I am currently wrapping up my eighth year as a history teacher, and I am frequently asked by friends for suggestions for gifts to say thank you to the special teachers in their child’s life. While gifts are by no means expected, the gesture means a lot to educators. Here’s a quick guide for gift ideas for end of the year:
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A heart-felt note
As my husband can attest, I have boxes and boxes filled with letters, cards, poems, and hand drawn pictures from my former students and parents. Students have even created political cartoons for me, and one year, two students, who knew I loved theater, wrote me a musical. Teaching can be filled with challenging days, and when I’m feeling overwhelmed by the job, I read through some of those notes, which serve as a huge reminder to why I do what I do. I am so grateful to have these mementos. If you have an older child, encourage them to write something specific they appreciate about their teacher. For younger children, feel free to write your specific thanks, and have your child decorate the card. Their teacher will treasure it for their whole career and beyond, as there is no greater gift than knowing we have touched the life of a child.
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The gift card
Most any teacher will agree: when in doubt, give a gift card. There are many teachers who have to pay for their own classroom supplies, and teachers are constantly finding ways to keep up with their discipline and pedagogy through books and other online materials. A gift card to amazon.com, Target, or a local bookstore such as Wellesley Books goes a long way to support a teacher.
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Coffee
It’s safe to say that 90 percent of teachers drink copious amounts of coffee. It’s the running gag of movies, cartoons, students, and teachers themselves. A bag of coffee (or tea, if you know it’s a teacher’s preferred beverage), or a gift card to Starbucks will brighten a teacher’s day like a kid in a candy store. Don’t worry about spending your money on the ubiquitous teacher’s mug; we have those and are grateful to receive a delicious beverage to put in it instead.
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A CSA/Farmers Market Treat
When I polled my coworkers to write this article by asking them, “tell me what you REALLY want from parents,” a few mentioned a box of local vegetables or goodies from the farmers market was a gift they greatly appreciated from parents. The teachers I know love to support small businesses by buying local, and it’s a thoughtful, creative, and meaningful way to say, “thank you.”
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Notecards
Over the years, I’ve received a variety of notecard sets from students. Some have been created by local artists, others have been a mixed collection for “any occasion,” others have been personalized stationary. Teachers love to put pen to paper, and having these notecards has come in handy on several occasions.
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Museum Passes
Teachers are lifelong learners, and we love museums. Boston is full of great choices for intellectual learning. From the Museum of Science for science teachers, to the JFK Presidential Library for history teachers, to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for any teacher to enjoy, there are plenty of opportunities to give the teachers the chance to wander through the halls of a beloved museum. I have also incorporated a lot of information I’ve learned at museums into my classroom, so it’s a great way to support teachers in their professional development.
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A mini spa treatment
Teaching is a stressful job; a gift card for a manicure at a local nail salon is a nice way to end a busy year with a little bit of pampering.
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Movie passes
Along the lines of a gift card, many teachers I know have appreciated the opportunity to have a date night or an evening out to see a movie. Like most teachers, I spend most of my evenings lesson planning or grading papers, so it’s a welcomed chance to take some time to myself with someone I care about. And, I can often find a movie, like Selma, that can have a direct application to my curriculum!
Whatever you decide to do for a teacher, know that your thoughtfulness and care as a parent goes a long way.
Most importantly, when I know that a parent is my ally, as I make the best decisions I can to help their child, it is perhaps the best gift I can receive.
