Don't think I'll do a tablerunner. I have a plan for one of those for myself (with some really cute Christmas fabric), but doubt I'll have time to get to it this year. :( But that's exactly what I was wondering, about the ornaments.

Somebody said fudge - now there's an idea. I always make fudge and caramels at Christmas, so maybe I'll set a portion of those aside.

I agree....I was a school teacher for 40 yrs and always loved to see how happy the children were to bring the teacher a little gift...it was always appreciated ....and in return I always gave them a little something...i agree...priceless!!!

I am a Middle/High school librarian and have taught 3 yr old Kindergarten to 11th grade English. I have a beautiful quilted ball, handmade wooden reindeer, a handmade Santa & an elf. They have been a part of our decorations at home for many years. My sons' teachers and now my grandson's teachers get baskets of homemade bread & cookies. These teachers have also always been my colleagues. Whomever has a Stevens boy at Christmasis always very happy with their gift. Handmade and homemade are always appreciated. Store bought ornaments and goodies-not so much. No scents, candles, mugs (unless it's a nice sealable insulated one) or knickknacks.

I can speak experience on this one (I have been a teacher). Teachers get inundated with anything that has an image of an apple. Mugs are in the attic, candles have been regifted, etc. You get the idea. Elementary teachers seem to be especially gifted by their students in this area. When my children were in school, I talked to the other parents from the classroom. We pooled the money that we would have spent on the teacher's gift and got one "giant" gift certificate from the closest "teacher supply heaven". For an elementary school teacher this might be a Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joann's, etc. This allowed the teacher to receive a far larger gift than any one of us could afford on our own (most parents donated around $5 but when you multiply that by 25...), the teacher was thrilled not to have to spend her own money on things for the classroom, and we still gifted a small plate of cookies.

I taught for 35 years and know how much a teacher spends to make her classroom learning environment special, a gift card from a group of parents would really be wonderful. Teachers also spend on their classroom library so a gift card to a bookstore is nice as well. The one gift that really cost nothing is a letter of appreciation for all the teacher has done to make your child love learning. Letters from the heart are memorable.

As a teacher, all gifts have been appreciated and I've decorated my tree with many special
ornaments over the years. Home-make goodies were always great as teachers don't have
much time to bake. A gift card to Tim Horton's or a group gift card to Scholastic, the bookstore or teacher supply store would also be wonderful.

Lab fairy, that was a wonderful idea to pool money from all of the parents. I agree, no mugs, my husband and I were both teachers and we had quite a collection of mugs. Homemade goodies are always appreciated. For many years I would put ornaments on my tree that reminded me of the student. (We have downsized tree this year)

My daughter does give gifts to the teachers (4 kids). Sometimes baked goods, small towels I had embroidered on one year, sometimes jar mixes. The best received were cake pops we made for teacher appreciation week. Not sure what she has in mind this year but there will be something for each teacher.

mltquilt

I was a special ed. teacher and rarely got gifts from students. I did receive homemade goodies from some parents and really appreciated them. I have always treasured handmade cards from students and even little notes. I have a collection of them.

My daughter teaches and I have never heard her complain abut anything she received.
I am very proud of her. She is a special ed teacher who received the special ed award at a special awards dinner a few years ago. My husband and I were so fortunate to be able to attend the dinner and ceramony afterwards. The only thing she complains about is how difficult the govt is making it to teach. They spend more time on paperwork and less time on the children.