Around this time of the year, parents start writing to my giftsandetiquette.com website for advice on how to handle the proverbial educator gift quandary. But what about the issues that educators like you face when those apple-themed mugs, pencils and pins start rolling in? Don't worry-we've got you covered. Here are 5 tips that any educator can use to avoid gift awkwardness this holiday season.

1. Take pre-emptive gift action

I'll never forget a long-ago back-to-school night when my daughter's first grade teacher mentioned that she'd been a teacher for more than 20 years and while she appreciated people's desire to give her holiday gifts, she really had everything she needed. "However, what we could use," she added, "are new board games for the classroom to use during indoor recess." While you can't go back in time to back-to-school night and do what this teacher did, you can reach out to your class parents and suggest they relay your holiday gift wishes, whatever they may be, to your students' parents. One 6th grade teacher I know suggested that parents either make a donation to the student council's food drive in her name or that they do an adopt-a-child program on her behalf instead of a traditional teacher gift. These are great ideas that reduce the "stuff" you get and benefit a good cause, too.

2. Announce that you open gifts in private

Since your students are likely to have a classroom party before the holiday break-and that's the day you're most likely to receive any presents-you should let students know that you will not be opening gifts right there and then. This helps in 2 ways. First, if you don't have a great poker face, you won't have to worry about revealing your "true" feelings about yet another coffee mug with "World's Greatest Teacher," "World's Greatest Bus Driver," etc., on it. And second, if you have any students who didn't bring a gift (for whatever reason), you won't risk making them feel sad by making a big deal about the gifts you did receive.

3. Write thank-you notes promptly

I have to say that throughout my daughters' school career-they're now in 9th and 7th grades-I've been quite impressed with their teachers' manners. Every teacher has always been prompt with a handwritten thank-you note. You may not like writing thank-you notes, but the truth is you set a good example by doing them. Besides, you're bound to get at least one box of note cards as a gift, right? So why not put them to good use this way?

4. Do what you wish with any inappropriate gifts

Here's something that most people don't realize about gifts received: you are under no obligation to actually use the gifts you get. I'm a huge proponent of regifting when necessary, and you shouldn't feel shy about it either with any inappropriate gifts. Another option: donating items to charity. What you should not do is put on display the gifts you've received from students-love 'em or hate 'em. Remember: there may have been some children in your school who couldn't afford to give you a gift or just plain forgot, and you don't want to make them feel bad by showing off the gifts you did get. Also, you need to come up with a boilerplate response if any of your students ask follow-up questions about the gifts they gave to you. You can saying something like, "Oh, I took them home and am saving them for a special occasion."

5. Make a note to nip the present problem in the bud early next year

Take a page from my daughter's first grade teacher, and address your feelings on teacher gifts at back-to-school night next year. You can make a classroom-oriented gift suggestion like she did or even remark on any good causes you support so parents looking to make a donation in your name have an idea of how to handle that kind of gift.

Bottom line: when it comes to teacher gifts, it's better to be proactive than to be inundated with stuff you neither want nor need.

Happy holidays!