End of Year Gift for Teacher

I got these cute lamps for my sons 2 teachers. http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Charm-Susan-Winget-Schoolho... He wrote in their cards "Because of you I'm a little brighter" All his teachers have loved them!

I write a letter for their personnel file.
They really appreciate those at review time. And, they're free.
LBC

No need to be "unique"... we all have drawers full and shelves lined with "unique" gifts. A handwritten note (from your child) is the best... I honestly mean that! If you want to add a gift, a gift certificate for a manicure, coffee, pizza, book store, Office Depot, Target, Walmart are all appreciated.

The only "unique" gift that I have received and actually used/loved and not donated or attempted to regift... a beach bag with a towel, sunscreen and gift card to Barnes and Noble! I facilitated a social skills group for 5 boys weekly for two school years. Their parents got together when they were graduating from 5th grade and did this. It was WONDERFUL! I use the tote bag all the time (Lands End with my initials) as well as the towel. The sunscreen and gift card to get some good summer books were a great addition! It was not a "cheap" gift, but they all contributed and it was incredibly thoughtful. You could do a thing of sunscreen and a Barnes and Noble gift card with a note to enjoy the summer!

My sister is a teacher. She's constantly trying to pass along student gifts to me - mugs, hand lotions, pens, journals. She appreciates the thought, but there's only so many apple themed frames one can store or use. I always give gift cards and handwritten notes.

The last couple of years we have made our teachers a book called "What will Mrs. "teacher" do this summer? Each page has an activity she might do this summer and a $5 to $10 gift card to go with it. For example, She will eat some ice cream and a gift card to the local ice cream store; She will read a good book wth a gift cart to a book store; She will watch a movie with her family and we do a redbox gift certificate (because $5 pays for more movies at Redbox than it does at the movie theater). We have done Sonic gift cards, ice cream gift cards, books, movies, pet store (for one teacher who shared a love of dogs with my daughter). I usually put 4-5 gift cards in each book and it usually works out to be $20-$30 per teacher. So, far the teachers that we have given them to have LOVED then. They are very useful and unique and creative. Plus I have my daughters do all of the writing so it is personalized from the child and we always put a special note in the back about how special the year was. We have also just done two gift cards before--one special treat for the teacher like Starbucks or a bakery and then a gift card to use in their classroom. We gave the music teacher a gift card for itunes. The art teacher got a gift card to Hobby Lobby, etc. I guarantee that any teacher loves gift cards and they can never get too many of those. Just make sure it is a place they will use it and then package it in a creative way. Look for creative ideas on Pintrest.

I work at Williams Sonoma so I get the teachers gifts from there. I have several teachers that shop there and have asked them if they prefer a gift card or an actual gift. The response has been the same from all of them so far. Usually they prefer gift cards (Target is a good one), but they would take anything from our store over a gift card. They have said they would enjoy anything from gadgets to cookbooks. For me, I try to buy them something that I know they would like. This year I bought my daughter's teacher a Zoku maker (instant popsicle maker) and all the accessories. I got that for her because she LOVES popsicles. Last year I got her teacher an ice cream maker and the year before a couple of cookbooks and a lime green apron (her favorite color). I get a great discount, so that helps me to afford awesome stuff at great prices. So, if you don't want to spend a lot, a gift card is a great way to go. I know it sounds generic, but most teachers really appreciate it, more than another mug or plaque. (and if I stop working at my store, Target gift cards will be in my children's teachers future.)

Make my own. I made cake in a jar(s) for teacher appreciation day last month that they're still raving about, and am making "Orange you glad it's summer?" gifts in a child's sand pail for the last day of school. I got the idea here and made it my own:
http://www.shakentogetherlife.com/2013/05/orange-you-glad...

Found everything for inside the pail pictured and the pail at Target.

I am British, so I went to the British store, and got some tea, and a nice mug, and some British biscuits (cookies) and chocolate. My son is British too, so I thought that would be a unique gift

I always do gift cards. I try to do something that most people would consider a treat. I really hope my kids' teachers know that I think they were awesome and deserve a treat.

So far my pattern has been Barnes and Noble at Christmas. Teachers like books and coffee, right? And Cold Stone Creamery for End of the Year.

I figure just about any gift card is a really nice idea.

As a teacher, the personal notes and letters really are my very favorite things to receive.

I painted a flower pot with chalk paint. I then painted on it in white letters, "Thank you for helping me grow" and decorated it like a chalkboard. We then put a nice plant in it.

No lotions, perfumes, body wash etc. my friend gives me bags of it at Christmas and end of year to take to the nursing home. No mugs either.
A small gift card to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or favorite deli type place with a handwritten thank you note.

We always have luck with a gift card and a bag of good chocolate with a kind than you note.

Best of Luck!!

Jewelry, perfume, magazine subscription, membership to a museum over the summer.

If you do gift cards or certificates, get one from Scholastic or Usborn. Teachers always want new books for their classrooms.

For next year, make up a "teacher's favorite things" survey (drink, treat under $1, treat under $20, restaurant, sports team, music etc) at the beginning of the year so you can reference it for times such as these!

Give whatever you want.. I think it's the thought that counts. If a person doesn't like the gift, or gets too many.. then let them give it away.. Whatever happened to that saying, don't look a gift horse in the mouth..

IF a teacher thinks they get too many mugs, lotions or candy, then they can donate the items or re-gift them.. Don't get me wrong, I've given my share of gifts and spent a great deal of money.. However, lately, when I read a list of what NOT to get teachers because they get too much of specific items, I tend to think that maybe a person should just be grateful they got something..

My husband and I would do (almost) anything for our younger daughter's teacher. It is a mixed grade classroom and she has our daughter for 3 years.

I honestly do not think it matters but I personally am either very practical or like making homemade gifts. I like giving randomly through the year. This teacher also prefers that if you have to insist in giving her a present, let it be for the benefit of the children. She has a wish list for the classroom. I don't necessarily follow it but have done things to benefit the class. Here are what I have given this year:
-I brought lunch for her and the TA and para pro. Nothing fancy just deboned chicken from our local Mediterranean Restaurant.
-I made salad and brought gelato
-Magnatiles -a hit with the kids
-I made her those crate benches. The ones with an MDF the fits on top of the crate. I wrapped the MDF in fabric (I choose a diaper cover fabric because it's better with spills) and stuffed it with some batting. I used a staple gun and added a ribbon to easily lift the seat. She can store books in it or other things. She loved it. Now another teacher wants to order =).
-I also got her a cooler. The one that fits 60 cans. It's big enough to carry all our kids lunches during field trips and special olympics but not too big that it can't fit in the bus.
-For the end of the year. I'm just giving water bottles. I got them from Eddie Bauer. It has a chamber that you can freeze. There are just too many to give at that time. Between my 2 kids there are 9 I want to give to.

List from the past
-gc for teacher's store
-picture frames. I decoupaged hand made paper on wooden frames I found at Walmart
-jars of local treats. Michigan has really great jams and fruit butter and that sort of thing (American Spoons). We also have a local guy who makes the most wonderful toffee. It was so good some teachers hid their jars from their families. I have to plug ...Dave's toffee...they have an internet site
-I've sewn a pillow for DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time
-Yankee Candles
-Made a photo book with all the kids from field day
-Books
-Landsend totes. Great for carrying all their stuff. Landsend had a huge sale that year.
-Umbrella
-Artsy measuring spoons
-A bottle of wine with an artsy cork screw
-Flowers made from stacked buttons and they sat in an old sugar shaker. My daughter help make that one.
-One teacher loved coffee and Dunkin D at that time (maybe you still can) allows you to personalize a gc. I gave her one with a pic of her and some of the kids.

I am a para in a special needs classroom..... we get gifts from parents during the year, frequently....

I like getting the hand lotion, hand sanitizer (we use that BUNCHES during the year with our kiddos...), gift cards.... just about anything!

We all got a $10 gift card to a local eatery... fast food, but appreciated, none the less... I was able to take hubby out to dinner that night.