Most of us parents have at least one teacher in our lives ... and most of us would agree that they have a super tough job! After all, they often spend more time with our children than we do on school days, and they must be patient enough to educate in excess of 20 kids at a time! Now is the time to OFFICIALLY show them how much we appreciate all of their hard work! If you'd rather nominate your favorite teacher, we've got a Gift Basket Giveaway that is live until May 10th at 6am! You can nominate your favorite teacher to win a gift basket, at absolutely no cost to you!
Teacher Appreciation Day is technically the first Tuesday of the first full week in May, making it May 2nd, 2023. The full Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is May 8 - May 12, 2023.
Best Teacher Appreciation Ideas
Gift Card - Teachers spend a lot of their own money in their classrooms, so buying that treat for themselves might not be something they do often. A small gift card to Starbucks/Dunkin', a bakery, a store you know they love to shop at, or pizza joint (no cooking after a long day!) goes a long way to show your appreciation ... and it's something just for them to enjoy. Other gift card ideas that teacher friends of mine have mentioned include: Amazon, Target, and even Petsmart (when you know your child's teacher has a golden retriever ).
Experiences - Think "less stuff, more fun!" A gift card for a mani/pedi, bowling, the movies, TopGolf, Dave & Busters, a restaurant, pottery class, painting, or a massage is fun for anyone! Groupon and Living Social are great sites to find a fun activity for less!
Classroom Supplies - Think of the items that the class always runs out of ... glue, pencils, hand sanitizer, tissues, pencils, etc. ... and get creative! Make a pencil bouquet by adding paper flowers to each one, and sticking them in a pot! Attach a note to a bottle of hand sanitizer that says "You're the BEST teacher, HANDS DOWN!" Pinterest can be your friend here ...
Apple/Fruit - Wait, what?? Apples are SOOOO old school when it comes to teacher gifts. BUT, if you dress it up by wrapping it up with caramel sauce and a bow, you've got a totally cute, (delicious) creative way to show your teacher that you appreciate them!
Sweet Treat - Who doesn't love a sweet now and then (or everyday)? This option requires a tiny bit of research to find out what your teacher likes, or any dietary restrictions he/she might have, but a quick chat with your child (or teacher's teammate/assistant, if applicable) should give you the answers you need! Once again, Pinterest comes in handy for some ideas for cute notes to go with the sweets.
Family Night Basket - Does your teacher have kids or a significant other? Put together a few items for them to enjoy a fun evening with loved ones ... movie night, game night, craft night or pizza night are easy to assemble!
Class Gift - Have you thought about organizing a class gift for your kids' teachers? Try to reach out via email (or the school directory) to classmates/parents and collect contributions (any amount!) from any parents who want to participate. Then purchase a gift card that you know the teacher will love, maybe take a vote from those who contributed to the pot? Think: dinner at an expensive restaurant for a date night, a family day at the movies, a variety of fast food restaurants for easy dinners, a Barnes & Noble gift card, etc! Since people often forget that our teachers have a life (outside of caring for and educating our kids), these gifts are ALWAYS appreciated!
Thank You Note - It means a lot to a teacher to know that their work is appreciated ... and all it takes is a heartfelt thank you note from a parent and/or a student. Don't hold back because you don't want to get too mushy ... lay it out there! Tell them why you are so thankful -- get specific! In Kindergarten, my daughter loved her teacher so much! She always wanted to bring goodies/gifts to her teacher, and she LOVED to make cute little "just because" cards for her. Now that she is in first grade, she still misses her Kindy teacher, and she lights up after school when she tells me that she saw her Kindy teacher in the hall and got a hug!
Dinner or Lunch - If you know your teacher pretty well, you could bring them lunch during the school day or a dinner for their family. Like all of us moms and dads, there is nothing better than having the night off from cooking once in a while! (If you aren't real close with the teacher, consider a purchased meal ... homemade isn't always comfortable unless you know each other well and are certain about how it's been prepared!)
A Note of Praise to the Principal - EVERYONE loves praise, and if you think your teacher is doing an exceptional job in the classroom, tell the administration about it! Be specific! Tell a story about something that makes them a great teacher! Most days in the parent pickup line, I get a chance to chat with the principal of my daughter's school. He's always happy to talk college sports, current events at the school, or just anything that comes to mind. It is a wonderful chance to share with him how AMAZING the teachers are ... and how appreciated he is as well!
Plant - I love the "Thanks for helping me grow" or "Thanks for helping me bloom!" themes when it comes to teacher appreciation. Any plant or flowers (or even seeds!) will work and it's super easy ... you could literally buy a plant or bouquet of flowers, and attach a cute note ... or, you could run to the dollar store and purchase a small pot/mason jar and a couple seed packets. Your child could then decorate the pot with permanent markers, paint, ribbons, etc. It would make a fun and personalized gift!
Personalized Artwork or Crafts - This is especially appreciated if the artwork displays something that is special between the student and teacher, such as a field trip they went on, a fun day they had at school, a picture of the teacher and student, or a drawing of the teacher's pet (the animal version, not the favorite student! LOL!). Older kids might want to whip something up on the computer! This is their chance to show their skills and talents. Another idea is a personalized craft for the teacher, like these cute keychains from Miss Riss Crafts (you'll have to join her group to request yours; she has lots of other fun crafts, including for Mother's Day!
Volunteer - There is a ton of prep work involved in teaching, and it can be especially time consuming toward the end of the year! If your child(ren)'s school is like mine, they are still closed to parents, and we can't go in for the most part . However, you could shoot them an email and offer to help do the things they would normally spend their planning time doing. It will give them a bit of down time in an otherwise busy day!
Before I list the few items that are best to avoid, let me say that ANYTHING that a child gives a teacher is appreciated, especially when it comes from the kiddo's heart. Teachers realize that not everyone has the means to give a gift from the store, and they also realize that the gift may have been picked out by a student. However, there are a few things that are not a huge hit with most teachers...
Appreciation Avenues To Avoid
Knick Knacks - Most likely, there isn't a ton of space to display these items in the classroom. They might eventually end up in a drawer or box, which can be sad for the gift giver. The exception -- if your teacher collects something specific!
Scented Lotion, Soaps and Candles - Unless you are sure they enjoy the scent, these items can be tricky. Many people are very sensitive to different smells, and a gift with an overpowering scent may have to be kept out of the classroom. The exception -- if your teacher is a Bath & Body Works addict, and you know the favorite scent!
Apple Motif - Most teachers are inundated during their first few years of teaching with "apple" gifts, and most only have room for a few. There are quite a few thank you/appreciation themed items out there that might fit your teacher's personality a little better! The exception -- if your teacher has specifically expressed an interest in gathering ALL the apple products out there for their collection! Haha!
Bottles of "Grown-Up Drinks" - Although I don't know a teacher who doesn't want a glass of wine at the end of a long day, it's best to refrain from sending this with your child to school. There are so many things that could go wrong, including the bottle breaking and spilling, getting lost, children having their hands on it, and it's a little less than legal, I'm sure . Instead, why not try a gift card to Publix or Walmart! That way they can purchase their favorite kind on their own time.
Mugs / To-Go Cups - Yes, very convenient for the teacher during the day, but can you imagine how many mugs they have collecting dust in their cabinets at home? Only one is needed per day, and when multiple kids bring them, it can make them feel bad when theirs isn't in use on the teacher's desk!
The important thing to remember here is this:
The HOW isn't as important as the DO!
No matter what it is, make sure you DO something to show your appreciation for the amazing teachers in YOUR life!
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