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Teachers give advice on the Best Teacher Gifts

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One of the questions that I am asked quite a bit is about teacher gifts: What do teachers want for a gift?  Should it be personal or for the classroom?  Do teachers like gift cards or personalized gifts?   There are so many more, but I thought that I would sum it all up in today’s post.    I am working with SONIC for today’s post, to share ideas for teacher gifts.  🙂

Are you thinking about what to give your child's teacher for the holidays?  I was a teacher and I can honestly tell you that the gift that I remember the most was given to me about 15 years ago, from one of my first-grade students named Stephanie.   Her family struggled financially, but she wanted to give me a gift. She found an old ornament (an unpainted clay snowman) and she colored on it.  She wrote her name on it and she glued a picture of herself to the snowman.  She used thread to add a loop so I could hang it on my Christmas tree.  She gave it to me with a picture that she drew that said: "I love you, Mrs. Mansfield." That ornament is still hanging on our Christmas tree & every year I tell my own children about her.  A gift does not have to be expensive to be special... the most special gift cost nothing at all. This year, I asked the teachers from my Facebook Page what their favorite past gifts from students have been.  Here are their top seven suggestions on what to get a teacher for the holidays. Which ones will you choose? Gifts for Teachers for the Holidays A Letter of Appreciation When we think about all of the things that teachers do for our kids day in and day out, a letter of appreciation sounds like such a small thing. For many teachers though, a letter of appreciation can mean the world: "The best gift I could receive would be a letter of appreciation written by the parents or students," explained Nan, a retired teacher of 40 years. Nicole, a second-year teacher agreed. "I'm a second-year teacher, but the notes and cards I have received are my most cherished presents," she said. Gift Cards Many teachers put gift cards at the top of their lists. However, instead of cards for teaching supply stores, they were more interested in cards for coffee shops and restaurants that were close to the school.  Since many teachers grab a bite after school with their co-workers or go out to lunch on Teacher Work Days, those local gift cards come in handy! Amazon gift cards were also a top contender. Tickets for an Outing for The Teacher's Family Although kids may not think they do, teachers have lives outside of school.  :)   If you have a friend in the class, go in on a gift together.   Tickets (or credit) to the zoo, a museum, the movies, or an amusement park for their entire family is a great idea! No Scented Items Although this is something that they don't want, many teachers emphatically stated that they didn't want lotions, candles, soaps, perfumes, or anything with a scent. Many of them cited allergies and explained that they often had to give away the bath and beauty products they received. So, if you're going with the pampering approach, make sure everything is unscented! Gift Cards for Manicures or Pedicures Teachers are on their feet all day long, so a relaxing manicure or pedicure is a fabulous way to pamper them. Check with reputable shops close to the school to see if they offer gift cards so that the teacher can stop to be pampered after a long week at school. Plants One of the suggestions that surprised us the most was plants! One teacher said that the best gift she ever got from the parents of her students was a small tree, gardening tools, gardening boots, a book, and tea. Another said that plants were always welcome because she could enjoy them at home during the summer and hang them up in the classroom for some fresh air during the year. If you're not sure what type of plants to get, perhaps get a gift card for a local garden center. Membership to a CSA CSA's or crop sharing groups are memberships to local farms who divide their harvest bounty each week between members. This gives members fresh produce all year long and is a great gift with long-lasting health benefits. Memberships can be pricey though, so you may want to have other parents chip in. Be sure to get a membership to a farm that's convenient to your teacher's house as well! No matter what you give them, the overwhelming sentiment from all of our teachers was that it's truly the thought that counts. Knowing that you appreciate them and that you value their role in your child's life makes for the best gift of all.

As a former teacher myself, I can tell you that the gift that I remember the most was given to me about 15 years ago, from one of my first-grade students named Stephanie.   Her family struggled financially and she had a difficult home life, so buying gifts for others was not something that was done in their family.

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Right before the students left for the holiday break, Stephanie put a present on my desk, with a picture that she drew that said: “I love you, Mrs. Mansfield.”

Her gift was an old ornament: a flat,  unpainted,  clay snowman with a few chips and cracks in it.   She took that snowman and colored it with bright colors.  She wrote her name on it in big letters.  She even glued a picture of herself to the snowman and added a piece of thread to add a loop, to allow me to hang it on my Christmas tree.

That ornament is still hanging on our Christmas tree & every year I tell my own children about her.   It has always been my favorite gift from a student, because of the love that went into it.

A gift does not have to be expensive to be special… the most special gift cost nothing at all.

This year, I asked a group of teachers what their favorite past gifts from students have been.   They gave many suggestions, some of which I’ve included today.   If you are thinking about what to give your child’s teacher for the holidays, we have you covered. 🙂

Gifts for Teachers for the Holidays

Are you thinking about what to give your child's teacher for the holidays?  I was a teacher and I can honestly tell you that the gift that I remember the most was given to me about 15 years ago, from one of my first-grade students named Stephanie.   Her family struggled financially, but she wanted to give me a gift. She found an old ornament (an unpainted clay snowman) and she colored on it.  She wrote her name on it and she glued a picture of herself to the snowman.  She used thread to add a loop so I could hang it on my Christmas tree.  She gave it to me with a picture that she drew that said: "I love you, Mrs. Mansfield." That ornament is still hanging on our Christmas tree & every year I tell my own children about her.  A gift does not have to be expensive to be special... the most special gift cost nothing at all. This year, I asked the teachers from my Facebook Page what their favorite past gifts from students have been.  Here are their top seven suggestions on what to get a teacher for the holidays. Which ones will you choose? Gifts for Teachers for the Holidays A Letter of Appreciation When we think about all of the things that teachers do for our kids day in and day out, a letter of appreciation sounds like such a small thing. For many teachers though, a letter of appreciation can mean the world: "The best gift I could receive would be a letter of appreciation written by the parents or students," explained Nan, a retired teacher of 40 years. Nicole, a second-year teacher agreed. "I'm a second-year teacher, but the notes and cards I have received are my most cherished presents," she said. Gift Cards Many teachers put gift cards at the top of their lists. However, instead of cards for teaching supply stores, they were more interested in cards for coffee shops and restaurants that were close to the school.  Since many teachers grab a bite after school with their co-workers or go out to lunch on Teacher Work Days, those local gift cards come in handy! Amazon gift cards were also a top contender. Tickets for an Outing for The Teacher's Family Although kids may not think they do, teachers have lives outside of school.  :)   If you have a friend in the class, go in on a gift together.   Tickets (or credit) to the zoo, a museum, the movies, or an amusement park for their entire family is a great idea! No Scented Items Although this is something that they don't want, many teachers emphatically stated that they didn't want lotions, candles, soaps, perfumes, or anything with a scent. Many of them cited allergies and explained that they often had to give away the bath and beauty products they received. So, if you're going with the pampering approach, make sure everything is unscented! Gift Cards for Manicures or Pedicures Teachers are on their feet all day long, so a relaxing manicure or pedicure is a fabulous way to pamper them. Check with reputable shops close to the school to see if they offer gift cards so that the teacher can stop to be pampered after a long week at school. Plants One of the suggestions that surprised us the most was plants! One teacher said that the best gift she ever got from the parents of her students was a small tree, gardening tools, gardening boots, a book, and tea. Another said that plants were always welcome because she could enjoy them at home during the summer and hang them up in the classroom for some fresh air during the year. If you're not sure what type of plants to get, perhaps get a gift card for a local garden center. Membership to a CSA CSA's or crop sharing groups are memberships to local farms who divide their harvest bounty each week between members. This gives members fresh produce all year long and is a great gift with long-lasting health benefits. Memberships can be pricey though, so you may want to have other parents chip in. Be sure to get a membership to a farm that's convenient to your teacher's house as well! No matter what you give them, the overwhelming sentiment from all of our teachers was that it's truly the thought that counts. Knowing that you appreciate them and that you value their role in your child's life makes for the best gift of all.

1. A Letter of Appreciation

When we think about all of the things that teachers do for our kids day in and day out, a letter of appreciation sounds like such a small thing. For many teachers though, a letter of appreciation can mean the world:

“The best gift I could receive would be a letter of appreciation written by the parents or students,” explained Nan, a retired teacher of 40 years.

Nicole, a second-year teacher agreed. “I’m a second-year teacher, but the notes and cards I have received are my most cherished presents,” she said.

2. Tickets for an Outing for The Teacher’s Family

Although kids may not think they do, teachers have lives outside of school.  🙂   If you have a friend in the class, go in on a gift together.   Tickets (or credit) to the zoo, a museum, the movies, or an amusement park for their entire family is a great idea!

Are you thinking about what to give your child's teacher for the holidays?  I was a teacher and I can honestly tell you that the gift that I remember the most was given to me about 15 years ago, from one of my first-grade students named Stephanie.   Her family struggled financially, but she wanted to give me a gift. She found an old ornament (an unpainted clay snowman) and she colored on it.  She wrote her name on it and she glued a picture of herself to the snowman.  She used thread to add a loop so I could hang it on my Christmas tree.  She gave it to me with a picture that she drew that said: "I love you, Mrs. Mansfield." That ornament is still hanging on our Christmas tree & every year I tell my own children about her.  A gift does not have to be expensive to be special... the most special gift cost nothing at all. This year, I asked the teachers from my Facebook Page what their favorite past gifts from students have been.  Here are their top seven suggestions on what to get a teacher for the holidays. Which ones will you choose? Gifts for Teachers for the Holidays A Letter of Appreciation When we think about all of the things that teachers do for our kids day in and day out, a letter of appreciation sounds like such a small thing. For many teachers though, a letter of appreciation can mean the world: "The best gift I could receive would be a letter of appreciation written by the parents or students," explained Nan, a retired teacher of 40 years. Nicole, a second-year teacher agreed. "I'm a second-year teacher, but the notes and cards I have received are my most cherished presents," she said. Gift Cards Many teachers put gift cards at the top of their lists. However, instead of cards for teaching supply stores, they were more interested in cards for coffee shops and restaurants that were close to the school.  Since many teachers grab a bite after school with their co-workers or go out to lunch on Teacher Work Days, those local gift cards come in handy! Amazon gift cards were also a top contender. Tickets for an Outing for The Teacher's Family Although kids may not think they do, teachers have lives outside of school.  :)   If you have a friend in the class, go in on a gift together.   Tickets (or credit) to the zoo, a museum, the movies, or an amusement park for their entire family is a great idea! No Scented Items Although this is something that they don't want, many teachers emphatically stated that they didn't want lotions, candles, soaps, perfumes, or anything with a scent. Many of them cited allergies and explained that they often had to give away the bath and beauty products they received. So, if you're going with the pampering approach, make sure everything is unscented! Gift Cards for Manicures or Pedicures Teachers are on their feet all day long, so a relaxing manicure or pedicure is a fabulous way to pamper them. Check with reputable shops close to the school to see if they offer gift cards so that the teacher can stop to be pampered after a long week at school. Plants One of the suggestions that surprised us the most was plants! One teacher said that the best gift she ever got from the parents of her students was a small tree, gardening tools, gardening boots, a book, and tea. Another said that plants were always welcome because she could enjoy them at home during the summer and hang them up in the classroom for some fresh air during the year. If you're not sure what type of plants to get, perhaps get a gift card for a local garden center. Membership to a CSA CSA's or crop sharing groups are memberships to local farms who divide their harvest bounty each week between members. This gives members fresh produce all year long and is a great gift with long-lasting health benefits. Memberships can be pricey though, so you may want to have other parents chip in. Be sure to get a membership to a farm that's convenient to your teacher's house as well! No matter what you give them, the overwhelming sentiment from all of our teachers was that it's truly the thought that counts. Knowing that you appreciate them and that you value their role in your child's life makes for the best gift of all.

3. Personalized Items

Many teachers commented on their love of personalized items.  From personalized pencils to lunch totes, these gifts are meaningful and unique.   One teacher said that last year she received a gift of a personalized candy dish filled with enough candy and gum to last her a semester.  She said that it was one of her favorite gifts.

4. Gift Cards for Manicures or Pedicures

Teachers are on their feet all day long, so a relaxing manicure or pedicure is a fabulous way to pamper them. Check with reputable shops close to the school to see if they offer gift cards so that the teacher can stop to be pampered after a long week at school.

5. Classroom Supplies 

It’s no secret that school teachers spend hundreds of their own dollars to buy supplies for their classrooms. In fact, when I started teaching, I was told that the average teacher spends 20-25% of their paycheck on classroom materials and supplies.   Many teachers have an online wishlist that you can choose from.   You can check if your child’s teacher has a project that needs to be funded on donorschoose.org. 

Recognizing that public school teachers needed more support, SONIC Drive-In partnered with DonorsChoose.org ten years ago to create Limeades for Learning®. Through Limeades for Learning, in partnership with DonorsChoose.org SONIC has donated more than $13.1 million, providing learning materials and teaching resources to impact nearly one million students.  SONIC’s Limeades for Learning program is celebrating its annual Fall Voting campaign, from Sept. 30-Oct. 27.   Fans will vote for teachers’ projects to determine how SONIC will donate $1 million throughout the month.  You can earn votes for teacher projects by voting daily after signing up with a valid email address, visiting a SONIC Drive-In to get a bag sticker code worth two votes, or voting ten times to receive three extra votes via email.

You can learn more about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning program by watching this fun video.
GIVEAWAY…  I will be giving away a $100 gift card for the winner to use on DonorsChoose.org.   This will be sent to you and you can choose how you want to use it.  I will also be sending a $25 SONIC gift card for the winner.    To win, simply comment on this Post.

 

6. Plants

One of the suggestions that surprised us the most was plants! One teacher said that the best gift she ever got from the parents of her students was a small tree, gardening tools, gardening boots, a book, and tea. Another said that plants were always welcome because she could enjoy them at home during the summer and hang them up in the classroom for some fresh air during the year. If you’re not sure what type of plants to get, perhaps get a gift card for a local garden center.

7. Gift Cards

Many teachers put gift cards at the top of their lists. Many of the teachers suggested that gift cards for coffee shops and restaurants, that were close to the school, made great gifts.  Since many teachers grab a bite after school with their co-workers or go out to lunch on Teacher Work Days, those local gift cards come in handy!

.

No matter what you give them, the overwhelming sentiment from all of our teachers was that it’s truly the thought that counts. Knowing that you appreciate them and that you value their role in your child’s life makes for the best gift of all.

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10 Meaningful gifts for YOUR PARENTS and kids grandparents

Non-Toy Gifts for Kids: non toy gifts

Preschool Teacher Gift ideas
preschool teacher gifts

 



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Comments

  2. Tim says

    This program is a great idea. There are dozens of teachers seeking funding in my area alone. IA couple are seeking funds to put a bookcase in their classroom so the children can share books from home with their fellow classmates. That is a good way to get the kids involved.

    Reply

  4. Susan Christy says

    Such a fan of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning program! My teacher friends have been able to do a lot for their students, thanks to Sonic.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Becky Mansfield!

Founder of Your Modern Family. I am the wife to Mickey (my HS sweetheart) & the mom to four little blessings! I am a teacher turned child play therapist and stay at home Mom. I love to share my organization tips, kid ideas, money-saving tips and recipes with you. More About Becky...
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