Teacher gifts – what they REALLY want and what NOT to give them!
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1st – May 5th this year. Do you know what you will do to say, “thank you” for your kids’ teachers? Showing appreciation for the teachers that educate our kids is the least we can do. These amazing men and women dedicate their lives to guiding children into the next phases of their lives, and should definitely not be taken for granted. While you’re deciding on what teacher gifts to give, don’t forget about the support staff at the school, as well! What type of gift should you give a teacher? What do they REALLY want, and what are they tired of getting?
We asked some wonderful teacher friends what they love getting from their students….and what they definitely appreciate, but can do without receiving each year. Everyone is different, so it really depends on the teacher, but these lists were made because the majority of the teachers we asked, all agreed on what they didn’t want, and what they really did want. Here’s what they had to say:
10. Apple items – teachers will agree that the apple is over-used when representing a teacher. They’ll no doubt receive several apple themed items every year, and that gets old pretty quickly. Unless your teacher absolutely loves apples, avoid trinkets and anything with an apple on it!
9. Scented items – from bath & body products to candles, scented items might be great for a friend that you know well. For teachers, they are more likely to throw these away or gift them to someone else. Pass on trying to guess what scents they would like, and avoid giving them allergic reactions to lotions and sprays.
8. Personalized items – this is a tricky one. Personalizing items can be pricey, plus if you don’t know your teacher outside of the classroom, you may have a hard time gifting what they really WANT or NEED. Our teacher friends said they get water bottles, keychains and picture frames with their name on it every year, and every year, they have to be thrown away because they just can’t use them.
7. Flowers & bouquets – although beautiful and appreciated, these become more of a pain than a gift to the teachers we spoke to, when we asked about gifts they didn’t want. A single flower with a nice note written by the child is all you need to give them, if you have your heart set on gifting fresh flowers.
6. School related items – unless the teacher you’re giving a gift to is leaving the school, they generally don’t want anything with the school logo or name on it. You can thank your teacher with items that are NOT specific to your school, and they’ll appreciate that a lot more!
5. School supplies – some teachers DO appreciate these things, and you’ll know if your teacher needs or requests things they can use in the classroom. Other teachers just want to enjoy their Summer, and not think about school supplies for a few months! If you want to help with school supplies, consider asking what they need or want first, or giving them gift cards.
4. #1 Teacher – anything that says “#1 Teacher” on it is over-rated. Teachers walk away with so many items like this, they get left in the staff room or thrown away pretty quickly.
3. Mason Jar Cookie Mixes – as cute as these are, our teachers said they get thrown away before they can be used, 9 out of 10 times. Although they look cute, teachers generally don’t use them, so pass on taking the time to create them.
2. Candy – sweet treats are nice, but when you have a class full of students, chances are, they’ll leave the classroom with enough candy to fill a Trick-or-Treat bag. That’s a LOT of candy!
1. Coffee mugs – teachers received so many mugs every year, they simply don’t have enough room for all of them, and they get left in the teacher’s lounge or thrown away. This was the number one thing that our teacher friends said they were NOT looking forward to receiving!
10. Homemade food – this comes from the heart, and takes time to prepare. Teachers love getting something special that was prepared just for them. Consider a gift basket of baked goods or even some fresh fruit salad when thanking them.
9. Framed picture of the class – a lot of our teacher friends said they loved having these displayed in their classrooms.
8. Personal notes – having the child write a thoughtful note to the teacher is really appreciated and adored. When the kids can reflect on something special that happened, or what they enjoyed about the school year, teachers know they are making an impact.
7. New books – if your teacher has a library in their classroom, getting new books for it, with the child’s signature in it is a unique gift idea! Find out what types of books are needed or appropriate, and offer those for the next class to enjoy. Not only will the teacher appreciate the addition to the library, your child will have donated to helping all of the new classes to come!
6. Parent help – make some coupons or gift certificates for your teacher. Offer your time and help during the Summer, to get the classroom ready for the next school year. Most people don’t realize just how many hours teachers put into preparing for their new classes, and can always use any help they can get.
5. Combined gifts – when several parents can get together to give the teacher something special, it means a lot to them, and saves them from having more stuff to toss in the trash or leave in the teacher’s lounge every year. If you know your teacher is going on vacation that Summer, put together a gift basket with items she or he could use. Combine donations into a larger value gift card. Get together to create a special day for the teacher, so they can feel appreciated!
4. Homemade pictures – some teachers keep scrapbooks of drawings, notes and poems written by their students in passed years. A drawing made by and signed by your children, letting them know the impact their teacher had will be a very special and moving gift. Talk to your teacher, and find out if they already have a scrapbook for these things. If not, create one for them, with clear pockets, so they can simply slide in the drawings, poems and notes, and keep them forever!
3. Alcohol – this may seem a bit weird to give your teacher a bottle of wine or liquor store gift card, but remember, teachers are adults. They may just enjoy kicking off their Summer with a glass of wine or a mixed drink! If you know your teacher, and it would be appropriate for them, our teacher friends say, “gift it!”
2. Donations – if you know your teacher is passionate about a cause, consider making a donation in their name to it. This is meaningful, lasting, and will mean the world to them.
….and the number one gift that teachers really want is….
1. Gift cards – teachers LOVE gift cards! This is the #1 thing they ALL said they love getting. Even just a $5 Starbucks gift card is a treat, and can be used anytime. Gift cards for school supply stores like Staples and Office Max are really handy when the next school year rolls around, and vouchers or gift cards to spas and restaurants will help make your teacher’s Summer extra special. If you know more about your teacher, get them gift cards to their favorite stores, and you’ll have them smiling all Summer. Get discounted gift cards HERE. Even a Groupon with a long life span is a great gift idea!
***A great idea: Have your child write a thank you note or poem for their teacher, and attach a gift card to it!***
Thank you so much to the awesome teachers that helped us compile these lists! We appreciate you, your efforts and the time you put into making school fun, educational, and safe for our children! For all of our teacher friends and readers – YOU ARE APPRECIATED!
Do you have any suggestions for teacher gifts? Are you a teacher, and want to add to this list or share your favorite gift you’ve received? Let us know in the comments!
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