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Gifts for Teachers, 2008

I have received some very interesting gifts during my teaching years.

Granted, I have taught in several different countries, but the sentiments are the same.

Some of my “hall of fame”-quality gifts are:

• A “beautiful” metallic silver-colored plastic seashell music box with a couple ballroom dancing inside. When I turned it on, it played a frenetically fast disco song with the lyrics, “I only kiss, kiss, kiss where the sun don’t shine,” sung in a chipmunk voice.

My class of 35 first graders in China thought it was beautiful. I was just glad that they couldn’t understand English.

• Also in China, during the Year of the Sheep I was presented with a medium sized, realistic looking sheep statue. It was very *ahem* well endowed (obviously male, and probably designed by a male)!
• A figurine of a child playing baseball. Not sure why that made the gift giver think of me.
• Several dolphins that were factory-carved out of water buffalo horns.
• A giant 3-foot-long sheet of dried squid
• A pack of travel-sized tissues, open and half missing.
• One coaster. Not a set of coasters. One. (this was in the USA!)

So I feel like well meaning parents and students need some guidance in this area.

While most teachers will appreciate a gift card (Starbucks and Barnes and Noble are some consistent teacher favorites), here is my list of thoughtful choices to show your teacher they are appreciated.

If you are joining forces with other parents to present a gift to a teacher or coach, there is a new service at FrumUs.com that makes it easy to coordinate a group gift collection — for teacher gifts and beyond.

You just log in, set up your page, invite others to contribute, vote for which gift to purchase– all online!

FrumUs.com is an efficient and easy way to take care of a group gift in the hectic holiday season! You can choose from a HUGE selection of gifts like gift cards, creative personalized gifts or gift baskets!

From SkinnySkinny, you can get an origami box, hand-made from recycled, reclaimed and sustainable materials and filled with your choice of 8 handmade soaps for only $14.00!

The boxes are unique and designed to be reused after the soaps are washed away.

*Save 15% by entering coupon code TEACHERSAVE at SkinnySkinny!*

With your savings, this sweet present costs you only $11.90!

Home Studio has over 154 Scrabble Tile Pendant designs, so you can choose one that reflects your teacher’s personality.

Each pendant is only $6.95, or you can get four for $25 and have several people on your list covered!

Necklace chains start from $3.00 at Home Studio.

What could be easier than picking up a crate of clementine oranges at the grocery store? You could give the oranges as-is, or remove half of them and add some of your own goodies for a gift-basket look. Don’t forget the card!

I think a crate of oranges is preferable to a “fruit basket” that features bruised pears wrapped in tape and cellophane.

If you want to give a gift to the classroom, a flannel board story set from Glitterful Felts is a fun option for pre-readers.

Starting on Monday, November 24th-December 20th at GlitterfulFeltStories.com there will be a category called “pay-it-forward” where FREE felt board stories will be available for only the cost of shipping! The free items will be a surprise, so check in each day!

Teachers! Share your best and worst student gifts in the comments below!

• Gifts for Learners
• Baby’s First Gift Guide
• Gifts for Little Dreamers (pretend play for ages 3 and older)
• Gifts for a Happy Home

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