Teacher appreciation gifts

[dez1978]

Question for the teachers. What types of gifts do you prefer? Serious, funny, generic? I'm always torn on if I should get serious/thoughtful gifts, like something with their name on it or whatever. Or something funny, like a coffee cup that says "Tears of my students", or a wine glass that says "I teach, therefore I drink" (obv only for teachers I know). Or just a generic thank you card with a target gift card. I struggle with this every year lol. And now that my oldest is in middle school, he's got 6 teachers to get stuff for.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I used to get gift certificates for a local teacher supply store for my kids' teachers. I only taught one year, and I received WAY too much "teachery" type stuff. I'd advocate for an Amazon gift card, or Starbucks, or Bath and Body Works, something useable for them.

Once the kids got into middle school, though, I stopped getting gifts for the teachers, unless it was someone who really helped or was special to my son or daughter.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Gift cards!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'm not a teacher, but a know a few. A gift card to a coffee shop, grocery store, or Amazon.

 

[mjkacmom]

Always gift cards/note from student/note from parents, all or just one. Teachers get so many mugs, totes, etc. I stopped in middle school because there wasn’t any teacher who spent all day with my kids like elementary, plus with 5 kids it was just too much.

 

[Kestryl]

My spouse is a high school teacher- absolutely yes to gift cards, though he also appreciates tissues, paper towels, wipes, pencils, that kind of thing cause the goes through so much.

But really, his favorite “gifts” are thank you notes and letters and little drawings.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I am a teacher and appreciate notes and gift cards. Now that both of my boys are older, I can't afford a bigger gift for a total of 12 teachers. I get each teacher 3 one dollar scratch offs with a note that say's "We were lucky to have you for a teacher this year."

 

[kymom99]

Gift cards are always appreciated. I’ve gotten target, McDonald’s, Chick fil a. I’d skip Starbucks. I have a stack of those and I don’t drink coffee. I know they have other things but it’s just not a place I like to go. I think dollar tree has gift cards too. Any of those you can get in smaller denominations.

And I agree with those who said the best is a hand written note from the student and parent.

 

[OneOftheB's]

For teacher appreciation week (my daughter's small private school does a week for TA) we did coffee & breakfast, lunch, a spa gift card & bottle of wine, then a school wide brunch for all faculty and staff. The teachers told us what they wanted from Starbucks & Panera for bfast & lunch, then the wine & gift cards were specific for each teacher (the type of wine & nail salon/massage spa they prefer).

End of the year and holiday gifts are given by the class as well (we collect a donation at the beginning of the year and base the budget on donations collected) but those are cash gifts. Yes, it's much less personal but we got burned one year with gift cards from Target that had the numbers compromised. We try and give a smaller, more personal gift with the cash as well but we've decided cash is king.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

When I taught, drawings or notes were meant the most to me as well. I also don't drink coffee so unless you know a particular does or n the same way likes soaps or candles, I would suggest going with broader gift card choices to Dollar Tree or a nearby Supermarket, Bookstore, etc. Thank you for wanting to say a teacher extra thanks of appreciation

 

[PollyannaMom]

I still have some special drawings/notes from kiddos as well.

Bookmarks are also something that the kids can make themselves (laminate them with contact paper and add a tassel, ribbon with beads, or whatever) - and pretty much all the teachers I know love to read!

Gift cards are great, and don't be afraid to go in together with a couple of your kid's classmates so it's more affordable. (I know many kids have multiple teachers, so that can get expensive otherwise.)

Another thing I've done when my DS was in middle school and they had a "team" of teachers, was to leave a basket in the break room (I was a sub, but you could leave it with the secretary for them) with snacks, tea bags, office supplies...anything they might be running out of by this time of year, so they could all take what they needed.

 

[aprilgail]

My brother is a teacher and please NO mugs or teacher ornaments! Can't tell you how many of those we ended up throwing out every year- how many can one teacher possibly keep! Gift cards are the way to go!

 

[kymom99]

At the end of first grade I told my son to ask his teacher if she had a porch. She said she did so we got her a hanging basket. She loved it. I would have too. I can still see the little boy carrying it into school that morning, and it bouncing up and down with his steps. My heart.

 

[MamaMermaid]

This is my 11th year teaching high school and my answer is simple: gift cards.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

https://clip.cafe/a-christmas-story-1983/a-little-bribe-never-hurts/

 

[KristaZ]

As a teacher, I appreciate the hand written notes the most! After that, gift cards to Target! I end up with about a million mugs every year, and while some of them are cute or personalized or have a funny saying, one person only needs to many mugs.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I’m a teaching assistant/substitute teacher. While it’s nice to receive gifts for the classroom, it’s great to give the teacher something that’s just for them. By the end of the year, we’re tired, maybe burnt out, feeling done and looking forward to summer to recharge. Gift cards for coffee, food and stores to buy something for ourselves (Bath & Body Works, Amazon, Target, etc.) and much appreciated.

 

[Jangles]

My daughter works at an English boarding school. She gets some really generous end of term and end of year gifts but there are only so many fragrances and beauty products one can use in a year. She tends to regift a lot and as the previous posters said, one can only use/store so many mugs. Recently the parents have started clubbing together and gifting a voucher from an upmarket department store. She has really appreciated that. She also likes receiving personal hand written notes and drawings.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Gift cards! As a teacher I enjoy receiving these.

A few weeks ahead of time I send my dd's teachers an email something like, 'Hypothetically speaking, if someone wanted to purchase a gift card for you, where would you prefer? I list a number of options plus 'other'.

I'm so glad I've done this as responses vary so greatly and this way I know I'm purchasing something they will use.

 

[unrequited23]

I usually go with classroom/office supplies--inkjoy gel pens, sharpened ticonderoga pencils, binder clips and paper clips in fun colors--along with a Target gift card, because the Target's in our area sell wine.