As Summer is drawing nearer and nearer, the school year is coming to a close.  Today, we have a guest post from Lauren, a 4th grade teacher, who is here to give you helpful tips and advice on how to show your appreciation for your children’s teachers.

This time of year, for me, is bittersweet. I am a fourth grade teacher who soon will say goodbye to twenty-two eager, hardworking nine and ten year olds, who have been the focus of my daily life for the past ten months. This is hard to do, but with it comes the prospect of a beautiful summer to relax and recharge, as well as to prepare myself for the new group of students who will be at my classroom door two months from now.

I feel so fortunate that many of my students’ parents choose to present me with gifts at this time of year. It is certainly not expected, but the message it sends is that the work I have done with their children has been recognized and valued, and such an idea is much appreciated by a teacher. I might be able to assist you in choosing an appropriate gift that will be useful and enjoyed by your child’s teacher.

Things that are needed on a day to day basis in the classroom are great gifts. New sets of markers, pretty papers, a clipboard, nice pens, colorful folders, etc. are a nice change from the basic variety of materials that most school districts supply. These can be wrapped together in cellophane and tied with ribbon to make a nicer appearance.  [Click here to shop at Office Max and earn 3 Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

Teachers often have too little time on a lunch period to go out to get lunch, and that gets a bit pricey, so most bring their own lunch each day. A nice insulated lunch bag is a highly useful gift. I received one, a beautiful quilted one that is vinyl-lined on the inside, four years ago from a student, and I still take it with me every day. [Click here to shop at Target and earn 3 Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

Another great gift I received was a beach towel and a beach bag. Either one of those would have been wonderful on its own, and who doesn’t love getting anything “beachy” as the prospect of summer looms near? [Click here to shop at Walmart and earn 2 Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

 

One thing teachers can never get enough of is note cards; we are constantly responding to notes parents send in, or sending home information to parents. Personalized note cards are very special, but any note card is sure to be used and appreciated by teachers. [Click here to shop at FineStationary.com and earn 7 Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

 

Teachers read aloud often, and it is nice to have a supply of bookmarks at the ready. I was given a lovely one years ago by a student with a picture of Monet’s garden on it, and I use it to this day. These are inexpensive to buy, or they can be made by the students themselves. It’s a nice reminder of the student who gave it each time it is picked up to use. [Click here to shop at Bookworm.com and earn 1 Swag Buck for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

Another useful gift I received that was made by a student is a tissue box holder. It holds a cube-like tissue box and is a much more attractive way to keep tissues on my desk.  [Click here to shop at Kmart and earn 3 Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend.]

 

 

 

 

An easy option, of course, is a gift card. Because many of the gift cards are to be used at commonly-known places, even a very small denomination is fine because it is often one of a few that are received and can be combined. So any amount is a good amount. [Click here to view all of our available Gift Cards.]

 

Of course, there are some gifts that are less appreciated. They include anything too personal, such as a clothing item, because you may not really know the teacher’s taste in such things. Avoid things that are too specific to your particular class, such as a tee-shirt with students’ names on them. Keep in mind, there was a class before this one for the teacher, and there is another on its way. Items that say “#1 teacher” are way too numerous and not the best way to let a teacher know that is how you feel, so try to resist those.

 

 

 

The best way to let a teacher know how you feel is with a note. This is the best gift of all. Letters from a parent, and from the student, go a long way in letting teachers know that their efforts were worthwhile. I have cherished all of the positive letters I have received.

Enjoy Summer vacation!

Are you planning on getting your children’s teacher a gift this year?  What did you pick out?