<p>Strick, I grew up with a Mom teacher, and she always got a few gifts at Christmas - and this is in a very, very poor, rural area of the South - such that she actually felt sad/bad/guilty/touched about receiving the gifts - some were that tacky, yet so heartfelt. She had a special drawer to keep them in because she could never use them, but yet couldn't throw them away - think very cheap, noxious dime store perfume. Teacher gifts are a long tradition here, even in modest school districts.</p>
<p>Teachers have said candles are a great gift, since you can enjoy it and use it up. No storage problems, or drawers full of 'stuff.'</p>
<p>The "best teacher gift" I heard about was a week at a vacation home (owned by one of the families). Worth about $1000 if the teacher had been renting it. This was also a private school.</p>
<p>A good teacher gift is a gift certificate. It can be to a store, book sotre, or a starbucks. Everyone gives mugs how many can you use.</p>
<p>Do it after everyhting is sent out, or once child is admitted so it doesnt come across as a bribe.</p>
<p>I'm a teacher. To be honest, the nicest gifts are notes from kids and families. I have those hanging on the wall next to my desk. My goal is to totally cover the wall before I retire. BUT if you're dying to buy something...here is the BEST gift I have ever received (and I actually used the idea for one of my kids' teachers too). I received a menu from a very nice sandwich shop near our school the day before vacation. It was wrapped with a nice bow and had a note from the family. After the new year, they would deliver lunch to me at school...anything I wanted on the menu. All I had to do was call them either the night before, or that morning. The mom later told me that it was a great gift idea from her end, because it meant she didn't have to DO another thing before the holidays. I loved it because it gave me something nice to look forward to. It cost less than $10, and a little of the mom's time to pick up and deliver. I LOVED it. I have enough "teacher things" to start my own store. I personally can't use the scents in body lotions or candles...I wheeze. I would be cautious about those as gift items....or baked goods as you don't know what someone might be allergic to.</p>
<p>My wife called. Wendy left a profuse thank you for the flowers on our answering machine. Fortunately my wife already knew about the purchase. :D</p>