Teacher Gifts - Raleigh, NC

All I will say is DON'T give lotions or candles or stuffed animals or chocolate! :) We get so much of that... gift cards, classroom items, or photo books of the kids, or a bound book of letters from the kids; those would all be great.

I am a second grade teacher and have received many gifts of bath soaps and lotions. All gifts are appreciated but the best things I have recieved are classroom items. For example: books for the classroom library, pencils, erasers.. ect. This really helps me to save my own money when these supplies are needed.

I give the same gift year after year and the teachers love it. I find a canvas bag (can be personalized or not), a beach towel, a large bottle of sunscreen, and a gift card to a book store. I put everything in the bag and attach the following on a note card. Enjoy a little relaxation, sun and a good read this summer!

My husband is a teacher, and we have enough mugs! I would suggest getting something that can be used rather than permanent like coffee mugs, picture frames, etc. Something like a gift card to a restaurant, a calendar, stationery like someone else already mentioned, a fruit basket or something else edible. Or it could be something practical for school life, like a ream of copy paper (my husband has to use his own paper when printing or copying papers), dry-erase markers if she uses that or chalk if she has a chalkboard, or perhaps a gift certificate to a teacher supply store or catalog.

How about a heartfelt letter of thanks on pretty paper with a handmade gift from you daughter ( a painting or a poem ). If you prefer something monetary - a gift card to a mall or to a store that teachers in your area frequent for classroom supplies. Does the classroom need anything? You could volunteer to do a class-wide collection for something like a new bookcase or reading chair or cushy carpet (where the kids get to sit at story time).

Hi R.,
I used to teach 7th grade and I remember once i received pesonalized staionary that i thought was awesome. Let's see what else...I think gift certificate to restaraunt or movies...(you could make a cute basket with like popcorn, cute cups, and the tickets.) Sometimes as teachers we are on a tight budget due to our salary. Oh and a gift certificate to get nails and toes would be awesome too!!!
Hope this helps,
C.

R.,
My son was the same way - and I "was" struggling for an idea for his 1st grade teacher as well.....right until I read your question...I am going to get his teacher a nice potted plant - one that will grow in our current agriculture zone so she can plant it outside....and attach a note that says "thanks for helping my son bloom so beautifully this year"...I don't know if this helps you...but your question certainly gave me the idea for my son's 1st grade teacher.

I hope your daughter continues to blossom and love school because of her experience this year. God Bless,
T.

When my children were in elementary school we always went to the bookstore and purchased a piece of children's literature. Then I would have my child write a note to the teacher inside the front cover of the book thanking the teacher for a great school year. My sister is an elementary teacher and that was her suggestion. It is a gift they will keep and use in their classroom. The nice comments written by your child in the front of the book is very touching!

R.,
A great gift would be a gift card to an office supply store (OfficeMax or the like) or somewhere like Wal-Mart. Teachers can always use items like this so they can restock their supplies since budget cuts hit them hard.

Hi! You could give the teacher a special DVD with photos from throughout the year to document this KG class of 2009 and your daughter. My website can give you more details: www.creativeDVDdesigns.com If you were to mail me the photos I could turn it around in 1 week and mail it back priority mail.

There are some really cute songs out there to set as the background of the slideshow to make this truly special.

Good luck!
R.

I am a teacher and I say stay away from gifts for the classroom. Give her a gift card so she can get her nails done. You may want to ask another teacher or assistant if there is a salon she likes to go to. Another good idea is a gift card for a massage. Who wouldn't want a little pampering at the end of the school year?

My daughter gave the teachers canvas bags with their initials on it. They seemed to love them. I personally love the idea of a gc to a restaurant or nail place, or a massage. Some don't like a massage, and some have their own nail place. Ask them a few questions, and see what they say they love to do, and go from there.

R., I feel so bad for teachers and daycare providers! They have such trying and stressful jobs in my book! I'm happy to hear your daughter is doing well! I have a business that has aromatherapy products. For my children's teachers, I always give them a small gift bag with the Unwind Bath Salts and Lotion. They always tell me they leave the lotion on their desks so they can use it during the day when they are feeling a bit "overwhelmed!" It helps them to relax and handle the situation better. If you want to take a look my website is www.J..myarbonne.com and there are several ways to get discounts. The prices listed are retail, which I never charge! If you want to know about the discounts let me know and I'll send you the list. Hope this helps and tell her we said Great Job!!!

Find out if the teacher likes a certain hobby, scrapbooking, cooking, hiking,reading etc... then get something for that or a gift card to a store for that particulat hobby.

I do not know if the teacher is a man or a woman, but you can not go wrong with a $20.00 Visa gift card placed in a thank you card. That way the teacher can use it anywhere and for anything S/he wants.

Good luck and God Bless,

I'm giving teachers an oatmeal mask from Sarah Noelle. I don't know where you are, but if you're anywhere near the Raleigh/Cary NC area, JOni Horn (owner) is going to be at the South Hills Mall in Cary for a craft fair. She makes everything herself and all the ingredients are things you can find at the grocery store. I tried some of this stuff and it is AMAZING and not very expensive. It's also really pretty. She puts instructions and ingredient lists in as well. If you're not near the area, I'm sure she would ship it. her website is www.sarah-noelle.com and I think her email is either ____@____.com or ____@____.com But she's got all sorts of really cool things. my favorites are the oatmeal masks and the skin cream

A gift card to any teacher store (google teacher stores), Walmart, Dollar Tree (teacher's love Dollar Tree for many reasons). I teach 2nd, and we get a lot of personal gifts (lotions, perfumes, etc) but to get a hand made card from the child along with a gift card is always best.

For end of the year, a gift card for dinner at a favorite restaurant, to the movies, spa/pedicure or something like that (it just depends on the teacher's personal preference)

Cash! Unless you know the teacher's specific likes and activities, cash is king.

do a plant with a not card attached saying help this plant grow like you helped me grow. or help this flower blossom like you helped me.. you get the idea... hope this helps!

I taught first grade before I started having babies 3 years ago. My suggestion - a gift card to somewhere just for HER! No lotions, candles, etc... I can't tell you how much of that I got. But when I got a gift card to a store, place to eat, or to get my nails done - it was AWESOME!!! Or to the mall, where she can use it at any store. Another great idea is if your daughter has a good little friend in class, you and that mom go in together for a gift card - that way it is more "bang for your buck". Just a suggestion! Good luck!

Hi R.,
Two words...GIFT CARD!!!! I can not stress that enough. Give a gift card to anywhere. Target is a great choice. I taught 1st grade until I had my 1st son and while any gift is greatly appreciated, we really enjoy gift cards. I would prefer even a $5 gift card to anywhere instead of chocolate, lotion or mugs. Hey even a $3 gift card is better than some of the useless things that I have received and never used and had to throw away. Just because we are teachers doen't mean that we don't enjoy the sames things that you do. Teachers don't like things that say #1 teacher. We get stuff like that ALL the time. Trust me when I say a teacher will truly appreciate a gift card to Target, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, any good restaurant, the mall, etc.

My daughter will be in K next year, and has had a great year in preschool this year. We had to move but I really wanted her teacher to know how much we appreciated her. At our local Hallmark they had the most adorable clip boards with initials on them. I got one for my child's teacher and she says she's used it every day since. So...I got one for my mom who IS a teacher and she uses hers all the time too. Good luck!

Teachers love gifts made by the child. Frame a cute or sentimental poem and let your daughter decorate the mat!

This was my daughter's Christmas gift and the teacher loved it!

Teachers love anything they can use in their classroom that will help her out. A lot of teachers spend money out of their own pockets to buy things for their students due to budgets being cut etc or a gift basket with a good book, coffee mug, different varieties of coffees and/or teas. And some just appreciate being thanked.

I'm a divorced mom of two great kids son 22 and a daughter 17.

I have gotten my son's teacher a bracelet with a 'teacher's prayer' on it. I got it at Bealls in Fla. You may be able to find one online. I also got her some note pads with her initial on them. I got her some stationery made with her last name on it and below are the names of everyone in her family. My daughter's teachers got the stationery as well and some beaded clay bracelets. Then for Christmas I had given them all a thermal lunch tote with their last names embroidered on them. I put the ice pack inside so they did not have to buy them and then a lunch gift card inside. Then another year I got them a book and a gift card to a book store. I got the Director and coffee mug, some chocolate covered stirring spoons, and a Starbucks gift card. I have a friend who embroiders things and she makes the neatest pencil cup holders with the intial on them and coffee mugs with initials, coasters, etc. I will get that next year. I hope some of these ideas help!

I heard teachers like book store gift cards and gift cards to school supply stores so they don't spend their own money on supplies.

Have fun! W.

Hi R.,

When my daughter was is 1st Grade, we lived close to a technical school that had a degree in massage therapy. The students gave massages (supervised by their instructors) at a great discount from the local spas and were very good. This is what I gave both of my children's teachers. They both said it was the best gift they had ever received. It was a great way to relax after the school year. You buy a gift certificate - I made sure it was enough for a 30 minute massage, but they could choose any service that the school offered. Hope this helps. L.

I have a friend who is a teacher and one of her favorite gifts, especially at the end of the year, are beach towels. Everyone can use a new one, for the beach or the pool in the summer, and you don't have to worry about it matching anything. Plus, if you shop the sales, they are pretty inexpensive. She also really enjoys gift cards to local restaurants.