5
I Tips For Teacher Gifts
TEXT Debbie williams
t’s always a challenge to pick that perfect
Gift cards
gift to show your appreciation for all that
These may seem boring and impersonal, but teachers really
your child’s teacher does day in and day out
do love them. It’s especially helpful if you pool with other
throughout the school year. As a former room
parents to give them a larger amount.

mom, I liked to give the teachers a questionnaire
in the beginning of the year that asked all of their
Classroom Supplies
favorites: restaurants, coffee shops, snacks, retail
Like I mentioned, teachers spend more personal money on
spots, hobbies, sports teams, etc. That way I could
their classrooms than you realize. We pooled money and
chose gifts I knew they would use and enjoy.

gave one teacher a heavy-duty pencil sharpener as a class
gift one year, and he was thrilled. (He told us it had been on
I’d also ask if they had anything on their classroom
his wish list for years!)
supply wish list. Unfortunately, many teachers
have to dip into their own wallets to pay for their
Personalized Gifts
classroom necessities and decorations, so you’d be
Websites like Etsy have some really neat personalized gifts
surprised what’s on their lists.

you can tailor to a teacher’s personality, or you can create
one yourself. One teacher loved flowers and gardening, so
In addition to my room mom days, I also substitute
I bought a large, plastic, terracotta style pot. I volunteered
taught at my kids’ school for five years, my mom
during the kids’ art class and had each of them put their
was a teacher’s assistant, and I have several teacher
handprint on the pot with paint, and sign their name under
friends…so I’ve learned a thing or two about what
the handprint with a Sharpie. (I had emailed the art teacher
to gift these hard-working, wildly underpaid
ahead of time, and she was happy to help.) I filled it with
professionals. Based on my experience, here are
seasonal flowers and presented it at the end of the year from
some tips on what to give (and what NOT to).

the class. My mom taught for years and also loves to cook.

One of her classes did the same to a white apron (handprints
with signatures), and she still wears it years later.

Thank-you notes
More than anything, a teacher loves to get a hand-
written, heartfelt thank-you note from a student.

On the flip side, I don’t recommend giving teachers random
I’ve heard this from teachers time and time again.

trinket-type or generic items like mugs, soaps, candles and
And as the recipient of a couple of these myself, I
food. You wouldn’t believe the amount of candy, cookies
can attest to the fact that they really do make your
and other baked goods a teacher receives, especially around
day. the holidays. They would much rather receive a restaurant
gift card, giving them a respite from family dinner duty.

Survival Kit
Teachers love practical items they are really going
Trust me, after walking a mile in their shoes, teachers have
to use. Buy a reusable bin and fill it with things like
tired feet at the end of the day. Lightening their load with
cute sticky notes, Sharpie pens, Tylenol or Advil,
a thank-you note and thoughtful gift goes a long way to
hand sanitizer, lotion, mints, gum and chocolates. I
making them feel appreciated!
had a teacher who drank a certain type of diet soda
every day, so I also gave her a case of it to have in
Debbie Williams is a Northern VA mom of two and managing editor of Washington
her room.

FAMILY Magazine.

40 June 2015 washingtonFAMILY.com