Thank Teachers from the Heart (not the Wallet)

Teachers. Few people have such an enduring impact on the lives of our children or sacrifice so much for their benefit. No amount of money, no stockpile of year-end gifts could ever compensate for the value they bring to our kids. They deserve our heartfelt thanks, and so we offer some thoughtful ideas to help you put a smile on a teacher’s face.

Thank You for Helping Me Grow

Plant a heap of gratitude in your teacher’s heart with this simple gift. Find a houseplant and a terra cotta pot or watering can to plant it in. Your child can decorate the pot with handprints or fingerprint bugs, or add some art with acrylic paints and a paint pen. 

Find a digital photograph of your child and add the words, “Thank you for helping me grow,” using photo editing software. Then print it and cut it out to create a plant label. Attach the label to a craft stick and insert it into the potting soil.

Bucket of Sunshine

Fill a tub or bucket with a summer break soak-in-the-sun send-off. Items may include a beach towel, magazines (KC Going Places), sunscreen, aloe vera gel, flip-flops, travel pillow, sunglasses, SPF-fortified lip balm and a good read.

Bubble Gum Bribes

Create a faux gumball machine with a round glass vase and a small terra cotta pot and base. Use a paint pen to write “Bubble Gum Bribes”, “You’re a Terrific Teacher, By Gum” or “Bursting with Gratitude” on the glass, and have your child paint the terra cotta base and top. Then fill the vase with gumballs and finish it off with a bow and a sweet note.

7-Uplifting Things

Have your child write or type a list of “7-Uplifting Things” about her teacher.  Print the list on a piece of cardstock, punching a hole at the top to create a jumbo-sized tag, and attach it to a bottle of 7-Up with ribbon or tulle. If you want to get carried up and away, add a cluster of colorful helium balloons.

TEACHER GIFT PINSPIRATION

You Were “Mint” to Teach

Source: www.APlaceCalledJoy.Blogspot.com

Wrap a 3-inch by 6-inch piece of scrapbook paper around a tin of Altoids. Attach a tag that reads, “You Were Mint to Teach,” and wrap it up with twine or a piece of string.

Thanks for Making Me Wiser

Source: www.LisaStorms.Typepad.com

For the perfect packaging of your teacher gift, cut the top of a lunch-sized brown paper bag at angles to form a point, then fold it over and staple down. Add large circle eyes, a diamond-shaped beak and a rounded chest from cardstock or scrapbook paper to create a wise owl. Attach a note that reads, “Thanks for making me wiser,” or, “OWL always be grateful you are my teacher.”

Gift Card Snow Globe

Source: www.TheCreativeMama.com

Take it from a former teacher: gift cards may not be all-too-sentimental, but they are always appreciated. To add a special twist, create a snow globe to house your gift card.

You’ll need: a mason jar, hot glue, glitter, embellishments to float inside, water and ribbon

To the bottom of the lid, hot glue the gift card so that it stands upright. Fill the jar with glitter, water and embellishments. Twist the lid onto the jar, flip it upside down and tie ribbon around the bottom.

Wendy Connelly, Overland Park, is a former third-grade teacher filled with awe and gratitude for her own children’s teachers.