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Great gifts for teachers

No more "I HEART Teacher" mugs! And don't even think about anything apple...

By Haley Overland

Great gifts for teachers

Great gifts for teachers

Thank-you notes and letter

“The best end-of-the year gift that I ever got was a letter from a parent who wrote me a lengthy note thanking me for everything that I had done to help her son throughout the school year. I get it out and read it every time that I have a bad day to remind me why I love teaching, and I also have a copy of it in my portfolio so that it is something that I could use in future interviews.”—Sandra I via Facebook

Many teachers don’t feel comfortable receiving gifts. But they love good, old-fashioned thank-you notes and letters. If you want to add an extra touch use these Grow A Flower thank-you cards ($18 for a pack of five) with seeds embedded in the paper, which once planted will sprout into wildflowers.

Great gifts for teachers

Baked goodies

“My Mom taught in a less-affluent neighbourhood. Her favourite gift was always home-baked goods, because she could share it!”—@bothathome via Twitter

Teachers suggested including a recipe card with the baked goodies, which you can have your child decorate.

Great gifts for teachers

Gracious greens

“My favorite gift is a potted plant; something that I can use in different places.”—@amandarmesser via Twitter

Many teachers said they loved getting greens for their homes or future classrooms. Have your child decorate a plant stick with his or her name to personalize it.

Great gifts for teachers

Classroom materials

“DH loves getting things he can use in class like games, educational toys or other materials.”—@slhamelin via Twitter

Many teachers love gifts they can share with future classes. Mabel’s Labels’ Classroom Pack labels ($12) help teachers keep track of their goods and add a thoughtful touch to classroom-oriented gifts. As Mabel’s Labels’ co-founder Julie Cole reminds us, you “don’t want all your classroom supplies walking away do you?”

Great gifts for teachers

Break out the piggy bank

“Anything that was picked out by the student, not the parents. My favourite was a $1 rubber stamp a student bought with his allowance so I could use it with my next year’s class.”—Gail S-W via Facebook

Great gifts for teachers

Homemade gifts

“A little girl in my primary classroom came to me with a piece of paper folded up. When I opened it, it was a sketch that her mom had done for me (with her help of course), a landscape. They didn’t have much. It is in a frame hung in my entrance way of my home. So I guess, it is the homemade cards and things I love the most.”—Marlene A-B via Facebook

"My kids love to make them things and, as a teacher, I treasured them and still have them. Suncatchers, bookmarks, flowerpots with a flower or herbs in it decorated with beads and painted."—Holly Schwieger via Facebook

Great gifts for teachers

Donations

“At our school teachers do not take gifts. If parents really feel like giving the school has a fund you can donate to. A simple home made thank-you card telling the teacher of the donation is a great way to honour teachers.”—Kelly S. R. via Facebook

You can also let the teacher select the charity of her choice by giving her a gift card to the wonderful organization Canadahelps.org.

Great gifts for teachers

Special interests

“I received a small piece of hand-thrown pottery. I was taking classes that year and the student knew how much I enjoyed it.”—@maman_2_4 via Twitter

Great gifts for teachers

Wine

"If they don't drink it they can re-gift it."—Samantha Edwards via Facebook

Great gifts for teachers

Gift certificates

This was the by far the most popular teacher gift. You really can’t go wrong with a gift card or certificate. Some of the teachers’ favourite gift cards include Chapters, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, restaurants, malls, spas and movies.

Great gifts for teachers
This article was originally published on Jun 01, 2008

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