I know, I know. We do this every year. Help me anyway, please.
C is in kindergarten. Her first teacher left for a new job after holiday break. The new teacher is brand new, early 20s, and fabulous. C loves her so much and I think she's done an amazing job navigating 24 five year olds who were used to another teacher. We are moving and this is a loop class so, if we had stayed, C would have had this teacher and the same classmates for first grade. I like this teacher enough that I considered not moving.
Anyway, I'll write a sincere note of thanks but what would you give in this situation? I can certainly do a gift card but is there anything more personal I can include that won't just become one of many?
I think a note is your best bet followed by an email to the principal. We usually do a collection so the teachers get one gift card from the class (vs. 20 $5 and $10 cards). If you're up for running something like that it would be nice but you don't have to spend your time on that if you don't want to.
Post by Ashley&Scott on May 15, 2019 13:25:58 GMT -5
I would do a personal note to the teacher & a gift card to Target or a book store. Since she's new I feel like glowing review to the principal would be great for her.
I would give a gift card, a note of thanks from you, and a note or picture from your child. And the positive review to the principal would probably be nice as well.
*Maybe* some packaged chocolates or cookies if you want to attach a "thing" to the card.
My mom is a grammar school phys ed teacher and the "stuff" she receives is all re-gifted. She doesn't like most food, so treats get given away or tossed. Doesn't do tchotchkes, or "girly" things like nail polish or lotion or scarves, etc.
Post by bugandbibs on May 15, 2019 13:41:51 GMT -5
I usually do a note, Target gift card (or Amazon if I know they use that) and a bar of chocolate. This is my standard for all gift giving occasions at school. I give a smaller monetary amount on the gift card for specials teachers like music, art, PE and library.
For other staff like bus drivers or school nurse I do just the bar of chocolate and have my kids write "Thank you!" and their name.
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She really will appreciate a note. That is ALWAYS the answer.
Also, gift cards are always the answer. I would actually NOT give her a card that she could use for school stuff. Depending on how much you can / want to give, I'd do it to somewhere more frivolous so she's forced to practice some self-care.
Post by imojoebunny on May 15, 2019 18:08:28 GMT -5
If I really love a teacher, I write an email to the principal, and copy the teacher. I use specific things the teacher does, so it is clear I am not just "love this teacher, high five." I would give examples, but they are too specific, but think more like, "When I send my kid to school each day, he comes home happy and excited about his day. He loves that Ms. X does hand on science experiments every week, gives him daily responsibility for various classroom needs, and lets him read his books when he finishes assignments. I appreciate her excellent classroom management, and have listened to the kids talk about how much they like that she never talks down to them and treats them fairly." or whatever it is that this teacher excels at. It is more effective than, "Ms. Y is great, D is having a great year, and we love Ms. Y."
I prefer to give gift cards to general places, like grocery (my personal favorite is a chain that is everywhere here, and has all the things, wine, flowers, great cheese, so they can treat themselves, or use it to feed their families), target, or Amazon that I know will get used. My BFF is a teacher, and she vastly prefers those cards. She gets some local one offs, now and again, to places she never goes (doesn't live in my town, can't afford it), and she gives them to me.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on May 15, 2019 22:21:32 GMT -5
A sincere note and a gift card. Something consumable if you really feel it necessary to have a physical thing in addition to the gift card. I give chocolates from a local chocolate shop.
I'd suggest a more general gift card and NOT something more indulgent. Teachers' pay is crap. Give her as much flexibility as possible to use the money as she wishes. Cash is fine. Visa/MC gift cards are fine (but you have to pay something like $6 to activate one). A gift card to Amazon is fine (assuming the amount is over the threshold to get free shipping (I don't know if that's still $25 or not)).