Attack of the Christmas Mugs!

[Veronica]

One of our traditions is once Thanksgiving comes, we drink our hot beverages out of Christmasy mugs. I've been searching through our Christmas stuff looking for handmade ornaments to photograph and decided to pull out the mugs early.

Most of the mugs have been gifts from students. I have a box 12 x 12 x 15 filled with mugs. I pulled out my favorite five and put the other ten back in the closet. If you're inclined to give your child's teacher a Christmas present, please don't give them a mug.

V.

[Kano]

So, Veronica, you're saying you have more than a few Christmas-y mugs? Might be nice if some weren't "teacher" mugs, and some weren't Christmas, and you could have them out and around where they might get dropped eventually, if you're lucky, and broken, so you could use a different one from the collection?

Maybe you could add "skeet shooting" to your biking hobby? Isn't there something like that with cross country skiing, and couldn't it be adapted to bikes and mugs?

Karen in Boise

[Kano]

'Nother question, since you brought it up, sort of...

What do teachers really want for Christmas or end-of-year? (my family is past it, but I bet lots of moms are wondering!)

Karen in Boise

[Veronica]

I have SO many mugs. There's the box of Christmas ones, the shelf of ten or so that we use regularly, ten more on the top shelf of the cabinet and a bunch more in the lower cabinet.

Every so often I just toss some. If I can't remember what kid gave it to me and it's not in regular use, out it goes.

V.

[chickwhorips]

my stepmum always banked on christmas presents from her students. i think she got one mug the whole time that she kept at school.

[Veronica]

'Nother question, since you brought it up, sort of...

What do teachers really want for Christmas or end-of-year? (my family is past it, but I bet lots of moms are wondering!)

Karen in Boise

I like book store gift certificates. Never give a teacher Palmer chocolate. It's the worst chocolate in the world. Plants or flowers are nice. I have a minature rose in my garden that is nine years old. Steven Tandy, a 4th grader at the time, gave it to me.

If you know they have a particular interest a gift certificate to a store that caters to that interest. The best gifts I've gotten have been when parents get together and do something as a class.


V.

[eclectic]

I have been teaching for 20+ years but fortunately the last 14 have been high school only so I get very few presents.

My favorite gift was a little hand painted ornament made by a third grader - I had him again as a senior - he ended up being a phenomenal artist.

I would also suggest staying away from any homemade food items - most teachers I know won't eat it unless they know the kitchen it came from.

Suggested giving for teachers
I don't know what price range you are looking but here are some suggestions

Elementary teachers:
Stamp and ink pad
Congratulatory stickers
Bib type apron

any teacher:
movie rental certificates
I've known class mothers to take collections and get 1 big certificate for a restaurant.
Movie tickets (we can get discount tickets through our credit unions)
flavored coffees or teas
certificate to a "teacher aid" store if there is one locally
Staples or Office max certificates.
Book store certificate (or amazon.com credit)


Hope this helps someone out

[Bikingmomof3]

The MS teachers ask for the class to donate to the teacher's favourite charity in place of a gift. Obviously, no giving is madatory, but I really like the idea. Since we have 3 different advisories (Homerooms) we will be donating to 3 different charities.

I guess they got tired of mugs.


Oh-in elementary school- the moms would get together and collect say $5-$10 per kid and get spa gift certs for the teacher.

[chickwhorips]

Oh-in elementary school- the moms would get together and collect say $5-$10 per kid and get spa gift certs for the teacher.

i wish they would do that for my stepmum. after all she's been through with my dad being ill that would be perfect.

[Bikingmomof3]

CWR- the gift certs end up being for about $250 and the local spas give the teachers a deal, so they usually end up with quite a pampering session and they deserve it!