According to research by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) 93% of teachers had received gifts from their pupils at the end of the year.
The popular American trend is becoming the norm here in the UK, too. The only thing is, just what do you buy a teacher and/or head teacher that you probably don’t know too well on a personal level.
Start with a decent card
I was amazed when I saw how many thank you cards for teacher when I popped into my local supermarket a couple of weeks ago – it’s a sure sign that the trend if giving something to teachers is really a popular trend, as the ATL survey of it’s members found in 2010.
But, if you want to give a unique card that won’t have a twin on your teacher’s desk or mantlepiece, then try Colorblind Cards (www.colorblindcards.co.uk).
The modern gift
This is the hardest part, I find. On the one hand you want something thoughtful and practical, but it s difficult to think that the usual box of chocolates will have to do because they can share it in the staff room if it’s not to their liking. But that is a bit of a cop out.
You can try Filofax’s new Flex (www.filofax.co.uk range. The Flex is just a new way of using your diary and notebook, you can change things around any way you want, and take out or add notebooks, diaries etc, so it’s great for super organised teachers (and mums, too, if you want to give yourself a bit of a treat). The great thing about the Flex is that the diaries are not the usual January to December affair, and they actually start in the summer.
Ever teacher worth giving a gift to likes to stay on top of things, and is usually organised – with a gift like the Flex, you can add a but of style to their organisation, and they can use it as they choose. The Flex comes in magenta, slate and black, so there is somethng for every teacher.
If you think the Flex might be too modern for your child’s teacher, you can try any of the traditional diaries from Filofax. We like the Songbird because of it kitch and modern look with old-school glamour.
The classic gift
If you want to give something a little more classic, <a href="www.pasttimes.com sell the “Eleven Plus Book: Genuine Exam Questions from Yesteryear”. This is a book that looks at the old Eleven Plus exams – if your child’s teacher us one to talk about how things used go happen – or looks old enough to remember that things were different in the past! – then this will make for some enjoyable reminiscent reading.
