Best Gifts for Teachers Review

Throughout the school year, but especially throughout the holidays parents and students search for the perfect gift for teachers. How can we show our appreciation to teachers for all they do, whether for the holidays or at the end of the year. 

School Supplies

The average teacher spends approximately $600.00 a year of their own money each school year for supplies not covered by their school or district. That can really add up.  Teachers love to have creative supplies or just that extra special something to reward and inspire their children as well as to have a special project or activity within the classroom.  One of the best gifts you can give your teacher is help with these items.  But how?

First, check out the classroom supply list that your child brings home.  Is there something on there you can purchase for the classroom?  Buy them and save your favorite teacher time and money spent on getting the items.  Place them in a gift bag, add a card and tissue paper and you now have instant gift.  One particular supply teaches are always needing are dry erase markers, dry erase cleaner and eraser.  These as well as other special classroom supplies make a great gift, especially if you find a great deal like buy one get one at an office supply store.

Another alternative to purchasing school supplies is to purchase gift certificates or gift cards.  Even dollar store gift cards give teachers the opportunity to get many of the things they need for the classroom like stickers or poster board.  Other gift card or certificate ideas include Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target or a local school supply store.

Anti Bacterial Items

The classroom is a hot bed of germs, and teachers as well as students are susceptible.  Treat your teachers to items such as Purex Hand Sanitizer in the giant size container that they can place in the classroom, Antibacterial Hand Lotion (just for teacher) from Bath and Body Works, Lysol or Oust Disinfectant Spray,  Lysol  or Clorox Disinfectant Wipes. Purchase Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues for the classroom use.  This way your teacher can give a quick spray, wipe and squirt before the next class as well as moisturize her hands quickly. This keeps her and your family just a little healthier.

Teach your Teacher to Relax

Have you ever stood on your feet for about 8 hours or more trying to keep 25 people with very short attention spans actively involved, entertained and educated?  I have, and at the end of the day your feet, legs and back hurt.  It's hard to find time to relax because you still have lesson planning or grading to do.  Help the teacher in your life relax by purchasing such items as aromatherapy candles (lavender and vanilla are soothing, the scent of mint is supposed to rejuvenate); bubble bath or other bath products, or New Age Relaxation tapes with nature or water sounds as well as oriental music.  Add a bottle of wine if you are so inclined or play it safe with herbal teas like Celestial Seasonings.

Dinner Out

Purchase gift cards for restaurants such as Subway, Chili's  or even just for a cup of Starbucks and a snack.  Help your favorite teacher get through the evening that much faster, so they can have some time for their own children after spending lots of time with yours.  Not sure what they may like, purchase a Restaurant.com gift certificate that they can use to purchase their own choice of restaurant gift certificate.  They can go out to eat right after they print from their home computer.

Books

Teachers love books, to either give as gifts or for them alone.  Purchase gift cards from Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books and Company or Amazon.com.  When you purchase from Amazon, they can use it for anything they like from books to gourmet food, so you know your gift will be appreciated.

Christmas Ornaments

Personalized or teacher orientated Christmas ornaments are those one of a kind gifts for teachers that they can each year pull out and remember the special thoughtful gesture of that student and family.  Have fun with them, choose classical Christmas or humorous.  Hallmark and many Christmas specialty stores have so many to choose from that you will have fun simply choosing them.

Homemade Goodies

Teachers have very little time to spend baking and making.  But they do love and appreciate good food and drink. Many of my own daughter's teachers told the next year's group what goodies they could look forward to from the Carey household, such as homemade fudge, brownies, teas, coffee's, and seasonings for foods.  We would even create candles and cards to round our gift baskets out.  If you aren't handy in the kitchen, think about something like Edible Arrangements, Harry and David or simply stop into any one of the specialty candy stores in your neighborhood or mall. You will be amazed at the sweet and spicy delicacies you will find there. 

My Viewpoint:

In my 20 years experience in education these are the seven best gift groups for teachers, no matter what the age of your child, from preschool to middle school.  These gifts will always bring a smile to your teacher's face -whether it is the teacher in your family or house or the one in your child's school. Give it a try, the next special event; show the teacher in your life how special he or she is.