We didn't have Teacher Appreciation day when I was kid. But at Christmas and end of the year, some kid would secretly pass around an envelope for a few days, and the kids would put in money. After a few days, the envelope would disappear, and at the appropriate time, a gift would appear from the class. It was usually embroidered hankies or sachet. I remember a vase one year. We didn't flood her desk with 30 things she already had 20 of--just one gift from everyone. The whole class signed the card and no one knew who gave a dime and who gave a dollar. No one felt bad if they couldn't spend much. Seems like a good way to do it.

The idea of a wish list horrifies me. If I was still teaching, I would refuse to participate.

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