What NOT to give teachers

This time of year, there's frenzy among parents to find the ideal holiday gift for their children's teachers. From 20 years of writing about education, I have learned that gift certificates are safe bets and always welcomed. So are simple thank-you letters, especially if they're tucked inside a card made by your child. Here's my advice on what NOT to give, a list I regularly like to provide at school gift-giving times:

1. Ceramic knickknacks. (20 years of teaching x 25 children per class = 500 ceramic knickknacks.)

2. Anything that says “Best Teacher.” (Unless it is written on a gift card to Borders or Target.)

3. Anything with an apple. (Unless it is a computer.)

4. Christmas ornaments. (Especially if it is ceramic, says “Best Teacher” or has an apple on it. Besides, the teacher may not even celebrate Christmas.)

5. Coffee mug. (Skip the mug; can you say Starbucks gift certificate?)

6. The coffee-table book version of No Child Left Behind.

7. Any homemade treats. (If he hasn't seen your kitchen, he's not eating it.)

8. Anything with your child's picture on it. (She's been looking at him all year.)

Karina Bland is raising her 9-year-old son in Tempe with a lot of love, humor and support from her friends and family. A longtime journalist covering child welfare and education issues for The Arizona Republic, she blogs about raising good kids.