End of Year Teacher (Approved) Gift Ideas

I know many teachers personally (my sister is one of them) and they don’t expect gifts at the end of the year, but the gesture is certainly appreciated, especially a heartfelt card or note.  I appreciate the work teachers do with my kids, and each year the kids and I like to give a token gift. Last year we made bird wreath Christmas Tree decorations with a card written by the kids.

I asked the teachers in the Be A Fun Mum Facebook Community about the gifts they like best (you can through over 300 comments here). I’ve boiled it down here to the top 5 and other favourites..  What stood out to me was that it’s the personal gifts — personal notes and handmade cards — that mean the most to the majority of teachers.

TOP 5 Teachers Approved Gifts

1. Personalised handwritten card/letter/drawing

2. Christmas tree decoration

3. Wine

4. Stationery supplies: stickers, sharpies, stamps, sticky notes, storage boxes

5. Homemade food 

Note: This was popular amongst teachers, however some teachers had homemade food items on the strongly PLEASE NO list too, so be aware of that. Perhaps include a small note saying the items were made in an hygienic environment.

FOOD/DRINK

• Wine/Champagne/Alcohol/Soft Drink
• Gourmet coffee/Tea

Here’s a fun idea on how to dress up soft drink or other beverages: Reindeer Bottles

HOMEMADE

• Personalised handwritten:
  • Card: here are card ideas kids can make: Homemade Christmas Cards (for Kids)
  • Letter/drawing
  • Bookmark
  • Pencil Case (here a tutorial)
  • Letter to their head of department with praise for the particular teacher
• Food:
  • Shortbread
  • Biscuits/cookies
  • Peppermint bark
  • Rocky Road
  • Fudge
  • Choc balls
  • Rum balls
  • White Christmas
  • Cookie mix in a jar (recipe here)
  • Chutney
  • Jam
  • Brandied fruit
  • Homemade pesto in baking dish

• Christmas decoration (you can find a list of handmade decorations here: Handmade Christmas Tree Decorations)
• Fresh fruit basket
• Pot plant/plant seeds
• Pamper package jar with all the essentials for a mani/pedi
• Teacher survival kit
• Christmas wrapping paper + tape + fun poem on card (check out the tutorial here)

Since November you’ve been shopping,

barely sleeping, hardly stopping.

Now it’s late you’re in a scrape, out of paper, out of tape.

Hope this wrap helps save the day!

Have a Happy Holiday!

• Artwork:
  • Word art with teacher’s name or the names of the children in the class. Use programs like Tagxedo or Wordle
  • Framed class photo signed by all the children
  • Framed thank you

I made these graphics for free at Tagxedo

PURCHASED

• Christmas tree decoration
• Personalised:
  • Stamp/stickers (for labelling resources)
  • Keyring
  • Pen (engraved)
• Perfume
• Cookbook
• Dictionary
• Book
• Diary/planner
• Funky necklace/bangle/earrings (e.g. purchased from markets or handmade)
• Scarf
• Vase
• Pot plant/plant seeds
• Thermal coffee mug
• Whistle + ball (Coach/P.E. teacher)
• Scratchies/lottery tickets
• Stationery supplies – stickers, sharpies, stamps, sticky notes, storage boxes

STATIONERY SUPPLIES/PACK IDEAS

Below are some ideas on stationery packs to give to teachers.

Giving them can be as easy as tying pens, pencils, sharpies & highlighters up in ribbon.

Or place all the times in a gift box.

A set of mini drawers is a fun ideas too!

VOUCHERS

• Coffee
• Bottle shop
• iTunes
• Books

GROUP GIFTS

One of the parents can coorindate to collect funds to contribute to a group present.

• Vouchers:
  • Movies/Gold Class
  • Massage
  • Local restaurant/café
  • Manicure/pedicure/facial
  • Local artist
  • Experience gifts  (eg RedBalloon)
• Shopping centre gift card
• Photo canvas of the students
• Watch
• Jewellery
• Handbag/Luggage

DONATIONS

Books/toys for disadvantaged children & donations to children-based charities (below are some of the mentioned charities):

• Oxfam Unwrapped (www.unwrapped.oxfam.org.au)
• Tear Australia’s “Useful Gifts” (www.usefulgifts.org)
• The Pyjama Foundation (www.thepyjamafoundation.com)
• Variety (www.variety.org.au)
• World Vision (www.worldvision.com.au)
• Barnados Australia (www.barnardos.org.au)
• Save The Children Australia (www.savethechildren.org.au)
• Unicef (www.unicef.org.au)
• Starlight Children’s Foundation (http://www.starlight.org.au)
• Camp Quality (www.campquality.org.au)

PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE

• Mugs
• Lotions/hand cream
• Soaps
• Candles
• Chocolates (boxes)
• Teacher appreciation gifts (they get so many of these!)
• Homemade food items (please be conscious that some teachers prefer not to consume homemade foodstuffs, particularly if made by the children)

There you go! A heaps of teacher approved gift ideas and tips!

More

Even more Teacher Gift Ideas

Handmade Christmas Tree Decorations