We asked chambanamoms.com readers via Facebook for their best ideas regarding holiday teacher gifts, and boy did they respond in bunches! We have recapped the suggestions here for all of you to see in perpetuity. These are great ideas not just during the holiday season, but for the end of the year as well.
Want more? Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated first week in May 6-11, 2018. We’ve rounded up Champaign-Urbana Area Freebies and Deal for Teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week.
The overwhelming response? GIFT CARDS.
“Starbucks/Dunkin/Panera treats or gift cards, Target Gift Cards, classroom supplies. I would LOVE cards from students showing appreciation.”
And recommended specifically for Daycare/ Preschool teachers:
“Gift cards! With a personal note.”
“Food, donuts, gift cards.”
More reader suggestions (some holiday specific) sure to brighten any teacher’s day:
- “Fine chocolates”
- “Peppermint Ghirardelli chocolate bar and a $10 Starbucks gift card”
- Many of you said variations of gift cards. Suggested locations: bookstores, coffee shops, Target, Macy’s, Music Shoppe, Staples/Office Depot, Binny’s Beverage Depot.
- “We “buy” animals from Heifer International in their honor!”
- “Thirty-One Organizing Utility Tote with a poinsettia in it.”
- “Chocolate, tea, and/or coffee. We spend a lot of money at Walnut Street Tea Co this time of year.”
- “Honorary donation to a local charity. I’m partial to Crisis Nursery!”
- “Movie theater gift card with candy and popcorn in a bucket.”
- “Homemade goodies (i.e., cookies and bread) and handmade cards. We usually save the “big” store-bought gifts for the end of the year (teacher appreciation time).”
- “This year I am giving them an instant manicure and hand repair lotion from Beauti Control by Elaine”
- “Gift cards, hand made craft/ornament, and/or homemade goodies”
- “We always get lotion for our daycare teachers because they have to wash their hands so often. Also ornaments, chocolate, gift cards.”
- “Fragrance Free Mary Kay Satin Hands!”
- “Cash and a card telling her what my child has enjoyed about the first semester of the year.”
- “As a former teacher, I most loved the notes/cards from students and as I put up my tree this year, ornaments are a nice reminder each year. Be careful with lotions and soaps as people are picky about what they like (for example, I am allergic almost everything). Gift cards for coffee, chocolate, and booze are a good thing. As a parent, we often give a gift to the classroom (like games, supplies, etc).”
- “We have an entire team who support one child so they get awesome cookies from Art Mart, caramels, and gift cards. Therapist, aides, office staff, school nurse, admins and bus driver included. Same things for my typically developing kids but not as many people of course. It ain’t cheap but they truly give my child the world and I am grateful to and for them.”
- “Best teacher gift yet…puppy chow in holiday tin! Best reason: kids can do it all, make the puppy chow, put in tin, and decorate cute teacher note!”
- “Definitely not a donation in their name. They need something tangible to show our appreciation! Usually a gift card to Amazon. I like the local idea, though.”
- “Female teachers have gotten a gift certificate to the spa from us in years past. Men are tougher… I usually bake goodies for them.”
- “When the kids were in elementary school I gave homemade cookies or candy nicely packaged and a card thanking them for their hard work — easy to enjoy, easy to re-gift if not to their taste, and partially made by their student.”
- “Instead of giving large gifts to the main teachers, we give small ones to all helpers: principal, fine arts, secretary, librarian, bus drivers, etc. this year I’m giving $5 gift cards to Cafe Zojo. I like that they are a local place. I know it’s not much, but people rarely give gifts to non-main teachers. Being a music teacher, I always appreciated the gifts.
- “Anything the class/classroom needs.”
- “We like to give one or two books for the class library or another “class” kind of gift, but then something personal as well. For one child’s class this year, all the kids donated money to get a gift card to Body & Sole because their teacher is a marathoner. When everyone chips in, we are able to get a really nice gift. However, as a teacher, I will also say that my FAVORITE gifts are the hand written, heartfelt notes from my kids/ their parents. I had a student write an acrostic poem of my name and frame it– I still have it, 13 years later. Love it!”
- “Always a gift card for a locally owned business. If we want strong schools, we need a strong local economy, which means supporting local business. And when it comes to gifts, they get so many every year, I figure letting them pick out what they want/need is best rather than more stuff they may not want and need to find a home for! I have my son draw the card for the personal touch, its something impermanent enough they don’t feel obligated to keep it but they know its from the heart.”
- “I get my kid’s teachers a bag or basket (usually I use a 31 bag or a basket from Michaels or Hobby Lobby) filled with school supplies, tissue, antibacterial lotion, an ornament, some fun picture books that may or may not have been on their wish list….I also enclose a COPY of the letter I send to the principal. Every teacher especially first year teachers need compliments. The principal is their ‘boss’ and determine if they are rehired. As a teacher, I LOVE receiving teacher ornaments, gift cards to eat out or one from a school supply or hobby lobby/michaels store. It helps with buying items for the class that typically come out of pocket.”
- “Gift cards, house cleaning service, I like plants but realize many don’t, handwritten notes, hugs
❤”
One of my favorites:
- “Whiskey never hurts.”
And something we all could use:
- “A day off and/or peace and quiet”
As for amount on gift cards, which one reader asked, you responded with:
“$10-$20 depends on my money situation and how much I’ve had to buy for the class party already.”
“Teachers tend to have our children more than we do, really. They are worth A LOT, in my book! $50, or around that amount. It would be the same I would spend on Grandma.”
Have a go-to teacher gift you’d like to add to our list? Or, are you a teacher and want to give us your input? Add it in the comments below!