<p>I am a very practical person (may be too practical at times) and think Visa cards are the best cards to give. However, my husband and my D thinks that might be too impersonal and to do go with specific cards like Barnes and Noble, Starbucks etc. </p>
<p>Teachers and GC at our school are very very nice and put a lot of effort in college recommendation. They are good teachers and gave really good guidance. We are truly thankful. I would not mind spending time to get gifts if I knew exactly what to get. We do know all teachers like books so banes and noble gift card will be nice. </p>
<p>My budget is $25/teacher. So was thinking of $20 and some small items like bottle of hand lotion, some nice candy, may be a scarf or gloves or something like that (and of course a big thank you letter from D). I am also planning to write a thank letter to each teacher and cc school admin. </p>
<p>So now what is better?</p>
<ol>
<li>Visa gift card (Visa card from TD bank does not have activation fee)</li>
<li>Restaurant.com gift card</li>
<li>Barnes and Noble gift card</li>
<li>Starbucks gift card</li>
<li>Store gift card like Macy’s</li>
<li>Gifts : tie for guy teachers, scarf for lady teachers? maybe home item? (with a gift receipt) </li>
<li>Gift card for nail salon (for lady teachers)</li>
</ol>
<p>I’ve worked closely with teachers as a volunteer. When asked directly every teacher said they preferred cash. But I know most people are uncomfortable with that choice.</p>
<ol>
<li> Nobody likes Visa gift cards because it is hard to check the balance and not all stores that take Visa will take the card.</li>
<li> $25 card for $2 or $3 dollars. Lots of restrictions.
3 & 4. Okay</li>
<li> Target is probably more useful.</li>
<li> Seems kind of personal.</li>
<li> Only if it includes the tip.</li>
</ol>
<p>Other choices:</p>
<ol>
<li> If you live in a smaller community they offer GCs that can be used at any business. This also supports your local economy.</li>
<li> Gift of handsoap or teas, etc that can be shared in the teacher’s lounge.</li>
</ol>
<p>The nice thing about cash is that if the rare teacher feels uncomfortable accepting the gift, you can tell them to buy classrooms supplies or extras.</p>
<p>Always appreciated are the personal thank you notes.</p>
<p>I have had some bad luck with Visa gift cards so I tend to stay away from them.</p>
<p>When my kids were younger I usually bought bookstore gift cards. One year S had a male teacher who was very into sports (it was common knowledge) and so we bought a gift card to a large sporting goods store. That went over very well.</p>
<p>I’ll be the third person to say I have had hassle with Visa cards.</p>
<p>Teachers have drawersful of gifts they never use, so cash is way ahead of whatever is second.</p>
<p>A gift card is ok as long as you are 100 percent certain it is something they might use. I have let lots of gift cards go unredeemed. For example, I would never get a manicure. Book store should be safe for any teacher I would think.</p>
<p>I will stay with local store gift card or the book store gift card. That seems to be safest. I will try to find small items that go with the card to personalize it a bit.</p>
<p>Barnes and Noble is an excellent idea for those who read- an excuse to buy a book you wouldn’t. NO WAY to any nail salon, or other beauty treatments- a waste of money for those who never want the treatment. Likewise Starbucks for those of us who don’t drink coffee. Cash is crass, a usable gift card isn’t B&N can be accessed online as well. Books for an educator sounds appropriate- in their field and less generic than dept stores, my second choice (be sure it is one with a wide range of goods and prices).</p>
<p>Consider that the teacher might get, say, ten or twenty gift cards.</p>
<p>To me, a total of ten or twenty Starbucks gift cards or B & N gift cards does not look so terrific. In my mind, those cards would amount to a lot of money to be required to spend at Starbucks or B & N. </p>
<p>This imo is why teachers prefer cash.</p>
<p>Therefore, I agree with Iglooo: amazon.com gift card.</p>
<p>Barnes and Noble is great. If there is a local Teacher Supply store that would also be a nice idea. Teachers spend a lot of their own money on school supplies. I always got lots of coffee mugs. I have no room in my cupboards for all of these so unfortunately had to give many away. One year we gave my son’s teacher a donation card for Habitat for Humanity, she was very touched.</p>
<p>I still have an almost-used Visa card, but it probably maxed out b/c they have a holding fee. Absolutely stay from those.</p>
<p>I also have quite a few Starbuck cards. They’re okay, but I can’t remember who gave them to me. Same with B&N cards. Same with Amazon. Either I shop without those cards at the ready, or I shop online and say, “I should’ve used the card.”</p>
<p>But cash? I sure remember getting those gifts and they were so welcome.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine giving a teacher cash. I do give extra cash during the holidays to those I normally pay in cash, like a housekeeper or a maintenance person, but giving cash to a teacher feels like I’m treating them like someone whom I’m employing. I think that’s why gift cards are so popular. Cash doesn’t feel right, although it’s what most teacher’s need most- so, the gift card.</p>
<pre><code>I like the idea of “local,” so I’d probably go with something in the neighborhood. Even movie tickets to a local theater wouldn’t be a bad idea, for the right person. I think it’s always best if you can tailor the card to the person’s interests, even just a little.
</code></pre>
<p>A William’s-Sonoma card to a teacher who loves to cook, or a gift to a baby store for someone with a new little one-- anything to add the personal touch works for me.</p>
<p>I have several teacher friends and they always say that they would prefer gift cards to Barnes and Noble rather than the “little gifts” they often receive. I have no doubt they would all prefer cash because they are not paid very well.</p>
<p>I used to have breakfast delivered to the school’s teacher lounge, and would let the teachers know this was for them/from us. Always a big hit. Usually had croissants, bagels, orange juice and such. Even a morning newspaper. One year I did a huge platter of baklava, but I like the breakfast spread better.</p>
<p>Put some cash in a picture frame and wrap it. I usually do that for graduation gifts. Never been turned down! Otherwise gift cards to amazon, wal-mart, target–whatever bigger stores there are.</p>
<p>Being a practical person I agree that cash would be best and a practical teacher might not get offended. But I am not sure if all teachers are practical so I stayed with Macy’s gift card. We have two Macy’s close to where we live. </p>
<p>Along with gift card, I will put some small items (lotion, candy etc.). Also my D bakes really good brownies so she is planning to bake some and wrap and put some in each bag. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the input. Can not believe D is graduating soon and off to college! I am just trying not to think about it for now.</p>
<p>Teachers, at least at the elementary level, get lots of “trinkets” at holiday times. If it was handmade by the child or the child helped in the “baking” then that’s a nice touch. It truly shows the thought. As a teacher I would be very uncomfortable getting cash but a gift card to B & N or dunkin donuts never goes out of style. Personal items such as scarves or ties, not a fan. Lotions end up in the faculty restrooms. One of the favorites already mentioned is to send a tray of cookies, breakfast, carton of DD coffee or whatever and have it placed in the teacher’s lounge with a card from you.</p>
<p>Forgot another favorite. A parent made a donation in my name to a local charity. She tastefully typed a note saying thank you for helping her son and stating the name of the charity. The note was in a small picture frame.</p>
<p>That’s a nice touch. My D is considering gifts to teachers who wrote recommendation letters, to include in her thank you notes. My question is would you include GCs in that?</p>