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Holidays, the end of the school year, and teacher appreciation week are perfect times to show our appreciation for our teachers. Certainly, if you know that your child's teacher loves something specific like a certain kind of jewelry, sport, or a particular store, then you can't go wrong purchasing an item or gift card here. We look for teacher gift ideas that are practical and useful because we find these types of gifts to be the most universal.
TEACHER GIFT IDEAS
BARNES & NOBLE:
Barnes & Noble Gift Cards are one of the top gift ideas for teachers. Purchase one for any dollar amount and the teacher can redeem it, as well as receive their 20% Educator's discount.
Double-up on Teacher Gifts from Barnes & Noble!
Classical Music Buy 2,
Get the 3rd Free thru 6/02/08.
Buy 2 Favorite Paperbacks, Get the 3rd Free
Teachers can also create a registry of books (for school or personal use) they would like to receive. Parents can then purchase teacher gifts from the registry. If several parents purchase off the registry, the teacher then has several new books for their classroom. Shop Barnes & Noble's online Children's Bookstore or shop for teacher gifts at BarnesandNoble.com.
DINNER: After a long day of work, who wouldn't love to have dinner made for them rather than cook. Give a gift certificate to a restaurant local to the school so the teacher can pick up dinner on their way home.
 
PERSONALIZED PHOTO ALBUM: Personalize a photo album with your teacher's name (Mrs. Smith, Mr. Jones). Place a few photos of the class in the front pages. Exposuresonline.com offers personalized photo albums, journals, scrapbooks, scrapbook accessories, cards, address labels, alligator, mermaid or fairy stickers, and more. Exposures offers free shipping on orders over $125. (Abbey C., Mass.) See our Great Deals page for special offers (discounts, free shipping, etc.) from Exposures.
ORNAMENTS & TREES: Give a gift that's beautiful as well as environtmentally conscious. Plow & Hearth has beautiful ornaments (12 styles)
 
for only $9.95 each. For each one sold, a tree will be planted at a site around the world where reforestation is needed. Go to Plow & Hearth and search "pewter ornaments" to locate this unique offer.
FLOWERS & VASE: During Teacher Appreciation week, ask each child to bring in a single flower and the teacher can make a bouquet with it. A vase can either be donated by a parent, purchased by donations from the parents ($0.50-$1.00 per student should cover it), or have the students decorate a vase. To decorate a plain glass vase, have students cut small, 1/2" squares of tissue paper and decopage them in a random pattern all over the vase. Or, paint on the names of each student and a few flowers for added color.
 
MOVIES: Everyone's preferences are different. So, rather than purchase a specific DVD movie, let your teacher pick a movie they prefer. Netflix lets you purchase and print Gift Subscriptions online for one, two, three, or more months. The teacher can pick the movie and have it delivered right to their home mailbox.
QUESTIONAIRE: Send out a questonaire to the teachers to create a wish list. They can choose to complete this or not. Parents can then contact the PTO to get the answers for gift ideas or post the wish list online.
BOOKCASE OR MIRROR: Have all of the students in the class decorate (with paint) a bookcase or framed mirror that the teacher can actually use in the classroom. We recently found a large mirror at Target's Clearance for only $28 (regularly $130). It has decorative molding but a wide, flat, wooden frame that we painted and let the kids decorate with small drawings and their signatures. It's gorgeous!
PLANTS: Purchase a large (imitation) floor plant for the teacher to display in the classroom. Greenery freshens up any room!
PERSONALIZED BOOK: Have each student write something about the teacher and make a laminated book of all the student's writing. Or, ask the students to write a fictional story about their teacher. You can divide the class into small groups and write several short stories and combine them into one book. Purchase a complete kit to write, illustrate, and design your own book for hardback publication from Highlights. Mail your creative work back in an included postage-paid envelope (or send it electronically online) and in a few weeks you will receive back a bound book. Extra copies of the book can sometimes be purchase if the parents also want copies of their child's work.
BOOK DEDICATION: Dedicate a book to the teacher and donate it to the school library. The dedication is generally displayed on a inscription inside the front cover.
SERVE BREAKFAST OR LUNCH: During teacher appreciation week, ask parents to provide breakfast or lunch items. You may be specific and ask for parents to cook soups or salads. Set them up in the teacher's lounge.
GIFT CERTIFICATE: Gift certificate to an office supply store to purchase school supplies, to a coffee shop, or a local garden center.
AMERICAN EXPRESS: American Express gift checks are the most universal because they can be used just like cash. Purchase gift checks at most banks or go to AmericanExpress.com and type in the keyword "gift card".
SCRIP: Gift cards can be purchased in any dollar amount. You can purchase them individually or as a classroom. Purchase gift cards through SCRIP and you're supporting your school while buying a gift.
GIFT BASKET: Assemble a gift basket of practical items. Pick a theme. This is as easy as picking an isle at the grocery store. Be sure these are items your teacher would normally purchase on her own and will actually use:
- Food: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, crackers, chocolate, gum, apron, potholder, serving dish.
- School Supplies: pens, pencils, markers, tape, staples, stickers, notebooks, construction paper, tracing paper, post-it notes, stationary, envelopes.
- Healthcare: toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, soap, manicure kit.
- Household: laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, bathroom & kitchen cleaner, glass cleaner, liquid hand soap, sponges, mop, broom, dustpan.
- Cookout: meat marinades & rubs, barbecue tools, pitcher, placemats, ice tea, lemonade.
- Pasta Dinner: Pasta, breadsticks, sauce, pesto, grated cheese, serving spoons, pasta bowls, apron, pot holder, dish towels.
SCRAPBOOK: Parent and child can work together to make a memorable scrapbook for the teacher. Fill the scrapbook with with photos, newspaper clippings, artwork, stories, and notes from child and parent about the year's events. Have the child decorate the cover. Also a good option is to give each parent a page of the scrapbook and ask them to decorate the book at home. Save a few pieces of the child's favorite artwork and then shrink them down on the copier to 2"x3" to fit on the page. Exposures offers free shipping on orders over $125 .
FIVE DAYS OF APPRECIATION: Surprise your child's teacher by leaving one small gift in their mailbox each day during teacher appreciation week. A thoughtful thank you note, favorite snack, decorative hand soap, fancy pen, cup of coffee, flower, or small plant will let them know they're thought of each day.
VOLUNTEER: A little help goes a long way. Volunteer to assist with a class art project, bring snacks for the class for a week, or care for the class pet during school vacation.
BREAKFAST OR LUNCH: Welcome teachers back to school in September and January with a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast or Lunch. Ask parents to donate, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit, granola bars,cider, coffee, tea, cream, and sugar for breakfast or bread, deli meats, condiments, salads, and drinks for lunch. Don't forget the plates, napkins, cups, and utensils.
This year, show your child's teacher how valued they are with a simple gift.
Please SHARE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER GIFT IDEAS.
See our Great Deals page for special offers (discounts, free shipping, etc.) from all of our merchants.
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