It’s officially time for Teacher Appreciation Week! We all know our kids’ teachers deserve the entire world for everything they do each day. I have spoken to so many of my kids’ teachers who have been super grateful for every gift they’ve received, but I know there are certain things they absolutely love that they’d never specifically ask for, so I’ll tell you instead! I’ve asked four teachers at my son’s school and they’ve all provided me with some pretty great answers, so I’ve compiled a list of some dos/dont’s of teacher gifts to make your life a little bit easier.
Here are some good ideas for teacher gifts that they are sure to love:
Do get them:
1. Gift cards, gift cards, gift cards. You can not go wrong with a gift card. This is the all-time #1 answer I get every time. Specifically, teachers are ALL about Target, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Zaxby’s, Amazon, and Marshall’s/TJ Maxx/Homegoods. 
2. Personalized notes/pictures from the kids. This is a great gift if you’re on a budget and can’t spend a lot on gifts for the teachers. Your student will LOVE doing this for their teachers! It only takes a couple minutes and means the world. Teachers love seeing how appreciated they are from your kids and even if it is just a simple picture or a one line note, it goes a long way in their eyes.
3. A teacher “tackle box.” This gift is super creative, but doesn’t take much effort. You could get these boxes from Amazon, Target or even the Dollar Tree, and fill them up with teacher essentials like bandaids, pens, hand sanitizer, post-its, highlighters, paper clips, etc. It’s a great way to ensure your student’s teacher stays stocked up on all the classroom essentials!
4. Teacher’s favorite candy/treats. This is a no-brainer, but a lot of times gets overlooked because we don’t know what the teachers like or what their preferences are. What I’ve learned is if you don’t know, just ask! Teachers are more than happy to let you know what they’d prefer to snack on or drink. Trust me; teachers prefer you to ask what they love rather than having you spend money on something that they don’t like or something that is going to go to waste.
Now that we’ve talked about gifts teachers want the most, let’s cover gifts you should stay away from. I want to preface this list by saying that I have gifted every one of these and didn’t realize that they were appreciated, but that they could be done without.
Pass on the:
1. Mugs. Teachers appreciate the gesture, they really do, and I’ve fallen victim to giving these too! However, they have absolutely no room for any more mugs. Teachers get so many that they have no space for them and feel terrible getting rid of them but they really have no need for any more. I completely get why mugs would be a popular gift. They are everywhere and relatively inexpensive, but teachers can only have so many coffee mugs and some of them don’t even drink coffee, so just skip this gift idea.
2. Anything that says “best teacher ever” or “#1 teacher.” I was shocked by this one because I thought teachers loved these gifts, but when I heard the explanation as to why they’d prefer not to have them, it made perfect sense. Some teachers don’t feel comfortable carrying something around that says they’re the best or hanging up a sign that states this because it makes them feel like they’re bragging or cutting down another teacher. It’s completely understandable why they’d want you to skip this gift.
3. Ornaments. They have too many ornaments that say “Mrs. (insert name here).” Even if they had multiple Christmas trees, they more than likely don’t want to fill them up with teacher-themed ornaments or ornaments that say their name on them. 
Your student’s teachers are going to be appreciative of anything they receive from your child. They are never going to look at a gift and be upset that you thought of them. However, if you’re going to spend your money on something for them, they’d rather you get them something they’re going to utilize and not something that’s going to take up space in their already crowded classrooms. The most important thing to remember is to make sure your gifts come from the heart and have your kiddo put in a personal note or picture with them too — these mean the most!
Thank you to all teachers — you are seen and loved!
