How Do You Say Thanks to Teachers?
It’s that time of year again…the school year is nearing an end and summer break is right around the corner. Every year at this time, I rack my brain trying to come up with a unique AND affordable gift to present to my kiddo’s teachers. I struggle with finding a gift that my kid’s can participate in creating, but that is also something that their teachers will enjoy and appreciate. I have received many emails in the last few weeks from Hip2Save readers who are also trying to find ways to create a meaningful gift that won’t break the bank. Personally, I think that filling up a cute gift basket with different goodies (that I’ve snagged with coupons of course! 😉 ) makes a nice present, but that’s about where my creativity ends 🙁 . So I am asking all of you to share your ideas for how to create affordable yet meaningful gifts for teachers in the comment section below.
And for all of you teachers out there….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are so valued and appreciated!!
I am a nutrition teacher for preK-8 in a large urban district with a high percentage of low income students – but my students and their families get very creative. Some of my favorites…I received a box of “Thanks a Lot” girl scout cookies (kind of ironic for a nutrition teacher, haha, but cute) along with a card from each student telling me what they learned that year. I love any cards or letters like that. One of my classes and their families threw me a “healthy party” on our last day of class – their families had contributed watermelon, oranges, bananas, etc. I thought it was very sweet and a good way to wrap up our year. A preschool class worked together with their families to write songs about what they had learned and sing them to me at their “graduation”. I’ve also gotten a few $5 GCs to Dunkin Donuts which are always greatly appreciated!
I read an article about what teachers really like. The number one thing (got an A rating) was Thank You cards. Number two (B rating) was gift cards to anywhere. It could be Staples, Walmart, Starbuck’s, anywhere. The rest of them kind of blurr together. Lotions, candles, flowers, coffee mugs, and such items were very low on the list (C’s, D’s, and F’s). I think coffe mugs even got an F. I think putting your creativity into a beautiful Thank You card is wonderful and coupling that with a gift card is even better. It might not be the most imaginative, but probably the most appreciated. I even called the Principal last year to let her know how wonderful my son’s teacher was and how much we love that school. She was so sweet and thanked me like a hundred times.
For end-of-the-year teachers’ gifts this year, I made an 8×10 collage print for each teacher (my daughter has THREE preschool teachers) from photos I have taken throughout the school year. I included one photo of my daughter with the individual teacher in each collage (taken on the first day of school; to make it “personal” from my daughter) along with photos of various classmates taken from class parties and labeled the top of the collage photo with the school name and “Preschool 2009-2010 School Year”. I framed it in a glass frame (the kind with no border, just metal clips that hold the glass together).
I got each collage print done for FREE through Walgreens specials over the weeks and the glass frames for about $2 each at Hobby Lobby (when they have their frames 50% off).
A meaningful gift with nearly NO money spent!
(And Walgreens has a special right now – 33% off collage prints thru May 22nd – GOODTIMES. Orig price for an 8×10 collage print is only $2.99).
Just wondering——–do you guys do a gift for Teacher Appreciation Week AND for the last day of school? My son is in kindergarten and each month I have tried to do a little something for his teacher to remind her how much she is appreciated. (Some monthes were just a simple thank you card or holiday card, others were a pack of reward stickers to use in the classroom, goodie bag of a few chocolate bars, basket of travel size lotions from Bath & Body Works, Starbucks gift card,etc.). Thanks to Collin most of this was done on the super cheap!!! For teacher appreciation week, we gave her 2 bags of Ghirardelli chocolates and a $15 Borders gift card. I feel like we’ve done a lot. Is a card made from my son enough for the last day???
Speaking as a teacher, I would be thrilled to receive the things you have mentioned! A card at the end of year would be icing on the cake :-). Nothing more is needed, in my opinion.
Thanks, Elaine for the feedback! I will have to get my little artist busy working on a nice card for his teacher. Maybe we’ll be able to include a picture of the two of them together for an extra little touch. If not, I think I’ll ask him to draw what he liked best about the school year or about his teacher???
I made these for a friend of mine so her kids could give them to their teachers.
https://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets/
I bought a 1 inch whole punch in the scrapbook section of Jo Anns Fabric on clearance for $.99 cents. I also buy the 1 inch marbles instead of the small ones. I look through magazines, buy scrapbook paper and stickers, but it would be cute to customize them with your childs picture, etc. I tried the magnet sheets and used the whole punch to cut out the magnet, but some of the marbles and paper were too heavy so I recommend buying the thicker magnets. Plus it helps them stand out a little. Hope this helps. 🙂
I put together a tote bag with goodies in it for each of their Teachers & Aides. I bought cute tote bags at Doller tree and then they each painted them. I then stenciled their teachers name on the front. Inside was a homeade card my kids made and then inside were notecards, candy, PB bars and a cookie that said Super Star. All of the goodies inside had little sayings attached and the PB bars had a little poem that went with it. I made 4 of these and they were under $5 each.
As a teacher I hated getting mugs and candles!! My favorites were gift cards (even if it was just 5$) and when someone brought me lunch, breakfast or a great snack. I had a student once who brought me a petit four from a bakery for each major holiday. That was great! I also had someone make me personalized note cards that I loved, too.
In all honesty, what I appreciate most is a nice handwritten note from a parent and their child saying thank you. The ones that mean the most are the ones that give specific reasons why they have enjoyed the year, or recognizing specific things I’ve done for their child. I keep these notes in my professional portfolio and occasionally reread them. What a nice way to feel appreciated!
Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the occasional gift card to book stores, coffee shops, restaurants etc, even if they’re only a few dollars. However, I’d really like to tell my students and their families, PLEASE no more mugs, candles, scented soaps, chocolates, or A+ Teacher ornaments. My “re-gift” bureau is overflowing!