Inexpensive Teacher Gifts??

[jwfla422]

Let the teachers know you will be bringing in bagels, cream cheese and coffee one morning as thanks for their hard work. Maybe even find out the flavors at your favorite bagel shop and let them place orders. I know Panera has a deal where you get a baker's dozen for $6.99 on Tuesdays. As a teacher, I would love a fresh bagel in the morning

Also, any gift is appreciated and even a $5 gift card is plenty. It really is the thought that counts.

You know what, it's funny that you mention that because it just made me realize that's EXACTLY what I did last year on the last day of school!! ...and I totally forgot about that! Hmm, maybe I'll do that on Monday (their last day is Wednesday) instead of waiting until the last day. Thanks for the memory jog!

 

[msmama]

A friend of mine did bird feeders, which I think was a good idea (if you know the teachers and know they live in houses with trees to hang them, lol). She got them cheap ($5 at Home depot, though they haven't had them at my local HD), had the kids decorate them with stickers and glitter pens and filled them with birdseed.

 

[swebb0310]

I teach third grade. I have seen some really great gifts, and some that are sweet, and I definitely appreciate the thought behind it, but I would never use. I don't drink coffee, so coffee cups are not the best for me.
One thing I've always thought would be awesome is if several parents were able to combine their efforts. If you want to do something, and you aren't able to do much, even $2-3 towards a group gift combines to do a lot more than a $2-5 item that I will never be able to use. Then I just feel bad for not being able to use it.

 

[GigglyFigment]

I'd do a note, $5 gift card to whatever drug/convenience store is close by the school and a gift bag of cheap stuff teachers always need/use. Pens, pencils, dry erase markers, mints, etc. - especially if they ever loan out supplies to students. Even though it's the end of the year, they'll still need stuff next year. If there is one or two who made an especially strong impact, do a little something more for them. For example, I gave my favorite English teacher a few boxes of red pens because I remembered that she used them with her ninth grade classes - she told me that it was one of the best gifts she'd gotten in years.

As the daughter of a former teacher, can tell you that unless it's something useful, it'll eventually get donated. And, no, I wouldn't consider mugs useful as they have no lid and can be broken and accidents happen.

 

[pyrxtc]

any idea's for a teacher who loves to travel ? This is my 3rd kid having her and she is amazing.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

This morning I stuck a dollar bill in a baggie with a note that said "Treat yourself to a pop or snack out of the vending machine!" And had the kids give it to their teachers. It's not end of year gift, but just an idea for a cheap teacher pick-me-up.

 

[The Hendies]

How about something for the room? A new game, new markers or crayons, or 'office' supplies like paper clips, tape, sticky notes, etc. We are a not-for-profit, and have limited materials.

 

[MSSANDRA]

A few things we have done and I have had done that cost very little but are appreciated!

Bring in doughnuts or other simple breakfast food one morning.
Home-maid goodies (IF the teachers know you well and will eat it.)
5.00 gift cards to Starbucks, the local ice cream place, McDonalds ect
A candy bar
A tin of mints
Just a card is fine too.

Wanted to share what we are doing for DS's WONDERFUL teacher, just in case anyone is following and needs an idea. We only have ONE teacher so much easier.

I bought a flower pot at the $ store. I also got a piece of craft foam to fit in the bottom and some craft stones to cover it up. I purchased decorative flowers in a stick but my original plan was to cut these out and use a craft stick stem. Place the flowers in your pot and attach a gift card to each one. I have five or six 5.00 ones for Starbucks, ice cream, doughnuts etc. One flower will have DS's picture on it. You can do as many or as few flowers as you need to and make the cards 5.00 or 25.00! I saw this on a craft site and it is so cute. Supplies were only a couple dollars and they have all gift cards they can use for a small summer treat.

 

[mandy14]

My daughter's class did an awesome thing this year. One of the mom's sent out an email asking if we would like to go together as a class and donate money towards a giftcard for the teacher. We actually collected enough to buy her an ipad. The parents that I talked to loved the idea because we could donate what we wanted and didn't have to think of a gift. The parent purchased a card and let all of the kids that donated sign the card.
Another class in our school found that one of the teachers had some little sons and wanted to watch the star wars movies with them. The class collected enough money to buy him a blue ray player and all of the star wars movies.

 

[zxrst]

Gift cards and thank-you cards are great ideas. We do gift cards and tend to give big gift amounts because we really appreciate their effort.

 

[Minnie_me]

I've been teaching for over 25 years, and even though it sounds corny, my favorite gifts are indeed the handwritten notes. I can look back on my career and remember only a handful of especially awesome teacher gifts (a beautiful Adirondack chair for the front porch of my new house, for example). But I have a big fat file full of cards and notes and pictures from students and parents that I cherish more than any of the gifts. It's called my Smile File, and I actually have 3 of them now! I look through it every year, re-reading the heartfelt notes and I get all teary-eyed knowing that I made a difference in these kids' lives.

Sure, I like gift cards and all that. But looking back, I've never said, "Oh, I'll never forget little Sarah, who gave me that great gift card to Target!"

It truly is the thought that counts.

 

[TnTWalter]

CANDY FLOWER POTS $2.50 each
How to do it:
I made little flower pots with the mini candy bars [the ones that come in 6 pack]...I bought 5-6 packs at $1 each and I already had the terra cotta pots. But they came in a package of 4-6 for a couple bucks @ hobby lobby. I also had lollipop sticks already but again hobby lobby cheap tape the candy to the stick [they are the 'flowers']...clear pastic wrap paper $2-$4 depending on how much and tie with ribbon at top. Used card stock and made tags by hand with hole punch that said Mr. X and on back heart child name. I had shredded tissue paper in base of pot you can use tissue paper, or starburst, kisses in base...wish I had taken a picture. I made 8. Lets say $20 total. So $2.50 each.

You can add gift cards to one of the sticks in your pot if wanted.

SCHOOL COLOR FLIP FLOPS $3.50 EACH

The only trick her is finding out their size.

I bought flip flops $2 @ Walmart and 6 @ $0.97 fabric quarters in school colors at Walmart. Cut into about 6" x 1" strips and knotted around the flip flops....made 4 pairs.

They all wrote heart-felt letters to their teachers and I told them that would be what they liked the most.

those are the budget things I did...it's hard to not go crazy and buy for everyone...but sadly money is finite... lol.

 

[homedad]

wife is teacher, we give gift cards to our kids teachers and she likes to receive also.

PS after 16 years teaching we have enough coffee mugs and Christmas ornaments for 2 lifetimes.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

Teacher here! I would much rather get a five dollar gift card to starbucks, target/walmart, frozen yogurt..etc...than a five dollar mug... I don't want to sound ungrateful, it's like others have said, you can only get and use so many. Parents might feel that a five dollar gift card doesn't look like much, but in the summer when you need a snack, it's much appreciated!!

 

[Eureka]

I always bake. This time I am doing muffins that my DS loves and we picked out pretty plates from Target. I think they cost $1.99. I usually use a disposable container from Michael's but couldn't find any I liked, and this way they can keep the plate.

Edited to add: I know there was a whole thread at one point where many people said they wouldn't eat baked goods they were given. I was curious and posted the very question on my Facebook to see what my teacher friends thought. Apparently I am a good baker, because everyone said of course they would eat what I send and some even start wondering what I will bake this year. LOL!

 

[Turbanator]

Personal gifts that mean something are nice and priceless, like a nice note in a card

 

[Wookie2]

Personal gifts that mean something are nice and priceless, like a nice note in a card

I agree that the personal touch shows just how much you care

 

[sk!mom]

Edited to add: I know there was a whole thread at one point where many people said they wouldn't eat baked goods they were given. I was curious and posted the very question on my Facebook to see what my teacher friends thought. Apparently I am a good baker, because everyone said of course they would eat what I send and some even start wondering what I will bake this year. LOL!

I assume that your FB friends know you- that's the difference. I would eat food provided by almost all of my FB friends. Those whose food I wouldn't is also because I know them. However, FB isn't anonymous so I wouldn't expect honest answers.

As far as school goes, some families have had children at my school for years- food's OK. I live in the neighborhood so some are neighbors therefore some I know we'll enough to eat the food. Others I do not.

 

[mvirtue]

Check out Pinterest...they have a whole board of teacher appreciation gifts. Last year I gave my daughter's teachers a potted flower with a note saying, "Thanks for helping me grow!"

 

[Alexle2007]

I've been baking brownies and cakes for my DS's teachers and they go like wildfires, especially when the brownies are still warm from the oven.