The Perfect Gift For Teachers

Post by Contributing Writer Amy

I never felt like I could say this when I was a teacher, but now that I’m not, I’m letting you in on a little secret about end of year gifts. First and most importantly, thank YOU for doing something to appreciate your child’s teacher. You rock and your kid is undoubtedly awesome, too. You are one of the good ones.

While teachers appreciate a cute theme more than just about anyone, do not, I repeat, do not go to Pinterest to find end of year teacher gift ideas. It sucked me in just looking to write this post. I have a weakness for colored sharpies and one gift was a cute mason jar mug FULL of them! How great is that?! Needless to say, you’ll soon be convinced that an adorable little gift package with a cleverly themed saying is the way to go.

Trust me. It’s not.

You know what every teacher would really appreciate at the end of the year? A note and/or drawing from your child and a gift card.

Yep. That’s it. It sounds too easy, but it’s really the perfect gift.

Why a note or drawing from your child?

• Teachers go into teaching because they want to make a difference in the lives of young people. They knew it wasn’t a high paying or high power job, but they did it because of their passion for teaching and inspiring children.
• No gift package could ever compete with a student’s heartfelt message or adorable drawing. It tells teachers that their hard work mattered to the little people they got up for every day.  I haven’t been a classroom teacher for five years, but I still have the little notes and pictures of appreciation students gave to me.
• Think about including other school staff who may be important to your child. Music, Art, and PE Teachers, custodians, librarians, school secretaries, associates, counselors, and principals often have a special bond with students and are overlooked at the end of the year.  A little thank you note from you or your child would be treasured by each of them as well.

Why a gift card?  Isn’t that just the easy way out?

• Most teachers spend a lot, I mean A LOT, of their own money on things for their students and classroom every year.  A gift card that can help offset that cost, even just a little bit, is greatly appreciated.
• Teachers spend many nights and weekends grading paper, planning lessons, or taking classes.  A gift card  that encourages them to enjoy dinner, ice cream or a movie with their family is a wonderful way to say thank you.
• Gift baskets have to be unpacked and put somewhere, while a gift card just goes in his or her wallet.  With district paperwork, report cards, and a classroom to clean and organize at the end of the year, teachers are grateful for something simple. Not to mention they may have gotten a similar package from another student that same year or just the year before.
• If they get get duplicates of a gift card, it’s even better! I used multiple bookstore gift cards to buy book sets for my reading groups. It allowed every child to read a book on their level while discussing civil rights and Martin Luther King. It was one of the best purchases I ever made for my classroom, all because of generous parents like you.

There you have it. Now you know the perfect gift for teachers. So even though they are unbelievably cute, hold the beverage cups filled with candy or adorable beach bag filled with summer fun items, this is a much easier and most likely cheaper solution to an end of the year gift teachers will LOVE.

Amy is a former reading and third grade teacher as well as a mother to three little girls with big personalities.  She believes joy can always be found in playing, learning, and ice cream.