and now for my first question....

[ccnumber4]

I hope this is in the right folder.  As I said in my intro, I am a private music teacher.  I have a full studio with about 50 students, and they were very generous this year.  In addition to the homemade treats, I got quite a few gift cards and other lovely gifts.  All students were thanked in person of course, and I have sent out thank you emails to most of the parents who were not present when the gift was given.  My question is, do all you classroom teachers (and others) send out handwritten thank yous for your Christmas gifts from students?  Many of these gifts are handmade, and I love them.  My inclination is to send written notes, but wanted to see what the rest of you thought.   

[guihong]

I am not a teacher, but I've always received a handwritten note from my kids' teachers.  Most of them use the note as a way to wish the kids a happy new year, and an outline of the projects to come.

gui

[kckgirl]

My question is, do all you classroom teachers (and others) send out handwritten thank yous for your Christmas gifts from students?  Many of these gifts are handmade, and I love them.  My inclination is to send written notes, but wanted to see what the rest of you thought.   

I would write notes and send them home with the students at their next lesson.

[Peyton Fan]

I always send hand-written thank you notes for gifts given to me by my students. I also try to write thank you notes when parents volunteer in my classroom or donate items to the classroom (store-bought things, not "empty paper towel rolls). I teach pre-k/kindergarten age children and figure it can't hurt for them to receive thank you notes to model correct etiquette in this area.

[ccnumber4]

Excellent.  That's kind of what I figured, but wanted to check in with you all.  Unfortunately, this is my fifth year teaching and my thank you's have always been verbal or emailed.  I am learning, though.  Handwritten notes go out this week.  Thanks for all your help. 

[Slartibartfast]

think of it as a learning experience for the kids, since most of them probably come from etiquette-challenged homes (based on most of the adults I see!).  Maybe they'll notice how nice it is to receive a hand-written thank-you, and it will motivate them to do their own.

[MineralDiva]

I would definitely follow up the emails with a hand-written thank-you note.