Creative Ways to Thank Teachers

Hold on tight as we round the corner to summer because May is a busy month! Between field trips, end-of-year activities, picnics, talent shows and more, the last month of school can feel like a whirlwind. Throw in Teacher Appreciation Week and end-of-year gifts, and your head just might spin. Showing appreciation for someone shouldn’t be cause for worry, anxiety or stress. Read on for a few simple, yet fun and creative, gift ideas at your fingertips!

Favorites

Show your appreciation by taking the time to get to know your child’s teacher and putting together a gift based on their favorite items. Many schools do the work for you now by having teachers fill out a “favorites” survey at the beginning of the year, so be sure to check. Last year for teacher appreciation, I checked our teacher’s favorites list before heading to Target. I grabbed a Starbucks card and a bottle of Diet Coke at the checkout (thank you, one-stop shopping!) and that was our gift. Simple, easy and something I know she will like! You can also offer to take lunch one day that week or during the month as a gesture of appreciation.

Make It Personal

Personalizing a product is a fun and different idea for teacher gifts. If you don’t own a Cricut machine yourself, find someone who does and wouldn’t mind helping you create something. A cute new t-shirt with a saying like “Teaching is my jam” or “Teacher? I prefer Educational Rockstar” can be whipped out pretty quickly. Grab a stainless-steel water bottle (No mugs!), slap a monogram on there and, voila, another cute and unique gift! Sites like Shutterfly also offer a variety of options for personalized products such as notepads, magnets, bags, mousepads and keychains.

Old School

Why not just go old school this year and have your child make something? Several teachers I surveyed said they love a handmade gift from a student or one the class has been involved in creating. Even a handwritten note expressing appreciation is taken to heart. Brandi, a former teacher, shares, “I have received some really genuine, heartfelt notes from parents. Some were so special I have kept them in a file to look back at every so often!” One year I interviewed our child about his teacher and wrote the responses on an “All About My Teacher” sheet. Add in some homemade cookies or muffins and you have a fun (and yummy) gift!

Think outside the box

With so many local boutiques around the metro, you can hit up a few for special gift ideas. Pick up a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant. Order an inexpensive but sweet wish bracelet for teachers from Etsy. Head to NotesToSelf.com or PositivePromotions.com to select a pair of inspirational socks for your child’s teacher. Pack a summer survival kit with a beach towel, magazine or book and a new nail polish color. Be creative and use your imagination!

            Bear in mind when it comes to Teacher Appreciation and end of year, teachers are not expecting gifts, so anything you do is considered thoughtful and greatly appreciated. Try not to overthink or overcomplicate the issue. If creativity is your thing, go for it. If picking up a gift card on your way to drop off the kids that morning is your thing, then do it. If you don’t have the money to spend on a gift but your child makes a card for the teacher, great. Whatever you decide to do, have fun showing your appreciation!

Julie Collett lives in Overland Park ad was a teacher before staying home with her children so has firsthand knowledge of gifts that teachers really want and need and tries to keep that in mind when putting gifts together!