Teachers have the responsibility of our children Monday through Friday for nine months of the year (this may be less for MDO programs), but still, they work up to 16 hours a day, when you factor in preparing, planning, and instruction time. If you don’t believe me, check out this article by EdTech Magazine! They are not only in charge of teaching them, but also nurturing them when it is needed and keeping them safe on a daily basis.

So when Teacher Appreciation Week rolls around, it’s a good idea to be prepared to shower the person who teaches your child how many months there are in a year, who Abraham Lincoln was, when to use their, they’re, and there in a sentence correctly, and the strategies for solving a math word problems with teacher gifts that show ALL of your gratitude.  

Teacher Gifts for their Classroom

I speak from experience when I say that teachers purchase many of the items they use in their classroom with their own money. So these are some ideas for great teacher gifts,  especially this time of the year: 

1. Colorful Sharpies or Flair pens (these will always be used!).
2. Books (depending on your child’s grade; these can range anywhere from easy readers to novels).
3. Consumable supplies: i.e., glue sticks, pre-sharpened pencils, and colored paper (that last one was probably not on the supply list back in August, but trust me they use it often to keep learning fun!).
4. If you really want to get fancy and over-the-top, a laminating machine is ALWAYS useful (they can range anywhere from $3o to upwards of $100).

Teacher Gifts Just for Them

Teachers build rapport with their students by talking about their lives so that the kids can relate and identify when them, although it’s still mind-blowing to kids to actually see their teacher at the grocery store or out at the movies! Teachers are moms, friends, and family members just like you and me, not the unicorns our kids think they are. So, if you know or you child knows she/he loves their college, a sports team, their pets, a coffee chain, or going out to the movies, why not get them something they’ll love to use on themselves?

1. A tumbler or coffee mug with their favorite college or sports team. 
2. A gift certificate to grab Starbucks (even if they aren’t a coffee drinker, tea and pastries are delicious too!) or a movie gift certificate so that they can enjoy their time off and catch the latest flick.
3. Any of their favorite candies or snacks.  The teacher work day is long and candies and snacks help!

Personalized Teacher Gifts

One of my favorite things I received when I was a Kindergarten teacher were cards and gifts made by my students.

1. A card with a special message doesn’t require a lot and is truly something from the heart.
2. A monogrammed tote, binder, or planner.
3. A personalized wooden sign or plaque for your teacher table, like something from Board and Brush in Plano!

Teachers really deserve all the praise in the world. Whether your sweet cherub is the class helper or the complete opposite, shower their teacher with gratitude not just during Teacher Appreciation Week but any day of the year! What teacher gifts are your go-tos?