<p>Christmas is nearing and I wanted to get gifts for most of my teachers, especially the ones who wrote my recommendations.</p>
<p>Everyone tells me to bake, but I cannot do ANYTHING in the kitchen.</p>
<p>What are some good presents I can get without killing my budget? I'm a bit broke at the moment.</p>
<p>All I have so far is a hand-written letter to the teachers that wrote me the recommendation.</p>
<p>I write lots of recommendation letters and its just really wonderful to get a hand-written card or letter. It makes my day and I've saved them all. I don't need or expect gifts at all.</p>
<p>A student the other day gave me a bag of Starbucks coffee beans. That was really cool (but I would have suggested she NOT do something like that if I could have known in advance). A coffee mug is always nice too as you can never have too many and its nice to remember where it came from. Or like a bag of jelly beans in a hand made package. Something like that. But really totally unnecessary and not expected at all. A simple note is so appreciated.</p>
<p>I'm with Starbright. Seriously, a sincere Thank You with a Sr. Portrait enclosed (with a message on the back) and an eventual invite to your wedding ;) is an awesome way to say Thanks! I'm a high school teacher who has a file folder full of thank yous and a wall mural covered with photos both of which I treasure. I also have a couple of extra inches around my belly that I don't treasure. Those come from the baked goods I get from grateful students :) Most of us really just prefer the heartfelt setiment to the calories.</p>
<p>My D is sending the teachers (plus peer and pastor) that wrote recommendations for her a package of ColdStone Jelly Bellys, a ColdStone gift card, and a handwritten thank you note saying that (hopefully) they can all get together for ice cream when she has made her final choice....</p>
<p>I'm a teacher and agree with historymom and starbright - a sincere thank you note is the most meaningful of all, and I love to have senior portraits or pictures. A casual shot that you print yourself is just fine. And a quick email update once you are part way through your first year of college would also be appreciated.</p>
<p>High school teacher here - I agree that a handwritten note means a LOT. I've gotten notes from parents and students, and have kept them all. I do appreciate the giftcards I have received as well. But with multiple kids and multiple teachers, that's a lot for families. A nice Christmas/holiday card with a handwritten note is really nice.</p>
<p>Another idea, if you know that the teacher celebrates Christmas, is a an ornament for the tree that somehow reflects your child. I love putting up my tree every year and getting out ALL the ornaments that have sentimental value, including the few I've gotten from students over the years.</p>
<p>It really IS the thought that counts.</p>
<p>An inexpensive gift elementary teachers have liked are personalized pencils. Lillian vernon used to sell them, and I have seen them on other websites as well. Also there are some very reasonable magazine subscriptions available. You can send an e-card asking the teacher to choose among the magazines. I tend to avoid knick knacks and food unless it is a teacher I know well.</p>
<p>We did movie theater tickets/gift card...for a night out during the holidays after all the work writing the recommendation letters.</p>
<p>I, too, am a teacher. I can truthfully agree that a note means much more than anything else. I actually save the notes I get, because they remind me of the kindness of the students and their families.</p>
<p>A small Christmas ornament (if appropriate) with a note is always nice. I have ornaments on my tree that students have given me over the years, and they are always special reminders of that student when I put up the tree each year.</p>