I've been kizoodling alot lately and found a "bean plant" that when it sprouts it says THANK YOU on it. We got that for dd's kindergarten teacher. For the daycare teacher we usually get a book for the "class library" from the scholastic book club.

Love it! I wish our school did that!

Last year, I got each of their teacher's a $5 gc to Barnes & Noble, a Godiva chocolate bar, and a bottle of anti-bacterial soap from Bath & Boday Works. It was a HUGE hit! Will probably do the same this year.

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~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000

Both Target and BJs have great containers of gourmet chocolate covered pretzels (some drizzled with white chocolate, some with nuts, owith candy sprinkles, etc), they are indiviually wrapped and in a pretty clear container. I top them with a pretty bow or ribbon and they look like a nice gift for under $5. I believe Tarhet has them on sale for 15% off the usual price this week, too, which would make them les than $4 a piece. Each container has about 12 pretzels

I am on the PTA at my kids school so I just asked the teachers what they would like for Christmas. They said that gift cards are wonderful even if it is only $5 because it makes such a big difference filling in where their budget doesn't. One of the teachers told me she would love some new books for her reading area or maybe some new games for game time. She has them but most of them are missing pieces, etc. So I will be doing the books and games. The teacher also told me if they are nice she doesn't care if they are used. Even nicer since Goodwill normally does paperback books for .25 each.

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A Family of 5's quest to forget the Joneses.

I never thought about teachers not eating homemade goodies! We are still in the intimate setting of church preschool so I don't think that is an issue yet. I am giving the preschool teacher and the children's librarian a batch of cookies and I picked up Chirstmas Cactus for BOGO at Publix today. All said and done I will have spent less than $10 each for their gifts. I think I might also have dd dicatate a letter to me and then let her sign it and color it. That would be a nice touch. Thanks for that idea!

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas! I used to be a teacher and I already KNEW the knick knacks are a no go since I have many of them in a box! I guess I just knew my parents pretty well and my family always enjoyed the baked goods but I do understand in this day and time how you have to be careful and while I know his main teacher I don't know any of the extra ones! I think I might go with $5 gift cards or maybe movie money like I am doing for his main teacher (we have run into her at the movies a few times so I know they will be used)
I like that idea about a tree in the lobby my son's school did this cool thing they had each teacher fill out a form with likes dislikes (coffee drinker, getting nails done, favorite restaurant, candy bar etc.) and she gives it to the room mother!

I decided to do get these also. I am going to separate and give one "stick" and a single serve package of cocoa. I am also going. so for $10 I will have all the teachers/aides done. I am also givig notebooks to others like, regilion teachers/coaches. I'll save my homemade gifts for my neighbors/friends.

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I donate all my games/books that my kids have outgrown. I also check with teacher if I have a game that is missing pieces. If she has the same game then I donate the game and we can usually piece together a game without missing pieces and have a baggie of "extras".

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

i know my daughter's teacher has helping hands posted by the door...a sort of wish list of things she wants for the classroom. I emailed her to ask what else she wants for the classroom...she said they have a new writing center and said that colored paper, gel pens, stickers, etc would be great. so i am putting a package togheter along with ziplocs (which she asked for). This way the kids can benefit and she is happy too as it may be something she would have gone out and purchased withe her own money anyway. She is pretty grateful about the idea. So ask your teachers about some wish list items they want for their classroom. You might be surprised about the things they want.