Hey All You Teachers

My best friend is a teacher and she says she loves the little homemade gifts, but that if you're going to get a gift card, one that's always appreciated is to a book store or coffee shop (if there are local ones instead of B&N and Starbucks, that's a bonus). Another thing she loves is when parents donate books to the classroom library as a gift.

I was also a teacher before becoming a sahm. I loved getting gift cards. It sorta felt like a Christmas bonus and thank you from a parent and a hand written note from the student made it perfect. I was never shy about LOVING starbucks but a close second was a card to the restaurants near the school. On inservice/vacation days I could work in my classroom and meet a friend for lunch/coffee. Ask your student if they notice a starbuck's cup in their teacher's hand or know of anything they really like. My third graders could have told their parents what I liked. Good luck.

I'm not a teacher, but my mom is. Before I do teacher gifts, I ask what I should get. A mall gift card would be good, or a Visa gift card they can use anywhere.
Mom has always sent her more interesting gifts to us girls-she's got food allergies & gets migraines from certain smells so foods & smelly soaps are out for her (great for me though!). She's asked for a box of thank you cards (basic ones, nothing really fancy or out there) & a nice pen-everybody likes nice pens though. I've gotten small bottles of hand sanitizers & purse sized tubes of Nutrogena hand cream (kind of expensive but one kid's teacher had bleeding fingers from washing her hands so much-I knew from working at a bank that was the only thing that worked on REALLY dry hands), the past two years I've done tote bags-the canvas ones you can get from craft stores-& personalizing them. One teacher was a Packers fan so I sewed a big symbol on one side (the other side I leave blank so they can put either side out). Teachers are always needing easy storage stuff-our teachers here had to give up their desks & work at tables instead so they've got NO storage for their desk stuff. I'm thinking about bags similar to the hanging bags or over-the-door shoe bags. Gift certificates to teacher supply stores would be much appreciated-one son's teacher routinely spends hundreds out of pocket on classroom supplies.

Teachers love gift cards or a special ornament from a student. When I put my ornaments on every year, I remember each of those students who gave them to me, especially if their names are on them.

You can get labels on E-Bay and wrap them on chocolate bars. I didn't put specific names so that I can use them for several years and for all my kids. I also pick up things after Christmas on sale for the next year.

Each teacher is different. My mom got a lot of gift cards and loves them. However the Jamba Juice and Starbucks ones she ends up always using on us, because she just never goes there. She loves her gift certificates to bookstores. She is ALWAYS buying books. So anything that helps out is great for her. She is always at the book store. Plus most teachers get 20% off at most book stores.

I had a girl bake sugar cookies and write on them with frosting things that she had learned in my class (one said "Merrimac", one said "Monitor", one said "Appomatox", etc.) It was really special.
We don't need gifts, truly. If you are so inclined, a gift card would certainly be appreciated, but a nice holiday card with a personal message that we can store away and read during that tough January-April stretch would also do nicely.

I personally like the gift cards the best. It is fun to "spend" them on the break. My favorite are the ones to bookstores or coffee. But I was given one to a movie theater once and that was great because it forced me to get a sitter and finally see a movie. Thanks for thinking of your teacher...we do appreciate the thank yous (including the simple kid made card).

As a teacher, I loved every gift from my students and their parents. I knew each one came from the heart (especially since I taught in a very impoverished neighborhood). But my favorites were the smallish stuffed animals (who then lived on my desk for the rest of the year) and the chocolates.

I am not a teacher, but my sis is one, and one year her student gave her a box full of stickers, a couple rubber stamps/ink pad.....so on.....she LOVED the gift! Many, if not all teacher have to buy a lot of the little extras things they use for grading papers etc.so this was great for her. She teaches the little guys....for upper grade, middle, or high school teacher, I am not sure. I like the gift card idea...maybe to a book store, or a place she might buy supplies. Maybe a gift cert. to a nice to eat would be nice. My cousin, who teaches middle school level got a beautiful note from her student, and his parents, thanking her for all the hard work she has put into her teaching, and praising her for her dedication. Teacher don't always get such praise, and it is nice to hear they are making a difference. I hope this has helped you a little.

We loved gift cards because it was one of the few times we could afford to go out to eat for a nice meal. If you know the teacher well enough, you can always offer to babysit as part of the gift so it's a nice date. The other ideas are good, too.

Hi Aimee!
I was a teacher before I became a stay at home mom. I can honestly say that I loved every gift that was given to me, because they came from the heart. I especially loved the handwritten notes from students and parents that thanked me for my dedication to my students and pointed out all of the strengths I had as a teacher, especially when the note mentioned the student's progress thus far due to my tutelage and influence on their character development. I loved all of the Christmas ornaments that I recieved and remember each student that they came from fondly as I lovingly hang them on my tree each year. Don't know if this helps or not, good luck!

We always give our teachers a gift card and a small pack (maybe 10) of homemade THANK YOU cards that they can use. Our teachers LOVE that.

As you have heard, gift cards are a favorite. However, if your kid is in middle or high school, that can add up pretty quickly. Other fun gifts that I've gotten over the years include gel pens (great for grading!), chocolate, and a simple letter written by the child wishing me a nice break and letting me know they value my teaching.

I may be the odd one out, but I really prefer consumable gifts. As a middle school teacher, I sometimes end up overwhelmed with little trinkets and keepsakes from my 100+ students. And year after year...eventually you just can't keep them all and that is really hard. The notes I keep in my files, but stuffed animals, ornaments, etc. can be just too much sometimes.

Have fun and remember that the big thing is just letting the teacher know they are valued. It doesn't have to be anything big.

Gift cards are always nice! :o)
An ornament is nice for the right person....not all teachers would be into it...but I really liked the ones I got.