I have been super couponing and have managed to get a bunch of school supplie things free or super cheap, I had been intending on making a gift basket for my girls kindg teacher for the start of school, but now i'm having second thoughts that they would already have everything and not need it. The thinks i have are gum, pocket packs of tissues, small hairsprays for touch ups, notebooks, pens, kid scissors, crayons etc. I could add some reward stickers, and a potted plant or something, Does that seem strange first to give a start of school gift??? do the items seem weird to give a public school teacher in a not underprivelged district, should i wait and give it in January as a replenishment sort of gift??? ugggg. what is your take on this???
ok, this is helping me a bit, Did i make it clear that the gum was for her?? either afterschool or at home, and the hairspray was for her too, if you take off your hat in winter and it's all messed up, that sort of think, pull out the bottle of hairspray from your desk, and there are only a few note pads, and 1 10 pack of pens, not supplies for a whole class, our district buys the crayons scissors, etc the only think kids are requried to bring at the start of the year are kleenex and lysol wipes. I love theidea of chololate and the otherh little things people mentioned. keep it coming thanks!
I think it's extremely thoughtful! There's no doubt in my mind that the teacher would truly love it any time of year! There is no such thing as a teacher "already having everything and not needing it". LOL They run out of stuff so much and are always in need of basics like that! I think it's a wonderful idea and that the teacher will be very touched at the thought. =0)
I think it is very thoughtful! There might be some kids in the class that can't afford or will forget/break their supplies. A plant is a great idea, too - my daughter isn't even in KG yet, and her teachers asked every child to bring in their own plant - I think it would be a great addition to the classroom.
I think it's thoughtful.
Even in districts that aren't "underpriveleged", I know for a fact that many teachers spend money from their own pockets on school and craft supplies for their classrooms. (I have friends who are teachers).
I wouldn't go overboard, but a gift basket is a nice gesture.
My kids teachers always appreciated it when I brought packs of pencils with holiday themes or little erasers or stickers, enough for each kid.
It depends on the teacher.
I know when my mother in law passed away, we donated a lot of her craft items. Yarn, rulers, glue, fabric...they went to the after school program for the kids to make projects.
She would have been very happy knowing her things went to good use.
My friends who are teachers never expect gifts, but donations for the kids are always welcome.
Best wishes!
No sounds perfect. Normally all of the things you mentioned, at some point during the school year each teacher in elementary would need and probably have to purchase themselves.. Se is going to love it!
The first week our daughter started Kindergarten I gave her teacher a couple of boxes of bandaides and told her "these are for you to use as needed. Hopefully there will be enough for the other children in the class, not just our daughter!"
That teacher is still one of my very good friends and says it was a perfect teacher gift..
While shopping for my special needs first grader i had the privilege of meeting a 5th grade teacher who was stocking up on notebooks for her class because she often runs short. I think it's a great way to get yours and your daughters year off to a great start. ou might want to have a pack of hoe tissues on hand when you give the basket. JUST IN CASE :)
What a great idea! I am a teacher and I would be thrilled that someone thought of me during this hectic time. Just because you are not in an underprivelged school district does not mean things are not tight.
Go for it!
I say to give the gift as it was intended. I'm sure that the teacher would definately appreciate it - and use everything in it. You'd be surprised to learn that kids/parents even an normal public schools struggle with getting basic school supplies. I am a coupon shopper myself and have loaded up. I'm donating tons of pencils to the school office. I think it's a great thing.
Hmm. I always taught in an underpriveleged district, so my opinion might not be that of this Kinder teacher. But I personally would LOVE to have a stash of bonus materials to use when I need them. I had students come with no materials or with the wrong kind.
But for SURE the plant at the beginning of the year. Very sweet idea.
And the kleenex, she may want these for the whole year to keep in her pocket while on the playground, cafeteria, etc. Not for her - but for the snot-nosed kindergardeners!
Perhaps put all things in box and call it her "Bonus Box" or "Teachers Stash" and toss some chocolates in there too. All teachers that I've met like a little chocolate fix.
sounds perfect and thoughtful! my teacher friends would love it
Love it... I am going to use it when my daughter start K-garden! thanks!
Not sure that a kindergarten teacher would want gum or hairspray, but the other things sound great. I'm sure there are kids who won't have all they need and she'd really appreciate anyone sending extras. You may want to wait a few days after school starts and ask if there's anything that she sees a need for. Good for you for being so generous, and include your daughter in the process so she can feel the pleasure of helping others.
Cute. Gifts are never "stupid"! I don't generally suggest getting a prepackaged "teacher gift" though. Something you've put extra effort into getting (like your basket) sounds thoughtful and kind. If there's something in there she can't use, I'm sure she can find someone who can and pass on your kindness. Also, you can (almost) never go wrong with chocolate!
As a previous teacher, I would say cute and thoughtful whether now or in January. You might want to leave out the Hair Spray - although this can be used as a sealer in Art!
I think this is great but I would probably wait until Christmas, that's about the time supplies are all used up and it's harder to get kids to remember to get new supplies during the year than at the beginning of it.
But scratch the gum and hairspray!
Very sweet of you! I live in one of the most priveleged districts in the state and our teachers are always in need of supplies. The things that they need the most are hand sanitizer, soap, disinfectant wipes and kleenex. In K my son's teachers also needed things like zip loc baggies and paper towels. Like the PP, I am not sure about the hairspray and gum. You may want to put something like teabags or a cappuccino mix in instead.
What thoughtful ideas! I don't think there's anything wrong with either...
As a teacher, I would LOVE to receive this basket!!! RE: the hairspray - always a great tool to have on hand to erase the permanent markers that were used on the whiteboards instead of the dry erase markers.
As a teacher for 11 years, I would say YAY!!!!!! She will love the gift and think of you as extremely thoughtful!
I am a teacher. I think the basket sounds great. But yes, it'd probably be more useful mid-year...right now all the teachers I know are buying what they need for the start of the school year. Whether you give the gift now or mid-year, I think it would be appreciated. You can never go wrong being thoughtful.
I think the gift idea is great. I always say if you can give now because you have the resources to do it now then do it because you don't know what will happen in January. Always take the initiative and dont worry what other people will think. That is just a great example to show your kids to be thinking of others and not just themselves and to be doing nice things just because you want to and can and not because you are going to get something in return. Have a great school year...both my boys are finally going to be in school this year 2nd and Kindegarten woooo hooo hooo Yippeee!!!!!! vika
How thoughtful of you! I know that teachers love donations of items they can use!
The only items I might question are the gum and the hairspray. Our elementary school does not allow any gum whatsoever, other than during standardized testing. (The high school does not even allow it then.) I'm not sure why kindergarteners would need hairspray, and if a teacher felt the need to spray my child with it, I would be pretty ticked off at the message it was sending to my 5 year old. (Also, if you have an environmentally sensitive teacher and/or school, I would make sure that the spray bottles are not aerosols. My kids have had the 2 teachers who run the environmental club at school, and they would frown on that; my son's camp banned them a few years ago.)
Good luck with the start of your new adventure!
Don't second-guess yourself! It's definitely the thought that counts, and I think your intention is incredibly sweet and thoughtful and will be appreciated very much. What a nice idea!
Best wishes,
H. S.
