At the end of the school year, it’s traditional for students and parents to thank their favourite teachers with presents. But from the sublime (wine and chocolate) to the ridiculous (an illuminated gnome) – what sort of items make their way to classrooms around the country? We asked our community to detail their yearly present haul, including the best and worst gifts they received. Add yours to the comments section or tweet us @GuardianTeach.
The good
- Alcohol, crisps and sun cream – what more could you want? That’s summer sorted.
@lisaspiller @GuardianTeach my best two: bottle of beer & a packet of crisps, and a bottle of sun cream!
— Natalie (@natdia89) July 15, 2015
- A sentimental present means a lot – and an A1-sized poster of your class is one way to make sure you remember them.
@GuardianEdu @GuardianTeach .. from the class we call the Magnificent Seven gave us this A1 sized poster of the class pic.twitter.com/ZKb5E6MtD0
— david brown (@staffdb66) July 17, 2015
- There’s no better way to a teacher’s heart than with food.
@GuardianTeach When I was TA one mum brought in handmade lunch, still hot and delicious. We sat, ate and chatted. Perfect end to year.
— beckyland (@beckyland) July 17, 2015
- Well, I suppose an Armani watch wouldn’t go a miss either.
@GuardianEdu @GuardianTeach am Amarni Watch!
— Suki (@Sukiajimal) July 17, 2015
- But the best presents are always ones that students spend time creating. AKA an incredibly accurate portrait.
@GuardianTeach My favourite end of year gift! A ridiculously accurate portrait! :) pic.twitter.com/Hrc3EMqp7G
— Kieron Murphy (@MrKMurphy) July 19, 2015
- And homemade present-making skills can be quite sophisticated.
@GuardianEdu @GuardianTeach This was my best ever https://t.co/8X3M9IM6Oq pic.twitter.com/2aLcAGYHWJ
— Chris Rolph (@CDRolph) July 19, 2015
- Then there are the gifts that make you see your students in a whole new light.
@GuardianTeach I received a Lighthouse Family CD from one of my year 5's and his music street cred has rocketed in my books...
— Jeymie Wagstaugh (@jamiewagstaff) July 20, 2015
The bad
- It’s never a good sign when the gift you get is also something your students’ play with.
@GuardianTeach I was once given a plastic illuminated gnome as a gift from a child.
— Vladster (@PDWright77) July 19, 2015
- There’s nothing worse than a present that makes you question your teaching.
@lisaspiller @GuardianTeach A card with the message: "Your the best teacher ever." Wrong use of "your" proved I didn't deserve that title!
— Krista Faber (@KristaFaber99) July 15, 2015
- Then there are the items you’re not sure are really meant for you.
@lisaspiller @GuardianTeach I got a hideous pair of size 18 PJs once. I was 23 and very slim.
— TeacherSophs (@sosophiesophs) July 15, 2015
- Although some thoughtful gifts can make you realise just how much your class notices.
@GuardianEdu @GuardianTeach Once took shoes off in class - toes poked through. End of term gift, 5 pack business socks
— Brizerrr (@brizerrr) July 17, 2015
The ugly
- The most terrifying presents from students are definitely the ones only your mother should buy you.
@GuardianTeach my year 2 colleague got a multipack of knickers! Most bizarre gift I've seen in 20 odd years
— Wendy (@WendyC116) July 20, 2015
- Or the totally practical, but very mundane gifts that you never thought you’d get.
@GuardianEdu @GuardianTeach I was given a 5 times amount of Nectar points petrol voucher from sainsburys. It was funny? NOT..
— sands Dobson (@SandsDobson) July 17, 2015
- But I suppose it’s better than getting nothing at all.
@GuardianTeach none :(
— emzie (@teachyscience) July 16, 2015
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