"Thank You" Gift for Teachers

we always try to restock the supplies in the classroom....to prep for the next year.

Puzzles, games appropriate for inside recess, etc .....are always popular with the teachers.

Forget the personal gifts of "teacher" stuff!

Last year I did a nice card that I hand wrote how much I appreciated her. A handmade bookmark and a $10 Caribou Giftcard. I plan to do the same this year for this teacher. My son says that all the teacher drink Caribou, which I thought was pretty funny that he noticed that.

Responding as a teacher here:

If this is public school, try to find out what the rules are re: class gifts. In MA there was just a big hullaballoo about teachers accepting gifts of more than a $50 value, even if it was from the whole class.

Also, as a teacher, I never eat homemade food. I know, I know, it's weird. But just be aware that I'm not the only one who feels this way, so if you bake a bunch of cookies or something, they might not get eaten by the intended recipient. OF COURSE I'm ALWAYS grateful that someone thought of me and gave me such a nice gift. That is not to "bash" on a homemade gift at all. It's just to let you know that it might not get eaten.

Mugs, bath stuff, "kitchy" things also don't get a lot of use.

Okay, so you know that, and you're asking for what might work - what about simple homemade necklaces? You could go to a bead store and get stuff for cheap. Books are always nice - often Barnes and Noble or Borders will have a lot of good books in the $5 section. A "nice" grading pen (so red or green) could work too.

Teachers do like getting gifts (who doesn't?), but I can honestly say that if you are going to be stressed out about the time and expense of a gift, the best thing that you can give a teacher is a note saying how much they've meant to your child. Try taking a nice family photo and inclosing it with the note. Those are the things I really keep around.

Good luck.

For my own daughter, over the years, I have usually done a $5 gift card to the bookstore. Barnes and Noble is the bigger popular one locally..the elementary school itself did many fundraiser nights there...earning a small profit % on sales one night and the school encouraging all families to come and buy that night..those sorts of things. Also the teachers being able to generate "wish lists" for their classrooms, so parents could do those purchases FOR the classrooms, etc.

Always a personal note spelling out a specific thing the teacher did to help my child etc that year, with my child's assistance somehow evident on the notecard.

Good luck!

EDIT to add...I am with the person below somewhere who said the thing about consumables...I am a daycare provider and get alot of treats and bath products and candles. Unfortunately I have MAJOR particularities with odors (migraine issues and personal preference)...and skin sensitivities (lotions and junk)...can't do candles (hello, I have a daycare..where can I put them? plus cats and again the odor for migraine issues)...and for food items like cookies and such...I have some food issues like nuts and things that I am sensitive too, so avoid. Many of these things I do not share or broadcast to all of my clients (why whine?), just as a teacher likely would not to 30 student families....just something to consider when you look at these items as gifts.....

Don't make arts and crafts stuff - they have a ton of that and it'll likely get tossed.

Avoid things like candles, lotions, soaps, etc unless you are absolutely certain they like fragrances.

Don't worry about being original. If every one of my students who gave me gifts gave me a $5 gift card to Starbucks, I'd be as happy as a pig in poo. Really. I don't need the super fancy awesome gift. A simple gift card to somewhere just really does it for me.

Unless the teacher specifically asks, don't get things for the classroom for students to use. Nothing says "Hey you did a great job this year, here are some crayons and toys for the other kids to use." It's not a gift for her/him.

If the cost is getting out of hand, a simple handwritten note thanking him/her for their service is more than sufficient and definitely more heartfelt than a picture frame made of popsicle sticks or a stinky grandma candle.

My husband and I are about to embark on the same mission :) One thought that we had is teachers tend to get a lot of "stuff". Stuff they really don't need or don't end up using. We were handed a cheat sheet of all the teachers in the school as to their likes/dislikes and favorite things. For example our director loves peanut M&M's and Diet Coke . . . a splurge for her. She also loves a certain Mexican Restaurant. Some of us Mom's are going to get together to get her a gift card and each contribute $5-$10 so that she has a nice gift card to spend on herself. Find out what some of their favorite things are and I have learned Gift Cards are great. Even something as a $5 Starbucks Card. The little splurges mean a lot!!!!

Ok...6 teachers is alot to plan for....hmmmm...

I have given strawberry plants for them to 'grow" at their own homes. The card was very personalized and thanked them for helping our child learn and "grow" so much over the year.

We have given simple wrist watches..with personalized notes saying thank you for all the "time" you have put into being a wonderful teacher.

We have given certificates to a favorite restaurant.

We have put together simple movie night baskets with a note saying enjoy your summer and take time to relax.

Ice cream parlor certificate wishing them to have a "cool" summer.

Don't worry about the $ amount. Teachers get soooo much.

As a teacher, before my kids were born, I loved the personal notes from the parents giving specific reasons why they appreciated me that year. I treasure those. I try to do that every year with our kids' teachers and they too say they treasure most the personalized thanks from the parents.

Good luck...6 kids is a lot to plan for!! But what fun to have 6!!

If you really want to do something nice for your childens' teachers, take up a collection, have everyone that contributes sign the card and give the money and card to each teacher. I'm sure they would rather have $2 cash from each kid than a $4 gift from each kid.

Good luck to you and yours.

I think a thoughtful, handwritten note would be great - especially if it was specific and commented on a specific impact the teacher had on the student, or something specific the teacher did that you really appreciated.

One of my teacher friends received a note like this "Yesterday my daughter said "Ms. X says that the likes everyone in the class the same and thinks everyone is special, but I can tell by the way she talks to me that she really likes me the best and thinks I am REALLY special.'"

If you want to give a gift, I think $5 gift cards would be fine.

I once got a gift from a class where they used silver sharpie to write messages to me and draw pictures on a black umbrella which is both useful, sweet and funny.

If you MUST get something like lotion, candles, etc. get anti bacterial gel or soap.

Most teachers are overwhelmed with small gifts from scores of children, and they just don't know what to do with them. They cannot display all of them, and they cannot dust 30 gifts every year that end up on their home bookshelves. So resist the urge to do this. The thought is there, but it creates huge problems when every kid does it. I never knew what to do with all the things my students gave me, and it was hard putting them in the yard sale table because no one wanted a trinket that said "#1 Teacher"! A friend who has been a kindergarten teacher for years has enjoyed a gift certificate to a spa or a boutique that was purchased by the parents as a group. That let her buy something she could really use, and she still remembers which class gave her what.

Many schools have a room parent who does a collection and then buys the teacher a nice gift certificate to use for a larger gift. Other schools have an education foundation that accepts donations that teachers can then tap for special programs that don't get funding through the budget.

Otherwise, give something edible or plantable - a small house plant that can be planted outside, or cute pot of parsley (or other herb) with a ribbon around it, or home-baked cookies the teacher can serve to family & friends.

If the child makes a hand-made card to go with it, that's all the teacher needs.

My child's teacher loves homebaked gifts, but for big gifts, we parents usually get together and get her a visa gift card she can use anywhere. You could also give gift cards to Michael's or a teacher supply store, because I know our teacher shops at those places to get stuff for the kids. It may be for the class, but it was coming out of her pocket!

I agree about the bath stuff and candles. I sure don't want them, and getting a whole bunch of them would get old very quickly. Gift cards are the way to go.

To be a little different, what about making a donation to a charity in the teacher's names? You could choose a charity that interests your child, (like my child likes the "Wounded Warrior" program). Or you could choose to get a gift card to an office supply store for that grades teachers for next year? They always need extra office supplies to start the new year.

Just thinking out of the box here.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

Gift cards. I usually do Barnes and Noble, but I know some would love Starbucks or Cold Stone Creamery. Something they will actually use, and something that would be a treat!

I really agree with MR. Don't get things for the classroom. Many teachers never buy or do things for themselves. They deserve a treat now and then, too.

Anything consumable is usually good. My girls usually give their teachers scented candles or scented room diffusers. Snacks and candies/cookies are always good too.

Since your children have several teachers it is not necessary for you to get an item for each teacher. Perhaps they could get together with some of the other kids in the class to get the teacher a gift certificate so that each pupil is only contributing $2 or so.

If your kids want to give indivual gifts to each teacher, than I would suggest you bake cookies and wrap 3-4 in colorful plastic wrap and ribbons.

My kids teachers have loved the stationery pack I make for them. Usually Target or the Dollar Store will have cute stuff.

I put together a notepad (good for writing notes home to parents) and a pack of thank you cards, some post-it's and a package of pens. Tie it together with a cute bow and have your kiddo write a personal note.

Hope this helps!

I'm a teacher, here's what I would LOVE. If your kids know his/her favorite drink, stop by Sonic or someplace else and get an ice cold drink and a pack of m&m's. Deliver it during the school day with a little note saying that his/her hard work was noticed and something special that you remember him/her helping your child with or an activity that was really meaningful to your child. That would be about $2.50 cents and worth a million. Don't wait until the last day of school. We have so much on our minds with end of the year paperwork and stuff. Also, everyone waits until the last day and it can be overwhelming.

As the wife of a teacher, gift cards are always appreciated. They really to help teachers' families. Starbucks, Subway, movies, Sonic, whatever! Even if it's $5.

I have given gift cards whether it be to Target, Starbucks, Subway or such. I am sure any denomination would be appreciated.

I have also given a nice potted flower/plant that they can plant in their garden and watch bloom all summer long (also reminding them of your child.)

For teacher appreciation week I made a little box which I painted and added quilled flowers. (I just learned how to quill. It is inexpensive and looks impressive.)

Whatever you choose maybe include a nice thank you note telling them how much you appreciate all they did for your child. No matter what the size or cost, I think just showing the teacher how much you appreciated them is what counts.