Hi,

As I'm sure you know this week is teacher appreciation week. I was wondering if you could give me gift ideas for my daughter's teacher (3rd grade). I've done the usuals in the past - flowers, candy, etc. Is there something that teachers actually WANT to receive? I'm not talking a major investment, just something small but meaningful and/or useful. Thanks a bunch in advance, and God bless the teachers!!

Robin

yeah, that's a good question. I would love to know as well!!

One year I got my teachers some neat bottles and filled them with their favorite flavor of jelly beans. Something like that but a little more personalized might be good, and just as easy. I bet your daughter knows what her teacher likes.

My wife is a teacher, and she gets little trinkety crap ALL the time. It's not that she doesn't appreciate the effort or the thought, but all that stuff eventually gets thrown away. What she gives our kids' teachers (4th and 1st grade) are giftcards to Starbucks, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Books-a-million, etc. Doesn't have to be much money at all on the card, and helps the teacher buy whatever they want. As a teacher, she loves getting gift cards.

THAT is a GREAT idea!! Thank you!!!!

I second gift cards and the like. We always put together in a small group and buy the kids' teachers a pair of gold class movie vouchers. I'm not qualified yet, but I'm dreading the thought of 300 cakes of soap and little notebooks, lol.

I too appreciated gift cards - for bookstores especially.

At my last teaching gig, as I was leaving that area forever, the class got together and donated in my name to my favourite animal rescue. That was so appreciated - I didn't have to pack it, tote it somewhere new, I didn't have to dust it, feed it, shelve it, or otherwise find space to store it. It was for me the best gift ever - supported a worthy cause and reflected an understanding of who I am as a person (rather than 'teacher').

Thanks for the ideas, folks. I was leaning toward a gift card anyway! That's what I get the teachers for Christmas too.

Robin