Book Gift Card -- $10
My husband is a high school teacher and he gets excited for Barnes & Noble cards. — scm74
As the wife of a middle school social studies teacher, I second that! Book store gift cards are my hubby's absolute fave presents, and don't worry if it's only a few bucks, even less than $10, on each card. All together they really add up. — Cafe Cynthia
Homemade Craft -- Free
I taught preschool and kindergarten. The best present that I received was a ceramic cat that my student Fred helped paint and wrap. To the world it may not look wonderful or expensive, but to me the pride of making his gift shown by his smile was priceless. It is on my shelf where it has been for 25 years. Whatever it is, make sure you tell the teacher that your child made that gift especially for her. — southpawshelia
Duct Tape -- $4
Or maybe it's pretty thumb tacks, or a calendar. The idea here is an everyday, make-life-easier necessity, anything that the teacher uses on a daily basis in his room that he might not think to buy for himself.
abayhaymom says, "The best teacher gift I ever got from one of my students was an old roll of duct tape! Mom and dad had no idea she'd stowed it in her bag and brought it for me. She gave it to me with a homemade card and told me that Daddy said duct tape can do anything, that it will work better to hang up her art. We had recently had problems with her picture falling off the wall, so this was the cutest thing!"
Joint Class Gift -- $5-$10 Per Student
I'm a class mom, and last year I got the parents together and we bought things for the classroom: games for indoor recess, Legos, books, tissues, disinfectant wipes, Ziplock baggies, crayons etc. Each child was able to play a part. Even the ones whose parents could not afford it helped to wrap. On party day, each child presented the teacher with one gift. The teacher loved it. — MamaLori
Stationary -- $10
Sticky pads, note paper, message reminders — teachers always use and love these. And if you can go a smidge over the price limit and get his or her name printed on them, it's sure to be a winner.
As momofours says, "The note pads and other daily use things that otherwise comes out of the teacher's pocket are very much appreciated! I've both given and received personalized note pads, those pencils with the teacher's name on it, especially ones personalized with funny lines like "Stolen From the Desk of Mr. Soandso."
Teacher Supply Store Card -- $10
My husband spends over a $100 of his own money on supplies, including special paper, CDs, maps, room decorations, and pens for his students, so I appreciated Verarose's idea for a gift card to a teacher or office supply store.
"Teachers spend so much of their own funds to make their classes up to par or above," she says. "The school don't provide enough funds for the teachers to get the supplies they need to teach. Since they don't get paid much as it is, it's nice when they don't have to spend their on cash on their classes."
Cash Collection -- $2-$5
Our school sends out a list and each family marks how much they want to give. The PTA collects all the checks and divides it out into individual gift cards for all the teachers. I think this only works because we have a very small school, but that way we give something small to all the teachers and staff that help educate our kids. I usually end up giving about $5 for his main teacher and principal, and then about $2-$3 to other teachers and staff and that is added to what everybody else is giving. — CaLizzyMom
Wild Card Gift -- $10 and Under
As an elementary school teacher, if you do decide to buy instead of make, let your child pick it out. You might be surprised and we certainly will be! One year I got a pink alarm clock (old style looking with a clock face) with a picture of two girls, a big sister and little sister. The mom explained to me her daughter thought the picture was of she and I. — iLuvMyJayden
Ornament -- Free to $10
My favorite gifts from students were the cards and ornaments that they made themselves. I still hang the ornaments every year. You can buy kits at the craft store that will make like 20 ornaments for $5-$6. Homemade cards with a candy cane or a packet of hot chocolate attached is also nice. — TiffanyMarie80
Nothing!
Give something, give nothing, it really is up to you. We think nothing of it if you don't. We still love your kids the same! Speaking as a parent, I could spend $5-$10 on my kids' teachers, but quite honestly I would rather buy a box of cards and spend an hour on each writing about how much I appreciate the work they have done. — 3gifts.from.god
