<p>I think all the Moms I talked to did the same. I feel sort of sorry for high school teachers, I never have never given them anything for Christmas or end of the year, unlike the elementary school teachers. It seemed like the least we could do. Having written a few recommendation letters, I know you can't just whip them off.</p>
<p>My d wrote thank-you notes. She has a fall break in a week (she's a freshman) and plans to stop by her high school and take applesauce (we make it every year) to the teachers who wrote her recommendations. She's also going to take flowers to the secretary in the guidance counseling dept.</p>
<p>We gave locally made chocolates (they can always give them away if they don't want to eat them), and a thank you card. I always made holiday treats for his teachers and coaches because it was fun for me. Secretaries also. It is not expected and if everyone did it, it would be chaos.</p>
<p>D gave chocolates. S gave copies of his own music that he had recorded for admission. Each recommender had expressed interest in his music and were thrilled with the gift that came with note. D picked selection of Godiva chocolates she made up herself.</p>
<p>I write dozens of recommendation letters every year. I'm perfectly happy with a heartfelt thank-you by note, email, or in person, and a follow-up report on results (again, in person is fine). I love hearing from a student the next year with an update on how everything is going. The great majority of my students do not give gifts and they are absolutely not expected. In fact, much more the norm, except maybe on CC! </p>
<p>The gifts that I appreciate most are small and simple, like chocolates, baked goods, a mug, a book, a small plant. I'm not a fan of gift certificates, even though I know that they are well-meaning. For me they feel too much like "payment" rather than a gesture of appreciation. Also, they mean I have to go to the store and will undoubtedly go over the price limit of the gift certificate! </p>
<p>I think the best time to give a gift is at holiday time or at the end of the school year when everyone is feeling celebratory. I wouldn't want students who don't give gifts to feel bad for a second.</p>
<p>As a parent, it was really hard for me not to send a thank-you of my own to the teachers who wrote recs for my S. But I resisted - and let him do it himself. Kept my helicopter in the garage for a change.</p>
<p>As a teacher on the receiving end of these gifts, the personal ones were the most wonderful, (chocolates, homemade anything) and I loved the B&N gift cards! My students know I love to read, so they didn't seem like I was bought off, but that they gave me something they knew I would appreciate and use. I appreciated all of the gifts, no matter what, and I don't mean to sound unappreciative, but candles, while nice, seemed to grow exponentially.</p>
<p>D had 2 teachers who went way above and beyond on college recs and letters that led to several merit awards. German teacher was one, and her rec also helped lead to a paid 1-month study trip to Germany. </p>
<p>D gave her physics teacher a gift certificate to a nice restaurant so he could take his wife to dinner...German teacher got lots of goodies from Germany--chocolate, (obviously!!), and daughter made her a CD of some of the popular music in Germany now (that is, those that are sung in German!!). The CD mix was a big hit, and both German teachers at the high school have already used them in their classes this year.</p>