<p>Is it appropriate to give a teacher/guidance counselor a small token of appreciation in advance of their writing a recommendation for a student? For example $10 Starbucks gift card, small box of chocolates? Or does it taint that intent, that the gift is appreciation of extra effort on the part of the teacher/counselor. Thanks!</p>
<p>A bottle of wine perhaps :-)</p>
<p>I made several batches of my signature awesome European dessert for DD’s favorite teachers upon graduation, long after the rec letters had gone out.</p>
<p>In advance? No.</p>
<p>Not before. Went in later in the year and dropped off little gifts. But not because of writing rec letters…just because of their extra effort and support in Ds’s life.</p>
<p>Somewhere between when everything is done and when decisions come out is appropriate.</p>