I graduated with my Master’s of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina in 2003. My focus was elementary education, but I ended up in middle school and loved it. Teaching middle school science (specifically to seventh graders) was a daily challenge, and I plan to go back to the classroom at some point.
I’ve experienced many Teacher Appreciation weeks from the teacher side, and last year, I experienced my first from the parent side. Last year my son’s teachers received a couple of hand knitted dishcloths and a bottle of Dawn dish detergent. I’m generally not a Pinterest kind of person (most of my pins are recipes!) so my go-to teacher gifts are gift cards and office supplies.
An overwhelming number of my Facebook friends are still in the classroom, so I decided to conduct an informal poll. With their help, I’ve compiled a list of suggestions of gifts that your child’s teachers will definitely appreciate, and a few you should skip all together, as we honor these educators May 5-9 during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Handwritten Cards
Having your child write a handwritten note to a teacher is always appreciated. If your little one isn’t using a pencil and paper yet, you can always write it for them, or have your child draw a picture.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are an overwhelming favorite. Coffee was one of the top favorites; however, keep in mind not all teachers like coffee. Luckily places like Starbucks offer other menu selections, but your coffee shop around the corner may not. Other suggestions included gift cards for Chick-fil-A or another fast food spot, as well as splurges to places such as Dunkin Donuts or a frozen yogurt shop.
Office Supplies
Teachers often spend a lot of their own money outfitting their classrooms, and many times only the very basic supplies are provided. Post it notes and pens are always welcomed by teachers (bonus if you find out what their preferred brand/color is!), as are less common items such as card stock, binder clips, white out pens, and larger sticky notes.
Themed Gifts
It’s almost summertime, and everyone could use a nice beach towel and sunscreen. Or if you know what kind of hobbies your child’s teacher enjoys, a gift centered around those likes is nice too. (Do they like to read? A cozy throw and an Amazon gift card. Or maybe they are outdoorsy, or a foodie.) Themed gifts are fun to put together and fun to receive!
Consumable Gifts
Lip balms, lotions, and Germ-X were all suggested by my teacher friends. When I was teaching, I always kept a bag of hard candies in my desk to soothe my throat if it had been a long day! Gourmet food gifts are also a favorite.
Flowers
Always appreciated and not particularly expensive – flowers can brighten anyone’s day and let someone know you care.
Local Items
There are all kinds of local boutiques here in Columbia where you can find unique items. The Columbia Visitors Bureau has a great list to help get you started on places to shop.
And just in case you were wondering, here are a couple of items that teachers have too many of:
Skip – Coffee Mugs
These are cliche and every teacher has a ton. Skip the mug and give your child’s teacher their favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Skip – Kitschy Items
Everyone has seen them. The plaque announcing “World’s Best Teacher”. The apple paperweight with the smiling worm emerging from the side wearing a graduation cap. There are only so many places to display these items. And quite frankly, they can collect a great deal of dust (*cough, cough*). While appreciated, these may end up at the back of a filing cabinet at the end of the year so the teacher can display the current year’s collection.
Teachers give so much of themselves for their students. They spend more time with their students than they do with their own children. They love their students like they are their own, they worry about them, lose sleep over them, and pray for them. A gesture of appreciation doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, and goes a long way!
What suggestions do you have for showing your child’s teacher appreciation?
I have done small tokens for all 6 teachers at Lily’s day care for Christmas and Valentine’s day- do you think a year end gift is appropriate too? I try not to gift every Holiday because it can really add up, but I don’t want to leave out an important one either. It’s been hard to call since they will be there all summer? I dunno.. what do you think?
I don’t plan to do year end gifts. Granted, I taught middle school, but I don’t remember getting end of year gifts ever! I think Christmas and Valentine’s Day is more than enough!