Finding the Greatest Teacher Gifts

At VolunteerSpot, we LOVE teachers.  Personally, I feel anyone who is willing to greet my children with a smile each day, guide their learning, inspire them, and help them navigate the challenges of growing up, is a SAINT!  If I had a million dollars, I'd be sharing with our teachers.  Since I don't - we keep VolunteerSpot free for teachers and parents to schedule and coordinate classroom help, fundraisers, exam proctors, and extra free time.

I asked a dozen teachers to list their personal favorite gifts of appreciation - ALL said, "getting a personal thank you note."  Wow - that's easy!  I'm going to step it up and I invite all you parents out there to join in the small satisfying gesture of sending an email message or a hand-written thank you note to your child's teacher. Think about saying Thank You the next time you son or daughter comes home with a cool project, an improved test score, or even continued challenges that your teacher is helping overcome. 

For those wanting to go the extra mile - we'd love to hear your ideas: What are the GREATEST TEACHER GIFTS?   We're putting together a free eBook filled with ideas for Teacher Appreciation and Recognition.  Here are a few to spark your thinking:

• Back to School: Welcome Basket - each parent brings one small item to stock the classroom and keep the teachers out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum:  e.g. pencils, markers, tape, tissue, hand sanitizer, stickers.
• Thanksgiving:  So Thankful or our Teacher - share the thanks by donating a turkey dinner in your teacher's name to a family in need.
• Winter Holidays: Winter Break Package - approach local theaters, attractions and holiday productions and ask for free tickets or discounts to share with your teacher.
• Valentine's Day: Virtual Box of Chocolates - scan a photo of each child's face and paste onto a photo of a large heart-shaped box of chocolates.
• May Day: Class Bouquet - each child brings one flower for the teacher, collectively making a gorgeous bouquet.
• Teacher Appreciation Week - Plan small gifts and little surprises for Teachers throughout the week.  (e.g a packet of seeds - "Thanks for helping our children grow!") Hold a raffle for some bigger gifts like shopping cards, a free car wash, and pedicures.
• End of School - Summer Reading Collection - ask parents to each donate one of their favorite gently used books.  Add a beach towel and sunscreen for a relaxing summer gift.

What are your ideas for the GREATEST TEACHER GIFTS? Please respond by scrolling down to the COMMENTS window below.  We're looking for all kinds of ideas -- simple, involved, low-cost, crafty, single-family and class or school collaborative ideas.  (please add your first name and city for recognition)

Comments

[Sherry]

I find out what kind of food our teacher likes then, about once a month, I like to send homemade dishes that can be frozen for later - simple things likes soup or casseroles. I figure our teacher works such long hours for our kids, grading papers, prep, etc. - AND she has two kids of her own. Sending food is the least I can do to make her busy evenings easier.

[PBetty]

'Warm Wishes' at the holidays - I give teachers a tin filled with different kids of tea bags, hot chocolate packets, and special coffee samples.

[DK]

I'm a huge fan of sending thank you notes...sincerely hand written, at least a few times a semester!

[LandasFamily]

For those special teachers that go the extra mile, I write a thank you letter at the end of the year about how great they are (and what they did) & copy the principal and superintendent. Notes like these become part of a teacher's permanent record and they are very appreciative!

[Christina Chevy Chase, MD]

As a former teacher, I can attest to the joy of receiving thank you notes--and I have kept every single one! I even printed appreciative emails and kept them, too. Copying the principal is a nice touch.

Some of the most thoughtful gifts that I received were things like a homemade pie at Thanksgiving, or a gift card to the local gourmet grocery store. But don't feel like a gift has to be expensive or even brand-new. Freebies you receive at work come in really handy in the classroom. I once had a parent send about 20 plastic rulers and small calculators--all branded with a company's name--that my class used all year long.

[Jamie]

How about a "We Love [insert teacher's name here]" book! Have each child (or parent if the child is too young) write on a piece of paper what they like about their teacher. Scan the paper and a picture of the child into the computer. Upload them into a site such as http://www.frommemoriestobooks.com and make a personalized book!

We made a book for our daycare ladies (my kids are too young for school) and they LOVED it!

More questions on how to make a book? Email jamie@frommemoriestobooks.com

[MissPenny]

I teach Kinder and say YES to thank you notes! I also appreciate gifts that keep my spending down to stock the classroom. Supplies and gift cards to Office Depot, Walmart, etc. Even a $5 card is a huge help.

[Queenie]

I'm a teacher. The best gift was a handwritten letter (on crinkled notebook paper) from a little girl who was probably the only one in my class to not bring a material gift...it said all kinds of things about how she knows I love her and the class because I am caring and helpful, etc...it was perfect and was the last gift I received before the kids left for Christmas break. Neither money nor chocolate could ever top that...

[RuninMom]

One year we made a love wreath on Valentine's Day. Each child wrote a note about why our teacher was special. We fastened them with twist-ties and ribbon to a heart-shaped wreath and added candy and little photos. Ms. W. got to unwrap each special sentiment and LOVED it!

[Kelly, NOLA]

One of the most special gifts I received as a teacher was a beautiful hand made Quilt. I was getting married and my room mother at the time had each student draw a heart. She then traced each heart on to brightly colored wool/felt and embroidered each student's name on each "heart shape." She also embroidered at the bottom, "And They Lived Happily Ever After" at the bottom , with our names. It still hangs in our guestroom.

[Kelly, NOLA]

I would say most teachers have received enough coffee mugs to fill their cabinets. Stay away from mugs!

[Ms. Keys]

Please - no more mugs, and please no more apple-jewelery and knick-knacks! A thank you note and photo is AWESOME and totally appreciated!!

[Tjames]

I crocheted the preschool teachers hats to keep them warm while they were outside with the kids. They loved them!

[WindowKat]

I have three kids and gifts can get expensive. For Teacher Appreciation week, my kids and I put together packets of wild flower seeds for each teacher & aide (10 total). I help the kids write a note to each: Wild About You - thanks for all you do!

The teachers love the seeds and ask for them each year. We harvest all year round and save the seeds from our yard: bluebonnets, poppies, morning glories, wine cup, lantana.

[Kristen Lee]

A personalized wood block by Woodgroove (www.woodgroove.com) makes a great teacher gift! Here is a sample picture http://www.woodgroove.com/samples/WB_school.jpg

[Anonymous]

The best gift of all would be to adopt the teacher's classroom. Have you heard of Adopt-A-Classroom? 100% of all donations are passed through to the teacher and all donations are tax deductible. Even better, the donors get direct feedback from the teacher and see exactly how the funds are used. So it's all 100% accountable. It's a great charity and a great way to say thank you to a teacher.