Gift ideas for teachers?

[bailadora]

Teacher appreciation week is coming up at the elementary school and I'm searching for some gift ideas - things that a teacher might actually want or find useful. I should note that since this is a week long celebration, I'm looking for smaller/fairly inexpensive gifts so that the kids can take some sort of token every day. I've got a couple of ideas in the form of velvet ribbon bookmarks and aromatherapy pillows, but beyond that, I've got nada.

If you've taught, what are some of the best gifts you've received? If you're a parent, what is/are some things you've given that have been particularly well received?

Thanks!

 

[YankeeGirl74]

Teacher appreciation week is coming up at the elementary school and I'm searching for some gift ideas - things that a teacher might actually want or find useful. I should note that since this is a week long celebration, I'm looking for smaller/fairly inexpensive gifts so that the kids can take some sort of token every day. I've got a couple of ideas in the form of velvet ribbon bookmarks and aromatherapy pillows, but beyond that, I've got nada.

If you've taught, what are some of the best gifts you've received? If you're a parent, what is/are some things you've given that have been particularly well received?

Thanks!

Been on both sides of the fence here. Our local dollar store has wonderful education stickers, bulletin board borders, posters, dry erase markers, blank award certificates ("Good Job", "Way To Go"), etc. Last year for end of the year gift for my son's preschool teacher, I took a large sand pail and filled with with all those sorts of things (and the sand pail could be used in the preschool sand table). Even the mundane things like cleaning supplies, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer are always welcomed by our teachers.

Gift cards to book stores, local coffee shop and even places like Staples were always welcomed gifts. Also, you can "gift" teachers books for their classroom through the Scholastic company (the book order forms that come once a month).

 

[NippleMuncher]

Not sure exactly what you're looking for, but as I understand it, classrooms are always lacking in supplies, so either donate supplies of some sort or give office/school supply store gift cards so that the teacher can purchase the materials needed most.

If you want more of a personal item, letters of recognition/thanks for all that the teacher(s ) do.

If it's a week long event, could you set up a pizza party on the last day for the class/teacher to enjoy?

If your teacher has a BDSM side, you could purchase a selection of paddles and gift one on each day of the week. Ooh, better yet, get the paddles monogrammed with each day of the week, one for Monday, one for Tuesday, ...

 

[PhilGarlic]

a gift

a gift every day! is that the norm or a bit OTT?

My wife likes to receive wine, or a card made by the child saying thanks is always good.
Maybe a book token.

Whatever you choose you know that three or four others will be giving the same thing, only so many velvet book marks you can use.

 

[jonosmith]

Had a friend once receive a diamond pendant from one kid, now that was over the top. I teach older kids British secondary and the best gift I ever received was a hand drawn poster and card saying thank you signed by a bunch of the kids. And those rare occasions when the kids have said thank you and it comes from their hearts. But if ever anyone wanted to give me a diamond studded Rolex I wouldn't refuse it.

 

[jckontharocks]

Nice pens are always nice to get for free. The nicest thing would be a card from you and your significant other sending a thank you card saying thanks and that you SUPPORT her as parents.

 

[bailadora]

Thanks for the ideas so far, guys. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of a personal gift - something that is just for the teachers and that they don't necessarily need to plow right back into the classroom. But.....if some teachers really want supplies and such, who am I to question that?

Phil - I suppose some might think a gift every day is a little OTT, but the way I figure it, they have my kids 30 hours a week and are charged with the arduous task of pounding knowledge into their stubborn little brains. Surely small tokens of appreciation for one week isn't too much to express our appreciation for all they do. I take on board your point regarding the velvet bookmarks, but I forgot to mention this is something that the kids and I are going to make together. Maybe its naive, but I don't THINK they'll be receiving too many of these.

Regarding the homemade cards - I did think of that, but wondered if this was one of the things teachers got inundated with. One can only keep so many cards, after all. I totally get the sentiment, but I kind of wanted to give things that are somewhat original and that last for a bit. I guess I didn't do such a great job explaining my thought process in my OP.

 

[unsureofherself]

The presents I liked the most when I was teaching was something the child had made... I taught 8-12 yr olds ... but along the lines of biscuits, a little fimo figure for my desk, a coaster with my name stamped on, a decorated mug that sort of thing...

Hope that helps (and lucky teacher!)

 

[YankeeGirl74]

My wife likes to receive wine, or a card made by the child saying thanks is always good.

Wine??? Damn, I had the wrong parents.......

 

[YankeeGirl74]

Thanks for the ideas so far, guys. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of a personal gift - something that is just for the teachers and that they don't necessarily need to plow right back into the classroom. But.....if some teachers really want supplies and such, who am I to question that?

How about a cute container filled with the sample size bottles of lotions, bubble bath, etc from a place like Bath & Body Works?

I think for my son's teacher and specialists this year for end of the year, I'm going to give each a small potted plant in a terracotta pot that my son has painted. I'm going to find a small ruler to tuck into the front of the soil and attach a little sign at the top that says "Thank You For Helping Me Grow". Of course, I totally stole this idea of Pinterest.

 

[PhilGarlic]

hand made

Bailodora, I see your point re OTT, and my wife would love a hand made book mark, make sure your kid makes it, even if it ends not as you would want it!!!

 

[angelbabe8907]

One thing that I got (so cute!) was a bottle of great smelling lotion and it had 2 foam cutout hands made from the child's hands-one on each side of the bottle. The hands said "You could use a hand" and I got a hand-shaped cookie with it. It was so cute and a creative idea! As a teacher, I would appreciate being thought of at all, no matter what the gift is.

 

[chipcarver]

My wife basically loves anything she gets. However the ones that tickle her fancy are heartwarming cards or letters from students. Somethings she has received in the past that are food just for her and not something for the classroom are $5 gift cards for Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. Refrigerator magnets are good. As far as supplies pencils, even a ream of paper, crayons, etc.
However for a gift a day I would buy pencils and crayons for most days and leave the gift card and note from the child for the last day.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Rikki_13]

My personal faves are nice gel pens and letters from the parents or child that says thank you for the work I put in with their child and then uses specific examples of the things they remember from my class. As a high school teacher, I rarely get anything even my administration usually forgets us and doesnt show any appreciation until the week after. But as a coach, I have received gift cards to some of my favorite food places such as Chili's or Outback. If you know the teacher drinks coffee or tea, you could get them a new mug with different types and flavors of coffee or teas.

 

[acynlacy]

I gave my teacher a facial, of course I'm married to her.

Seriously, my wife has been teaching for 25 years, she has all the coffee mugs and vases filled with hard candy or chocolates she can stand.

 

[bailadora]

Thanks for all the great ideas, everyone. We ended up showing our appreciation with the following items:

handmade velvet bookmarks
handmade aromatherapy pillows
handmade cards from the kids and I
hand decorated flower pot and plant (thanks, YG!)
ceramic tile coaster, decoupaged with pretty scrapbook paper and a quote from Christa McAuliffe - "I touch the future. I teach."

They were very well received!