Teacher's Day Gifts

[Miss Teach]

I have already purchased hand cream and body lotion gift packs to give my preschooler's teachers.
But I just came across an article (by a former elementary teacher) stating that her least favourite gifts were:
5) Lotions
4) Mugs
3) Homebaked snacks
2) Candles
1) Teacher stationery

The things she did mention she liked were cards and handwritten notes. Which I plan to add to my above gift packs.

Any ideas how I can do better next year? What do you guys give?

[International?]

Our daughter has been going to an international school and no gifts to the teachers have been given in the past although, at the end of the year, a collection was made by the class mum and some presents bought.

Are you at international or local schools?

[1stSepgifts]

We make cards every year and I buy a gift voucher from a department store or bookshop for each teacher.

[$.$.]

If it's a local teacher I give money or store voucher.  I figure they are on low salaries and prefer to choose something they like.

[no problem]

We just used to do home-made cards and perhaps a picture.  Now ours are at secondary nobody bothers with this tradition anymore (hooray!  )

But don't worry about it - moaning about a gift is totally rude, they should be grateful for anything they get and if they don't like it (and it hasn't got 'happy teacher's day' written all over it) then they can pass it on at a secret santa or something like that.

Actually, I'd probably be grateful for hand cream, I use tons of the stuff 

[ex-pat]

A nice box of assorted teabags.

[Happy with...]

I was raised to be grateful for any gift given and over the years I've had some wonderful presents that were clearly carefully chosen. One mother discovered that I love food from around the world so she organised a recipe book containing each favourite recipe, from every child in my very international class. It's practical and I love it. Another class parent organised a collection to get me a beautiful silver ring. Amazingly enough it fits perfectly and it's something I'd pick for myself but I'd never be brave enough to buy jewelry for someone I didn't know very well.

So, unless you have a very good idea of your teacher's personality and taste it's tricky. A best bet for any teacher, male or female would be a voucher for a large department store - one where you can buy clothes, shoes and things for the home. Other vouchers (lower value) that go down well are for book stores, nail salons (close to school), coffee franchises (if your teacher drinks coffee).

Hands down though, what I enjoy most of all is having emails forwarded to me by my principal from parents who have taken the time to write in to say what a great job I've done all year and how happy their child has been in my class. It makes my year and it's why I teach.

[Good point]

I've done this - Having the letter forwarded from the principal is great. If the letter is simply hand delivered to the teacher, it's a sweet gesture, but delivering it via his or her boss puts it on record.

Currently thinking of ideas for Teacher's Day myself, so this thread is handy, thanks!

[teachit!]

I am English and a teacher and I have to say that it isn't an English tradition and although it is a nice  thought it isn't a day that I remember or am particulalry interested in! I know that sounds terrible but it just isn't! Sorry!