Growing up, I always heard the quote “Those who can’t teach.”

Sitting in a major financial institution in my own private office with a window view confirmed that fact to me for about a decade.

But…

Then I had kids and became a stay-at-home mom to three girls.

That was about 30 years ago.

Now my girls are all grown up.

And my youngest daughter is a kindergarten teacher…not necessarily because she “could,” because she “could” have done anything that she set her mind to…

But because she felt that this was truly calling.

This morning I bought a rug for her kindergarten classroom.

She’s so excited.

But I find myself thinking about all of the teacher gifts that I have bought throughout the years…and which ones were appreciated, which ones not.

And coming up with a plan to give my favorite teacher motivation and appreciation for what she does every single day…

Even though teachers are perhaps the only people with three month vacations each year.

Thank God for summer.

But more importantly, thank God for teachers.

You want to actually put some thought and effort into the gifts that you give your children’s teachers.

It is important that you buy gifts that your teacher…or daughter …actually wants, not what she (or he) will simply politely accept and has to be “fake nice” to convince you that the gift is truly appreciated..

Hate to say it, but many of the teacher gifts that my daughter received during her first few years of teaching, before she left home, were simply left at my house and being donated to charity.

I have no reason for a dozen dozen cups that say something like “World’s Best Teacher” on them. I definitely did not receive that calling in my life…

You also want to avoid…

food gifts because of allergies and dietary preferences

scented/frangrant gifts because of allergies

trite apple-themed or “World’s Best Teacher” items.

very expensive gifts because many school districts place limits on gifts in order to prevent favoritism

Instead consider giving…

Gift Cards: Gift cards are perhaps the one most appreciated gift that you can give.

Why?

Because the teacher can choose to buy something for her class, her classroom and even herself.

The gift cards that teachers tend to appreciate the most are Amazon, Starbucks and Target.

Personalized or customized gifts (teacher’s name, initial, or a specific message)

Practical Gifts: Practical and useful gifts – organizaers – that will get used every day and provide ongoing reminders of your appreciation.

School Supplies: The average teacher spends about %750 of her own money each year out of her own pocket on classroom supplies…(trust me, I was the one funding these purchases for the first few years of my daughter’s teaching career.” So classroom supplies are always a welcome gift.

Self-Care Gifts: Gifts that help a teacher relax are much appreciated also. After all, if you add the amount of “off work” time that teacher spend grading papers and preparing lessons, you will realize that teachers work an average of 52 hours per week.

Sentimental gifts: These are those gifts that reflect the teacher’s personality, interests or lifestyle. For example, my daughter would be perfectly content if her students could simply keep money on her

Unexpected gestures throughout the year often can mean the most…as opposed to the somewhat-expected gifts at Christmas aand the end of the school year.

For this reason, I have come up with 36 teacher gift ideas – one for each week of six six-week six weeks…(however you say that)…

And six gifts in each of the following categories:

Personalized or Customized Gifts

Self Care

Student-Focused Supplies

Teacher-Focused Supplies

“Trite” Gifts

Coffee Gifts