the winter holidays my crafty kid makes something for all of her teachers, principal, lunch lady, etc. Last year she made knit bookmarks. At the end of the year I give her teachers a gift card to a local book store with a note that says, "not valid in the children's dept." As a teacher I am delighted to receive any little gift and I manage to display the mugs and so forth, from every student, the year they are given. I taught with a woman that put up a Christmas tree in her classroom and put every single ornament every single child had ever given her on it. When her former students had kids in her class they were, as adults, very excited to see the ornament they had given her 20 years earlier still on the tree.
I'm a teacher, and I think that a note is the best gift as well. I really don't think that there should be an expectation to buy or get or make a teacher a gift. It's a nice gesture, but what a teacher will truly appreciate the most is a heartfelt note/card. I've kept all the cards I've ever received :)
The best year gift-giving wise for us was the year my son was in Jr. Kindergarten. The two teachers for his class had a lot they were dealing with, with a bigger class than expected and changes to how the schedule was done as well as a few students coming and going during the year. In November I contacted all the other parents and suggested that rather than a bunch of small crafts or ornaments or whatever, we pool our resources and get them something really nice. It was a give-what-you-want and everyone in the class gave me something towards it - I just left an envelope in the school office that they could put their donation in and trusted the honour system that everyone gave something. I ended up getting the two female teachers a half day at the spa each, plus a "pamper" package (spa slippers, herbal tea, a few magazines, a CD of relaxing music, and bath supples). For the card, I asked when people gave their money that they also put a photo of their child and/or a drawing their child had made into the envelope. I then scanned them and made them all into a book-style card with a little poem about how much their hard work was appreciated.
It took extra time and effort on my part organising and picking up everything, but it felt great and they REALLY appreciated it (one of them said to me afterwards "every time you go to the thrift store and see an apple knick-knack or a mug, I donated those. Forty years of teaching....")
I am a teacher and many of you have great ideas. The best ideas are homemade cards/pictures and letting teachers know how appreciative you are of them. We tell one another that, but it's nice when we hear from students and most especially parents on how appreciative you are. Words and pictures go a long way and they are free. If you wish you may stick in a $5 gift card for Tim Horton's, Dunkin Donuts, etc. even if it's for a tea, coffee, hot chocolate, donut or even a bottled water or soda if you don't eat/drink anything else in that store. You never have to break the bank for teachers, I am appreciative at what my students create that shows they were thinking of me.