After almost fifteen years of teaching, I can safely say that the best gifts from students and their families are the handwritten notes, both from students and from parents. These are the most cherished gifts I have. Besides handwritten notes, I’ve always loved anything handmade. Once, a student gave me a gift that his mother hand-knit for me that I still have it today.
I usually ask my own kids to tell me what they know about their teachers. They get to see them five days a week, and usually pick up on things their teachers like. Maybe he or she loves Skittles or is always talking about his or her dog. That always gives me a place to start and then we go from there.
4 Easy Teacher Gifts
Here are some ideas for homemade gifts teachers might appreciate:
1. Student-Decorated Gifts
- A mug, picture frame, or pencil holder are all things you can buy at a craft store and your kids can decorate with some permanent markers or paint.
2. Office Supplies
- Teachers I work with love Flair pens from Paper Mate, but colored Sharpies, gel pens, sparkly pens are also fun;
- different-sized sticky notes;
- personalized notepads or stationary; and
- notecards.
3. Winter Accessories
A quick search on Pinterest will find you cute phrases that you can print on tags. Tie these tags onto any of these must-need winter accessories for a great gift:
- gloves or mittens,
- scarf,
- socks,
- lip balm, and
- windshield scraper.
4. Healthy Helpers
With the cold and flu season upon us, teachers need all the help they can get staying healthy. Again, buy some fun ribbon and quickly turn any of these items into a gift.
- re-usable water bottle.
- hand sanitizer,
- hand soap. and
- hand lotion.
Of course, you can always mix and match any of these and put together a bag or a basket. Or pair any of these with a gift card. But don’t forget, that a handwritten note is always, always, always the best.
What will you be gifting your child’s teachers with this year?
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