Are you hot for teacher? Wait, that sets a rather adult tone for this PG-rated post about end-of-the-year teacher gifts. Sorry about that. I also apologize if you have that song stuck in your head and start humming it a school pick up today. Awkward parent-teacher meeting in the maaaaaakinnnnnnng...
You may be thinking, there are already 4,000 posts about the best teacher gifts, so why should I read this one? Well, because if you're a slacker like me and you've yet to hit the mall in search of a gift, this post might save your "but I'm busy and haven't had TIME!!!" butt.
I have FOUR LAST-MINUTE TEACHER GIFT suggestions that appear NOT to have just been picked up on your way through the Starbuck's Drive-Thru on the last day of school...
* FYI — It's all in the presentation. The WORDING of the card (handmade by your child...even better) is the key
1. Field Trip Survival Backpack
Teachers LOVE field trips. Haha. Kidding. No they don't. Bus rides + Responsibility = 6 hour migraine. However, teachers are troupers and take one for the team in the name of education. So why not make it more pleasant by giving the teacher you love a backpack to take along? Find a smallish pack — pretty for female teachers and dude-neutral for the males.
Fill it with supplies like: Kleenex, small pack of wipes, Bandaids, water bottle, notepad and pen, lip balm,Tylenol, mints and a nut free energy bar. (You can find all of these things, minus the backpack, at the drugstore).
Attach a card that says something like, "Field trips are not for the faint of heart. Hopefully this Field Trip Survival Backpack will help. Thanks for showing my child the world."
Thoughtful and useful. I wish somebody had given me one. I had to make my own...
2. Classroom Supplies
Classroom cutbacks......sigh. Teachers often spend their own money to stock up on essentials so your help is always appreciated. Ikea and Target have all kinds of cute bins to use as your present "holder."
Stock small bin with items such as: Mabel's Labels Write Aways (so teachers can make custom labels for their stuff...you can pick these up at Wal-Mart), a Scholar's Choice or Staples gift card, blank paper (teachers go through a lot! You can pick up paper packs at the Dollar Store), rolls of stickers (Costco sometimes has them), blank note cards, glue sticks, post it notes, etc.
Include a card that says something like: "You give so much, now we'd like to give back. Thank you for making my child's classroom so warm, inviting, and exciting! Here are a few things to hopefully make your classroom even more comfortable for you and your (lucky!) students next year. Have a great summer!"
3. Lunch
Teachers work up an appetite so feed them. Buy a cute reusable lunch bag. You can find these everywhere!
In the bag stow: a pretty cloth napkin, a set of fun cutlery (Winners/Homesense is a good place to look), a water bottle and a gift card to a local restaurant located near the school.
On the card say something like: "You feed my child's imagination, now we'd like to feed you! Please enjoy a lunch on us. Thanks for everything you do."
4: TGIFs (Thank God It's Finally summer) Gift Pack
My son has an (awesome!!) male teacher. What am I getting him? Beer. I'm not talkin' a six-pack of ordinary ale either. Only the good stuff will do.
Packaging it is up to you. In a box or if you can find an oval aluminum tub (Ikea, garden store, hardware store...), fill with a dozen or so premium brands — mix and match to make a sampler. Include a beer stein and a bottle opener.
On the card say something like: "It's Miller time! Thank you so much for making my child's year such fun. He's learned so much from you. Enjoy your summer. Cheers!"
Why qualifies me to write this post? 1) I'm too busy to get my sh*t together and have left everything to the last minute yet again 2) I was a teacher for over a decade and I can tell you that teachers love and appreciate a thoughtful gift. And a pat on the back. And booze.
Related: More teacher gift ideas
Image Cred: Backpacks, labels, lunch bag, beer
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