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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.

Teacher Gift Ideas

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:
  • 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

teacher gift ideas

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.

End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas - Stationery Pack

End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas - Stationery Pack

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

End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas - Stationery Packs

Or place all the times in a gift box.

End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas - Stationery Pack

A set of mini drawers is a fun ideas too!

End of year teacher gift ideas - drawers filled with stationery

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):

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

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6 Comments

  • Reply
    Rachel
    November 17, 2014 at 9:25 am

    Well done Kelly. Lotsa fab ideas for any budget. At GroupPrezzie many classes are collecting for their end of year teacher gift. So if your class is considering this please check us out at http://www.groupprezzie.com.au and please apply promo code fun14 for reduced fees.

    • Reply
      Deez Nutz
      June 26, 2015 at 10:32 am

      Deez nutz

    • Reply
      Michele
      October 22, 2015 at 12:39 pm

      I have used group prezzie since my 10 year old daughter started school. It is a win win. The teachers love getting a present from the whole class and as the organiser I haven’t had to chase parents around the playground for money. It couldn’t be easier. We all live such busy lives now (especially during the holiday season) group prezzies helps make life easier!

  • Reply
    tracy
    November 18, 2014 at 10:58 pm

    There is also IPhone app for that (What to get my boyfriend), its very nice. It asks you questions about relationship and his character and in the end it gives you suggestions, of course you can set the budget and also his birthday reminder. There is a bunch of pretty cool (also DIY) ideas.

  • Reply
    Look out Christmas…I’m running at ya! | Shauna 'Round the Corner
    December 2, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    […] ideas check out these links that I think are great.  One is for school/preschool teachers from Be a Fun Mum and the other is for kids – gifts that don’t lead to more toy clutter from Frugal Fun […]

  • Reply
    Tierney
    October 8, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    I’ve kept all the special cards and have them on my wall. 🙂 Teachers want to make a real difference.

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