Acing the Holiday Gift: What Teachers Really Want
If we’ve learned anything during these difficult months of distance learning, hybrid schedules, and Zoom fatigue, it’s that we need our teachers. Irvine’s teachers are crucially important and tragically underappreciated. So with Black Friday right around the corner, The Vine reached out to some of Irvine’s teachers to find out what will really make them smile this holiday season.
Through an anonymous online form, teachers answered the following questions with their responses summarized below.
What is the most thoughtful/appreciated holiday gift you've ever received from a student?
There is a clear winner for the favorite teacher gift: a card. Teachers say cards written by their students expressing authentic sentiment is what makes a card special. One teacher stresses the importance of making card writing a voluntary activity for students.
Teachers also love gift cards. Some favorites include gift cards to department stores, book stores, restaurants, florists, and big box stores like Target or Amazon. Some teachers enjoy receiving something personal and one references a time a student gifted her a book she mentioned wanting to read.
What is the most awkward or strange holiday gift you've ever received from a student?
There are some don’ts in holiday gifting for teachers. Avoid cologne. Tell your child not to apologize for the gift. And beware gifts that are extremely expensive and may suggest a quid pro quo. The request for special treatment will not be granted, one teacher warns, no matter how much the passes to Disneyland are enjoyed.
Do you prefer a homemade craft/treat or a store bought craft/treat?
The majority of teachers prefer something store bought to something made in the home, especially during these germophobic times.
Do you prefer a gift card or a present?
It’s unanimous! Every teacher who participated prefers a gift card.
Do you prefer food items or non-perishable items?
The vast majority of respondents prefer non-perishable items to food items.
For students in online only learning, how can they gift their virtual teachers?
Most teachers recommend Amazon e-gift cards. One recommends having a student record a thank you holiday greeting to email the teacher. Another teacher suggests the best holiday gift is for virtual students to return to the classroom.
Do you have any other thoughts on the tradition of teacher gifts?
Most teachers have only positive things to say about their experiences receiving holiday gifts from students. One teacher even suggests that the process of gift giving is an educational experience in itself. It is an opportunity, the teacher explains, for students to learn about expressing gratitude, thinking of others, and experiencing the joy of giving.
So for those short on cash, be assured that teachers love heartfelt notes from students. For those short on time, know that teachers prefer gift cards to presents. And for those who wonder if teachers care about holiday gifts at all, remember that they really appreciate the love.