Can the class go in on one gift?

Yes. One gift card from the whole class is a common way to do it. Some districts set a limit on class gifts too, so ask first.

Etiquette says no. Teachers are salaried, so a gift or gift card is the usual choice.

What about something handmade?

Handmade gifts did well in that poll too. One teacher said ornaments from students in the 1980s still go on the tree.

justchristmas

What should I give my child's teacher for Christmas, and how much?

Q: What should I give my child's teacher for Christmas, and how much?

A gift card, about $25. A gift card is the favorite. In an informal poll of about 700 educators in 2024, 79 percent picked one and about 7 percent wanted a mug, and in a national survey in the fall of 2025 the typical holiday amount for a teacher was $25. Common practice is a gift rather than cash, with a note, and some school districts limit what a teacher may accept, so check with the school first.

A gift card, about $25

A gift card is the favorite. In an informal poll of about 700 educators in 2024, 79 percent picked one and about 7 percent wanted a mug, and in a national survey in the fall of 2025 the typical holiday amount for a teacher was $25. Common practice is a gift rather than cash, with a note, and some school districts limit what a teacher may accept, so check with the school first.

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Can the class go in on one gift?: Yes. One gift card from the whole class is a common way to do it. Some districts set a limit on class gifts too, so ask first.
Is cash all right?: Etiquette says no. Teachers are salaried, so a gift or gift card is the usual choice.
What about something handmade?: Handmade gifts did well in that poll too. One teacher said ornaments from students in the 1980s still go on the tree.

A tin of our saltine toffee to go with it

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Last checked Monday, November 9.

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