| When you want to give teacher a gift this | | | | me why I still put up with my job. |
| holiday season, you will often find yourself with | | | | 3. Group Gifts are GREAT. Let me repeat... I |
| the same issue as the year before. You will find | | | | love group gifts. Group gifts from the entire |
| the usual "favorite teacher" mugs and other | | | | classroom work out for me because it involves |
| related standards, and it's hard to find gifts that | | | | everyone and I usually end up with |
| are both personal and affordable. Most teachers | | | | something actually want and can use. Voluntary |
| who have been teacher for more than a couple | | | | donations allow for people to donate what they |
| of years have a good amount of these gifts | | | | want and what they can afford. It also gives a |
| already. Decorative crystal apples, picture | | | | means for the students who can't afford to |
| frames and #1 Teacher mugs just aren't that | | | | participate to be included. Every student signs the |
| unique. Wouldn't it be great to them something | | | | card and it makes every student a part of the |
| different this year? Here is what many very | | | | holiday. |
| considerate teachers wish they could tell you - | | | | 4. I Love Gifts I can USE. If you are confused, |
| but never will: | | | | read #1 and #3 again |
| 1. I Don't Need Another Decorative Apple or | | | | 5. I Am At School Almost All the Time... Please, |
| "Favorite Teacher" Mug. I get a lot of these. In | | | | Give Me Something Unrelated. Students tend to |
| fact, I have so many at home I had to sell some | | | | view teachers as fixtures of the school. We are |
| at my last garage sale. I also have a lot of | | | | real people, with real lives and interests outside of |
| frames, pencils and school supplies. It's not that I | | | | the classroom. We love sports, reading, shopping |
| don't appreciate it, it's just at some point there's | | | | and days at the spa just like everyone else. |
| nowhere to put it. | | | | When it comes right down to it, teachers are |
| 2. It's not All About Money. Christmas is not all | | | | people just like you and me. Somehow this fact |
| about money, and personal gifts are very | | | | escaped me when my kids first went to school |
| special. I would rather have a handwritten note | | | | (yes, I gave "favorite teacher" items, too). Your |
| of appreciation or some personal artwork about | | | | teacher will be thankful for anything you give |
| the holidays than a gift you cannot afford (or | | | | them, and it will warm their heart. But maybe this |
| something cheap and ugly). I love my students | | | | year you can do both. Warm their heart and get |
| and handwritten letters are precious. They remind | | | | them something special they will really appreciate. |