We give gift cards, per my mom, the teacher. Bookstores, local restaurants, Target, and amazon, etc.

I gave cute notecards for Christmas, and Starbucks cards for the end of the year. Before the school year started I had the teachers fill out a questionnaire about favorite candy, drinks, stores, etc. It was really helpful throughout the year.

I almost always do a thank you note and a gift card to somewhere that the teacher shops. I ask them, telling them I don't want to give them a little knick-knack that will just clutter up their room so ask where they go to replenish supplies or books.

Today's was a gift card to Amazon for my son's 4th grade teacher. They have neat ones that you can print that include a thank you and a place to customize the message.

How much is appropriate to give do you think?

One of the best ideas I used was to put a giftcard inside a cd envelope with a big bakery cookie, then use a sticker picture of your child's face to seal it.

I've also banded together with other parents from the class and given something together. This year for the end of school, my daughter's home room mom asked every child (15) to go to a cute jewelry store close to school that strings beads and things and pick out a unique charm. The store strung them together on a nice bracelet and we gae it to the teacher with the list of what charm went with what child. Cost around $8 a child and the bracelet was very well received.

This year I gave gifts to my children's teachers, as well as the other staff at the school who deal with my children on a daily basis. I made cards with my children on their first day of school on the front. Inside the cards, I wrote personal notes to each of the teachers/staff. I included Target gift cards (I did $25 for the teachers and $10 for the other staff.) and included a specially decorated Hershey's chocolate bar. The school that my children attend has a barn theme, so I chose to do a barn theme for the candy bars. They all raved about the candy bars and loved the personal notes and giftcards too. :)

See them on flickr.

I gave a small gift for christmas to my daughter's nursery school staff. It's quite a large staff, from the 3 teachers, 2 teacher-aids, head of the small school and other part-time help (at least 3). I did not think about the end of year gift which is actually this Thursday for her since we are going to miss her graduation soon. Should I give them something?

I'm also a teacher and have both given and received many gifts over the years. I tend to give gift cards to places like Target and Amazon, since those are always useful in some way. I personally am not a big fan of jewelry or tchotchkes, since I now have drawers full of them. They are always lovely, but they add up to a lot of clutter. On the other hand, cards with handwritten notes are always kept by me, along with pictures of the kids.

As for the amount, of course it depends on budget. I try to give $50-$100 gift cards to the teachers in my son's class. I don't really worry about the office staff, etc.

for preschool the last couple years we like to go in on gifts with other parents too. we've done spa days and restaurant gift cards for the teacher's bday, but at the end of the year we've tried to make it something from the kids. last year the kids all painted a big planter which we gave with a shrub (our teacher has a lot of property), this year we gave a personalized platter (posted here ). At the end of the year I think it's nice to do either something from the kids or gifts that can get used up. Here are a few other quick ideas.

I received a few end-of-year gifts from my students (I teach sixth grade; middle school tends to be when the gift-giving drops off.) They are never expected, but they are certainly appreciated, particularly when the kids have chosen gifts especially for me, rather than for a generic teacher (I now have a collection of eight dancing hamsters, all gifts from kids...that may not be everyone's style, but it certainly is mine!)
I'd like to put in a word for thanking the support staff who also take care of your kids. It may be too expensive to buy gifts for everyone, but it's nice even to write a note to the security guard who greets your kid every morning or the administrative assistant who helps you schedule three different parent-teacher conferences for the same day. Teachers are wonderful, of course, but schools wouldn't run without all of the people working outside the classroom, too!

This year, my oldest graduated from 8th grade at the small charter school she's been in since kindergarten. She wanted to do something different, so instead of a traditional gift, she opted to make donations to organizations that supported causes her teachers were passionate about. She combed through the directory at justgive.org and researched organizations that fit. Afterwards, she made cards and included the donation letters inside. Her teachers loved them.

potted lavender plants and for the head teacher a collection of carnivorous plants.

As a teacher, gift cards are generally appreciated. I'm a middle school teacher and I frequently receive Starbucks cards (there's a Starbucks about a block away that the kids frequent). In terms of an amount, no amount is too small. Truly, it's the thought that counts. Personally, anything above $25 starts to feel a little like bribery.

If gift cards aren't in your budget, thank you notes are wonderful, and sometimes even better than gift cards. I know that I keep a file of them in my filing cabinet to puruse on no-good-very-bad days.

Check out: www.iloveschools.com

Teachers can register their wish lists for the classroom, and that way, items (or gift cards to provide those items) from the list can be given as gifts.

I realize it's not getting a personal gift for the teacher, but honestly, I know so many teachers who spend their own money buying classroom supplies - I imagine they'd appreciate gifts that would help them in the classroom, too.

For my youngest's preschool teachers, we gave each one a Zulugrass necklace with a handmade card. I'm not big on giving tchotchkes, but this year it just seemed like a simple, sweet present to give.

I know gift cards are one of the better ways to go, but I don't know, they just seem so impersonal! My oldest is finishing up 3rd grade - maybe for her classroom teacher we'll do a small gift card to a local bookshop or coffeeshop and I'll make something to go along with it like a fabric bookmark or one of those coffee cup sleeves and bookmarks for the other teachers/staff (librarian, bus driver, etc).

As a teacher I have always enjoyed receiving handmade cards or handwritten letters from my students. I have also received a class picture framed and signed by each of the students in my classroom and I love it.

Gift cards are also great. Teachers rarely get to sit down and have a nice cup of coffee or a nice slow and relaxed lunch so gift cards for these kind of things are great.

I am a Kindergarten teacher, and my favorite gifts are a good picture book that I can read to the class (with a personal inscription from the child) and/or something handmade by the child or something that the child picked out him/herself (no matter how tacky!).

I have two kids in daycare/ preschool ages 1 and 3. There are 3 teachers in each of my kids class and we give $20 - $25 per teacher and usually its to Target. Also they set up vases in the hallway and we put 1 rose or another flower for each of the teachers as well as all the staff including the cook and all the administrators. Also I write out the thank you card from each kid and my 3 year old draws a little picture. Also in our school if the kids moved to a different class in the middle of the year we give the cards and gift card to any teacher they had during the year. I think the teachers really appreciate it and it makes my 3 year old happy and proud to give something to the teachers. Also we do the same thing at Chrismas time. A $20-$25 gift card and a Holiday card.

I'm a teacher in a low-income school district. Gifts are very rare. I understand this completely. What I REALLY appreciate, though, are cards from both parents and students. A paragraph that shows that a family enjoyed my teaching means a lot to me.

I might also suggest that you ask if the teacher has any proposals on Donorschoose.org. I always have at least a couple there, and I get so excited when one gets funded. If you donate to his or her proposal, you have no doubts about whether it will be appreciated--the teacher picked everything out.

It really depends -- this year, if we get our act together, I will have my 5 year old make cards to each of her teachers (she has 2 classroom teachers, and then a whole bunch who do the after-school activities, outings, swimming, gym...). She is a budding artist, and her work is particularly good these days. We might also bake cookies for everyone.

We have given chocolates and written letters in the past, and have given special presents to teachers having babies or going through other major events.

The majority of parents don't give things at our school (we're in Switzerland); gift cards are not the custom, and would not really be appreciated... Something personal or delicious is usually the way to go...

(Salaries benefits are around $100 000 -- if there are any English-speaking Montessori teachers -- especially ones who teach the 6 age age group out there who are interested in living in Geneva, the directress is looking...)

I sewed wine bottle totes for my daughter's preschool teachers and put a bottle of wine in each one. You can see them here:
http://pennycarnival.typepad.com/penny_carnival/2009/06/wine-totes-for-teachers.html

flowers, chocolates, presents the kids made, all sort of things!