We give the teachers a set amount to fix up the class room and spend on the kids. Field Trips what have you.

Last year for Christmas we gave each teacher a board game from the PTO.
Our thinking it was for the teacher and their room but, would also benifit the kids during indoor recess.
It was a BIG hit!! The teachers loved it.
Copymom [img]smile.gif[/img]

One more thing to add. That I did appreciate the teachers concerns over that issue "some parents can't afford" of not wanting to participate this is strictly volunteer event. I think that they should let parents make that decision. I know that it's easier than trying to figure out what to get them. It's better to give them something personal during "Teacher Appreciation Week" if parents want or at the end of the year. Believe me I praise them for all their hard work and energy and dedication that they put into their jobs. They have alot of pressure on them.

That was the "Giving Tree" we did it for the 1st time last year and several teachers didn't participate out of 30 we had about 6. They made comments like "they feel that some parents can't afford to purchase some items" Blah, Blah, Blah. As a parent if I know my child's teacher had a wish list for items I would much better buy it than a coffee mug or something else for her personal use due to she is looking out for the needs of her students. I know that they spends lots of their own money. PTO had put money aside for this. So, our 6 teachers got everything that they asked for on their list (that the children pick off) and they were very grateful. I was happy that PTO could offer such a wonderful opportunity to serve not only the teacher but the students as well. Parents should think about giving supplies for the holidays than mugs, perfume and other items. Glue, construction paper, manilla paper, pom pom, wiggly eyes, magnets, chenille (pipe cleaners), wipes, liquid handwashing soap+refill bottle (I was amazed as a parent after visiting my child's class go to wash your hands after helping and there's no soap), Bond paper, Blank book markers, modeling clay anyway, these are just some ideas. If I have that info I will pass it on. I can't remember who posted that. I will advise to bring it up in the November Board meeting to the teacher rep to see if teachers would like to do this. Then send notices home the week after they return from the Thanksgiving Holidays. A good time to purchase (the items that we not selected from the tree)is during the Winter Holidays and have them ready when they return back. How it worked is that you send the notice along with the wish list to the teacher. Then you get back the ones that want to partipate. You send home only the notice to parents of that teachers class particpating. Let them know what day the tree will be up and they can come by and select a item with their child or have their child select it. *Ask the participating teacher where they would wants this to be put up. You cut out a tree out of butcher paper then we made christmas ornaments out of butcher paper (different colors) because we don't have lots of holidays die-cuts (we had to use our imagination) and it had a flap so when it was opened you could see the item. The last couple of days before the release of winter holidays we went around and took a envelope with that teachers name on it and pulled off the ornaments left. That's how we knew what to purchase. Upon purchasing it we decorated empty paper boxes and put them in their classroom early in the morning on their 1st day back from the holidays. It was great. I will try to find it. I hope that the person that posted it reads this and will be able to help if I cannot locate it.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Teacher holiday gifts cost us no more than 30 bucks a holiday and we do budget for it...I thought we were being sweet. Are we wrong to spend a few hundred bucks a year on the teachers? They do take care of our kids all day and teach them<hr></blockquote>

Tell the teachers exactly what you told us!

Could those funds be used elsewhere? Sure they could -- every cent you spend could be spent someplace else. And there is probably somebody who thinks that someplace else is a better place.

Does spending the money this way advance the purpose of your group? Let me rephrase that: does trying to make the teachers feel appreciated advance the purpose of your group? I should certainly hope so.

Last year for the holidays we offered to the parents an opportunity to give to the class items needed in lieu of teacher gifts. This was an idea from one of our generous posters on this site, unfortunately, I can't remember their name to give them credit.
Teachers completed a classroom wish list from which paper ornaments labeled with the wish list items were placed on a poster board cut-out of a tree. Students were able to select as many ornaments off the tree as their parent's allowed.
The item on the ornament was what the child gave to teacher and the classroom benefited from the gift also. Items ranged from glue sticks, to an electric pencil sharpener.
The teachers loved the idea and results. So much, that when we opened our new school in August we set each classroom up with trees and fall colored leaves. Even some of the special area teachers benefited from the generousity of the parents. The teachers receive a great deal of apple motif items, bubble bath and lotions over the years and this way they received items the class needed and could use. The parents were thankful to have a way to recognize the teachers during the holidays since deciding what to give your teachers can be stressful.
The original poster of this fantastic idea can explain so much better than I. Hopefully you get the basics.

Here's a idea - poll some of the teachers on the side and find out if the teacher reps are actually speaking for all the teachers, or just a select few.

maybe you might want to give them items in their mailbox like red pens (to use for grading purposes), small boxes of new chalk for the chalk board (we all like new chalk), or a couple of pens tied together with rafia and note card with the school emblem on it - with a cute message like the ones from the 100+ inexpensive gifts for teachers.

This way they will be able to use the gift the PTA/PTO wishes to give them and they will not be candy stuff (lots of teachers might be on a diet and don't want sugar - so they may be griping).