My sister Paige is a school teacher. She says teachers at her school love to receive gift cards and particularly enjoy the following:

• Specialty beverage shops

• Target, Wal-Mart, Staples and other places to buy school supplies

• Book and music stores

• Salons or spas for a little pampering

Though something as simple as a best-effort handwritten note from your child is all that is really needed to personalize a gift to the teacher, here are a few other ways to gift card the educators who help raise your kids:

(Are you in charge of a group teacher gift? Click here to see an idea on my Blog.)

• Apple for the Teacher. A play on this old tradition, pair a gift card to any apple-themed product like apple strudel, apple pie, applesauce, or apple butter. I found an educational toy in the shape of an apple to gift card my son’s teacher this Christmas.
• Extreme Thanks. My daughter’s teacher has gone to the extremes to help her out this year. I want her to know how much I appreciate it. I’m thinking I’ll pair a gift card with Xtreme Sours candy (she’s a young teacher, she’ll appreciate it!) and write, “Thanks for going to the Xtreme!”
• Lifesaver. Same theory, different candy. Tell your teacher or the support staff they’ve been a big help this year by tying any gift card to Lifesaver candy and writing, “Thanks for being such a life saver this year!”


Thanks for going to Extremes.

• Helping Hand. Attach a gift card to an inexpensive oven mitt, a pair of mittens, or a bottle of hand sanitizer. Tell your teacher you appreciate the helping hand she gives your children. Or say, “I know my kid can be a handful–thanks for being his teacher.”  This is also a good gift for support staff who probably do more than we realize.
• Thyme. Attach a gift card for books, entertainment or the movies to a bottle of thyme or a fresh thyme plant. Express appreciation for the “thyme” spent with your children or suggest the teacher enjoy his or her free “thyme” over holiday break or summer vacation.
• Smart Start.  With a bag of Smarties, Smart Water, Smart food or any of the other food products labeled “Smart” these days, attach a gift card and write, “Thanks for giving my kids a Smart Start on life.” Or, “Thanks for educating my child” or “Thanks for putting up with my Smarty Pants!”


Hand sanitizer and a gift card

• Apron. My friend Tanya forwarded this idea from the room mom at her school.  She’s putting together an apron with handprints from the kids. Pinned to the apron will be recipes sent in from the kids and gift cards to some of the teacher’s favorite restaurants. I like this idea for mom and grandma as well.

Check the For Him or For Her sections to get non-teacher specific ideas you can adapt for your teacher’s hobbies and interests.

If you have an idea of your own, please share it with me.