Guest Post: Gift Ideas For Teachers {End of Year/Christmas}

Hi, I am B from bbeingcool.com. I write about fashion, food, home and life. I spend most of my time being a stay at home mum, but my ‘grown up proper job’ is a primary school teacher. I do love being a teacher, I love planning and teaching lessons and getting to know children. I love seeing students learn things and I love seeing them grow and mature. It really is a rewarding job.

I asked Kelly if I could write some tips on buying gifts for teachers for the end of the year. We all love our classroom teachers and it is nice to be able to show that gratitude in the form of gifts. I have given some suggestions for Under $10 and Under $20 as well as ideas for group gifts and ideas for male teachers.

Now, teachers don’t demand gifts, they really don’t expect them. All my teacher friends just love seeing children succeed, so this is not a wish list from teachers, rather, these are things that either I have recieved or some of my teacher friends have received that were just plain lovely. As a teacher, I wouldn’t expect parents to spend more than $20 on a gift, but… if you want to spend more – go for it!

There are lots of lovely little things around under $10. Because the Australian school year finishes in December, Christmas themed gifts can be a sweet little idea.

• Christmas decorations – handmade is a lovely touch
• Coffee mugs – personalised or inspirational
• Ornamental apples – always cute to have an apple on the desk
• Chocolates – always popular
• Pot Plant – a Ponsietta is a nice touch

Group Gifts

• If you are super organised, you can get some other parents in the class to pool some money to buy a more expensive gift. Day spa vouchers, store vouchers or jewellery vouchers are beautiful ideas.

Male Teachers

• You may want to think outside of the box for male teachers… Mr Cool {Physics teacher} once got an English Premier League Soccer jersey from a class – which he thought was pretty cool
• Sporting gear; soccer ball, cricket ball, hat, zinc cream, if your teacher is sporty
• Coffee/Tea packs
• iTunes vouchers, movie money
• Photo frames, key rings, mugs or wine {if appropriate for your school *wink*}

Notes on handmade

• Handmade ornaments and other pretty things are lovely. I love the thought behind the gift and appreciate that it took someone {probably a hard working and tired mum or grandma} precious time to make.
• Some thoughts on home cooking; I have taught in some ‘interesting’ schools and I have had to have a ‘I do not eat home-made’ policy. Having said that, I have made shortbread stars for my children’s teachers. I included a little note saying that we all used clean hands and made sure all the equipment was clean and hygienic – not everyone is as clean as you think!

Finally, some tips to remember…

1) Keep the gift small {when you get 30 gifts it can be overwhelming}

2) Instead of thinking of a big gift and a small message in a card, buy something smaller and write a heart felt card

3) Let your child be involved in picking out the gift, or the wrapping or the card writing. They have built a relationship with their teacher all year and I know I love getting cards from my students

Just for a bit of fun {and not sound ungrateful} here are some gifts that got Mr Cool and I chuckling over the years…

• Non-alcoholic wine – Mr Cool made a bottle into Sangria, he added proper red wine and fruit juice to it
• Ties, socks, handkerchiefs – just a little awkies…
• Re-gifted things – check that cards are not left in gifts people
• I was given a gorgeous silver necklace from a student, I am pretty sure it was stolen. True. The student is now quite possibly in the clink {nothing to do with my teaching}

Have I missed anything? What are some great ideas you have had?