I taught a lot of kids who lived in shacks. I knew that they wouldn't have a fantastic holiday, so I spent my own money giving them gifts (books). If you know a teacher pretty well, and especially if it is an elementary teacher, ask him or her if you can get some books for the classroom or as gifts for needy kids.

Okay, not onto gifts for the teachers...

As a person who is still hauling around apple-themed items from when I taught seven years ago (and a heart-shaped paperweight that I do not need and cannot bear to leave), I have to give a shout-out to these ideas:

1. The personal note. Awesome. Better yet, make a photocopy of that note and send the original to the teacher and the copy, along with some more praise to the principal.

2. The gift card. Don't worry about figuring out whether the teacher likes Starbucks or not. S/he can trade it with someone else or use it to treat a friend sometime.

3. Office supplies - you would not believe how many post-its a teacher goes through. Insane numbers of post-its. Cool colors are especially appreciated because they can be used to write notes to the kids.

I was not a fan of getting homemade food when 8 of my kids showed up one Monday with desserts for me. I love flan as much as the next girl - but it was a little silly. I ended up breaking the law (okay, it wasn't the law back then) and using them as prizes in my warm-up math exercises.

Now, that Tang-based tea you linked too? That stuff is one of those cool things that's delicious and weird and you'll never make for yourself but is cool when someone else gives it to you.

Thanks for thinking of teachers!

Stanford Wife

Writer. Lover. Partner of an unapologetic farter.

We found some adorable gifts at www.ruvacards.com -- basically, you send your kid's art in and they print them onto a can of coffee or tea. You could even buy labels and have your kids do it.

Also, this month's issue of High Five has simple make your own hot chocolate mix. So, you could make that and put the kid's labels on it.

I always feel as though while I'm certainly thankful for my kid's teachers, I like the kids to be able to give them a gift that's actually from them. 

This year, I took my daughter's art and a friend embroidered it on towels. That's our gift.

Kristen Chase

Cool Mom Picks

Motherhood Uncensored

Gift cards to Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or even Target are useful and thoughtful. I agree: the amount can be small. It's still useful and it adds up. 

There are warnings all over the internet about buying gift cards this year, since in this economy you never know which store or chain will close next.  But we're still going with gift cards. Hopefully the teachers will use them sooner rather than later. 

----

Yes, I'm a mommy blogger.

I manage my kids' daily activities at UpToUs: online groups for parents.

I usually give a gift card to Borders or a photo album or notecards.  Never thought about giving office supplies.  That's a great idea!

When I used to teach, the gifts ran the gamut from the apple-themed to gaudy Christmas sweaters, to decorative pins for me to wear every moment of the day (I really should think of a craft for those). I could have made a five foot tall sculpture in the shape of a Christmas tree out of all the mugs I received over seven years.

The gifts that meant the most to me were the letters I received from the children and parents, including the one that told me she knew at our first meeting that I was the "Anne and Miss Shirley" combination who would inspire her son. I still have that letter in my Bible.

Other gifts I loved were baskets of fruit, edible homemade goodies (fudge and biscotti, etc!), and small gift certificates to get a coffee fix while I was grading papers. When I left teaching to get married and move to another country, the most memorable gift was a journal the students got together to give me. In the first few blank pages they placed their pictures and a special note from each. They knew I was constantly writing, and a new journal would come in handy. I still go back to those first few pages and remember each child and the fun memories we made when they were in my 5th and 6th grade class.

The other practical gift that came to me my first year of teaching in a tiny private school was also helpful. My salary was so low that first year that I could barely make rent, let alone buy groceries. The parents got together and filled a huge rubbermaid tote box with stationery, non-perishables, potatoes, fruit, cereals, baking supplies, and a bunch of practical consumable things I could use at home. While I would have loved to have just had a consistent paycheck that was a little bigger, it was very nice to not have to worry about buying groceries during the holidays after that gift. And 11 years later still finds me using up the last packages of the stationery (someone must have had a partnership with Hallmark).

Oh, and lest I forget......one mom and her daughter commited to bring me dinner once a week.  That was a HUGE gift!  She'd provide roast chicken, veggies, a fruit or juice, a small dessert, and drop it off at my house ready to eat.  Even if parents offered to do that one time per year - maybe during report card time - that would mean so much.  I know that's probably the biggest hassle for busy parents, but for me, it was a lifesaver and a huge encouragement during a tough year of teaching six grades in a one room schoolhouse.  No kidding.

As a former teacher, I think the article and the comments are spot on.  I would add that in the vein of practicality I had a student for several years who would always give a book of stamps as a gift.  He would do a homemade card (YES!) with those stamps inside. That was such a great and useful gift!  Several of the teachers really looked forward to that, as opposed to ANOTHER APPLE MUG.  Especially as tight as money is right now for everyone.

I'm a PTA board member at my daughter's elementary school, which is Title I - more than half the kids qualify for free or reduced meals. In past years I have given cash/ gifts  for items to be used in the classroom, or at the end of the year, after all the grading is done, cash for the teacher. This year I am not so flush, so I will:

 1 - organize an effort to get our teachers' classroom wish lists published so parents can buy those items instead of sending silly trinkets

 2 - I might also give some handwritten coupons, good for one or two hours of volunteer work in the classroom. Some teachers like these - 

 I'm a Mommy blogger too.

Many of my favorite gifts have been practical: notepads, notecards, sticky notes, pens. On the other side, a wealthy family once made a donation in my name, and it was perfect. Simply perfect.

Budgets are tough and getting tighter all the time. Save your pennies; don't buy the apple-shaped knicknacks. Give something meaningful, even if it's a simple handwritten thank you note.

Daisy

Given that we homeschool, it's been a few years since I gave teacher gifts. I used to like picking something from the teacher's wishlist at the bookfair. Usually I'd give to the classroom teacher and one other teacher, like the librarian, music teacher, or art teacher. For an afterschool teacher I organized the purchase of a cinema gift certificate - she'd told me one time how she loved to go to the cinema
for relaxation and I took a mental note. It seems to have been just what she wanted!

My best suggestion is to pay attention when you are in the school and
talking with the teacher. You can tell a lot about a person by their
appearance and that of their classroom. If they have a very nicely laid out bookshelf, then organizing for purchase of a book certificate could be good. If you've received a hand-written note, have your child write them one and maybe bring them some stationery. If they seem to enjoy working with their hair and appearance, a spa, bath shop, or jewelery store certificate would likely be welcome.

If you've no clue, you can offer to bring them lunch, or give them a gift certificate for a nearby restaurant. You could even check in their trash can next time you're in the classroom and see if they like chocolate, sandwiches from the take-out, or whatever. Well, maybe I'm joking on that one, but you don't have to be a great detective. Ask your kid what their teacher likes and if they've not paid attention put them to work as a little Sherlock Holmes for you. It's a great exercise in observation and a good life skill. No doubt a teacher will fondly remember receiving a gift they really like, which can only be good for little Sherlock.

Now if my kids realize that teachers get holiday gifts and that I of course am their teacher and decide to do something for me that would be a nice surprise. Really though, getting to homeschool with them is enough of a gift most days.

BookLady Alison

Thinking out loud about life, the universe and everything at Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy
Give the gift of literacy and knowledge - GreatFunBooks.com

As a teacher, I certainly appreciate ANY gift that comes my way at the holidays.  Though, I don't like apple stuff.  My favorite and most treasured gifts are generally thoughtful cards or notes, photos, or anything made by my students.

 I generally ask parents that, if they are going to spend money, please buy something for the classroom.  Teaching preschool special education is ridiculously expensive and I would rather that you give me $10 worth of supplies than another apple-themed gift.

As a former teacher I can tell you all of these are so true!  Especially the letter one.  I have lost, misplaced or lost count apple things during my years of teaching...but those letters from parents thanking me and tell me I DID make a difference in their child's life I have treasured.  It is something I also want to show my kids when they are older, that you can make a difference in people's life in a good way.

And yes, if you want to do a gift card $5 is plenty and greatly appreciated.  

Thanks for the mention of my post on teacher gifts. Great article - your thoughts are right on the mark. As I mentioned in my article, and I can't emphasize it enough, to a teacher a sincere thank you is gift enough!

Nichelle

DanceAdvantage.net

Thank you for an awesome recipe for Fireside Coffee!  My boys' teachers are getting a little jar of it (http://hometeamwins.blogspot.com/2008/12/drink-this-for-instant-christma...) for Christmas. And ironically, I had already purchased little wristlets from Sew Mama Sew for them.

And I do love the idea of writing a personal card to them.  I think nothing is nicer than a sincere thank you...