10 Gifts Teachers Want

I still remember my rookie year as a second grade teacher. I had worked hard in college, had done a lot of student and substitute teaching, and was eager to have my own class. On the first day of school one mother came up to me and said, “I really wanted my daughter to have Mrs. ______ for her teacher.” (Not me-I was the new kid on the playground.) Fast forward through lots of lesson plans, math games, correcting of spelling tests, putting on snow gear for recess, and parent teacher conferences. It was the last day of school and that same mother stopped by to say she was really GLAD I had been her daughter’s teacher. Those few words meant the world to me. A little teacher appreciation goes a long way.

We asked a few teacher friends what some of their favorite gifts were, and this is what we found out:

1. A day of labor coupon to help your teacher take down and organize the classroom at the end of the year. (Okay, how amazing is this?! And it’s free.)

BONUS: We’ve got a printable ready-to-go for you. It-and all of the other printables in this post-has been sized to a 4×6 print. Why is this so great? Well, you can download the printable, then upload it to Wal-Mart or any other printing site and print it as a photo for super cheap. The smaller gift tags in the post were made as wallet size 2×3 prints. So easy, so inexpensive, and so cute!

Find FREE PRINTABLE here.

2. Maid service gift certificate. (It can be for just a couple of hours of extra help around the holidays for their own homes. Have some other families chip in. Terrific for just before Christmas when they’re so busy finishing up grades and doing all of the classroom holiday things that take so much time! But let’s be honest, I wouldn’t say no to a few hours of someone else cleaning my house at any time of the year.)

3. Anything handmade because it shows you really care. One family gives homemade salsa and takes pics of the kids helping. Include one of those pictures with the gift or use it as the gift tag.

Find FREE PRINTABLE here.

4. A new box of markers or other classroom supplies you notice they’re always using. If you’re going with the markers, here’s a cute little phrase and gift tag. (There are KING SIZE Sharpies on Amazon that are pretty cool that we’ve gifted before. You can find them here.)

Find FREE PRINTABLE here.

5. A sincere note of appreciation. (A sincere and specific thank-you note is often way more memorable than an expensive gift.)

6. Gift certificates for local restaurants.

Find FREE PRINTABLE here.

7. Movie ticket vouchers to a movie theater.

6. Gift certificate for books or a really neat book for the classroom. (The Heads and Tails books by Matthew van Fleet are AMAZING! If you have toddler/pre-school age kids, check these out!!)

Find FREE PRINTABLE here.

7. Amazon, Wal-Mart or Target card – invite the whole class to contribute to one (big) gift card that can be used to buy classroom supplies (or anything else, really.)

8. Manicure or pedicure gift card.