What are end-of-the-school-year gifts that teachers actually want? My kid is ending her first year at TK (sob), and her teachers are heroes and I want to thank them! Xx

Question

Liz S C · Answer

Something Personal: My husband is a teacher (high school to be fair) but his top are always thoughtful notes from the kids/parents or something the kid picked out for him. Best ever was a senior who always liked my husbands tie collection gave him a bollo tie. I recommend this only for the teachers your kids genuinely connect with, but the look on the teachers face when they open a stuffy of their favorite animal or a book I know they already have is so priceless because they feel seen.

First runner up is traditional foods or gifts from your family culture or tradition. Educators love being taught something by their students!

Third place - but a GREAT ONE - is gift cards either to local restaurant or ones that double as budget relief (target/amazon - big points for a grocery store near school!)

*one exception to the personal rule is photos of your kid in a frame. No one knows what to do with framed pictures of other people’s kids.

Shellie Gossling · Answer

gift cards to local businesses: One of my dear friends does this and gave me the idea.  She goes around and gets gift cards to our local coffee shop, to my shop (and also gets a card from my stationery shop) and then gets a plant or flowers from a local florist.  The teacher gets a sweet gift and there’s the fun bonus of shopping small and supporting local businesses.

Photo is a shameless illustration of my shop.  ❤️❤️❤️😂

Sarina · Answer

Starbucks : Gift Cards

Janet Wallace · Answer

Sunburst Correspondence Cards: Cheery handwritten thank you note. Slip in a gift card.

Anna Griffin · Answer

Cash Rules Everything Around Me: Dolla dolla bills, y’all!

Take it from a former teacher and longtime classroom parent, cash is king. Accompanied, always, with handwritten notes or cards from parents and most importantly, the kids!

Andrea · Answer

DIY watercolor bookmarks + a gift card to local bookstore: As an end of year teacher gift: A DIY bookmark (my friend does this as well and writes “Thank you for being part of my story! Love, [childs name]” on them - sobbb)

Plus a giftcard to a local bookstore, to treat them to some summer reading! 📚❤️

Abby Phoenix · Answer

Visa gift card: Honestly, money. We do a Visa or Mastercard gift card and a little note or card of appreciation from the child.

No matter how sweet and cute all the other options seem to be… teachers put so much of their heart, efforts, time, and own money into teaching and caring for our kids and they are so underpaid — by the time they make it to the end of the year, I think the best way to appreciate them is to just give them money they can use for whatever they want or need.

Cicely · Answer

worlds best teacher mug: No teacher can buy one themselves, but everyone wants one. It’s like giving yourself a nickname, it’s just not done.

Amy · Answer

Flowers, a card, and cash: For my daughter’s preschool teachers, the class is putting together flower bouquets, writing thank you cards, and pooling money for a cash gift. I also like to add a handmade card or drawing from my daughter.