I have two elementary school students in distant learning this year (K & 2nd). I'd like to get their teachers something for the holidays because 2020 but I'm stumped on how or what because they are doing distance learning.
I plan to ask on our school's parents' Facebook group for ideas but I've hesitated because I'm afraid I'll be stuck organizing and I have no ideas. How is your school handling it?
apricot / 308 posts
Just a note from someone working in the schools (SLP not teacher). I’m in a hybrid model but a teachers pay teachers (TPT) gift card, Amazon, Starbucks, target can all be sent virtually. I had some of the TPT and Amazon and I was so excited to buy new materials for the kids!
apricot / 286 posts
I’m teaching in person, but at the start of the year one of my parents reached out and asked if I had an Amazon wishlist for my class. She then bought a few things and had it mailed directly to me. It was honestly the sweetest thing and brought me to tears.
pomegranate / 3272 posts
This is how my school does things normally but the room parent coordinates the teacher gifts each year. They ask all parents to contribute any dollar amount they are comfortable with and they don't need to contribute anything. The room parent coordinates the gift and gives to the teacher signed from everyone in the class. I know our virtual classrooms also have room parents who are doing the same this year.
I agree that you might get stuck coordinating if you ask 
But I think a virtual GC is the way to go. I know it could be impersonal so maybe a nice email to go with it?
persimmon / 1495 posts
Our school does something similar to @Mommy Finger: but on a school-wide level because we have a really wide range of families, income level-wise. Families across the school contribute to a group fund and then it gets evenly distributed across teachers. This also helps make sure that teachers like the art teacher are included. We usually also send a card with a personal note and small gift card. I think a virtual gift card with a nice note would be great!
nectarine / 2987 posts
I have the same age children. I thought about doing a virtual gift card and I asked my teachers if they had Amazon wish lists but ultimately decided on buying actual gifts. I just asked both teachers if they would rather have their gift delivered to the school for them to pick up at their leisure or mailed to their home since I wasn't sure if they'd rather not leave their house or not share their address.
kiwi / 705 posts
Our classes are doing a group gift. Amazon gift card plus a box of chocolates. We’ve done group gifts for a few years now and it’s great, the teachers can get much more with 1 big gift card then a collection of them to different businesses.
grapefruit / 4361 posts
I've been a teacher for 11 years, married to another teacher of 11 years.
The first and foremost most important gift you could ever give is a detailed letter of thanks, especially if it includes quotes from your child. This is important in any year, but I can't underscore how challenging this school year has been for teachers and how unappreciated many of us feel. I know that the school year has been challenging for parents too, but..... yeah. I am a teacher with numerous leadership responsibilities and awards, and I feel like literally no one notices the hard work I've been pouring in for 4.5 months (except one parent, but she's also having a really hard time)
The best gifts I ever received were ones where the students clearly noticed a hobby of mine and gave me a gift centered about that.
For simplest and most practical gifts, a TPT or Amazon gift card would be so helpful (I've had to buy so many things to make distance & F2F learning better for my students). Starbucks is easy too but I'd rather support local at this time.
nectarine / 2018 posts
@DesertDreams88: love your insight on this!
We are doing a target gift card (planning on a physical one as long as we stay hybrid but will do a digital one if we have to). I wrote a note thanking her and mentioning specific things she has done that we appreciate (though I do send her an email every couple of weeks doing the same, figured it would be nice in a handwritten note). DD made a picture. And then DD picked out some glass rainbow sun catchers because her teacher LOVES rainbows. I figure she can hang them in the classroom or take them home to her kids.
I think if you are completely virtual that a digital gift card would be great. You could also find out if things can be dropped off at the school for teachers. Our district has said that anything non perishable can be dropped off at the school itself or the district office building and they will deliver things to the correct teacher/classroom.
pomegranate / 3272 posts
@Chuckles: I love the whole school thing b/c I honestly never even thought about how the art, music, gym etc. teachers are left out!
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