5 Inexpensive Teacher Gift Ideas (and a Giveaway)

It’s that time of year again. Just a few weeks (or even days) left of school. As everything is wrapping up, parents are also scrambling for teacher gift ideas,  to express their appreciation to their child’s teacher for all they have done for them this year.  But what to give? How much should we spend? A quick Google search showed an answer of between $10 and $25 being pretty standard. But that can really add up quickly! Especially if you have several children, and your child has multiple teachers!

I grew up in a family of teachers, and have been a teacher for the last 10 years or so, and have seen everything from the extravagant $50 gift cards, bottles of liquor, to the tacky teacher gifts (anything with apples and the word teacher on it), to the simplest homemade gifts and cards.  And you know what? Those extravagant gifts make a teacher feel very uncomfortable, especially when other families can’t afford much of anything! Most teachers don’t even want much of a gift, but can’t find a tactful way to convey that to the parents.

So here are a few suggestions that I’ve come across in the years that most teachers seem to like, and don’t really break the bank.

1. Express your appreciation.

It’s as simple as that. A thank-you note from your child, and include a note from yourself, detailing how the teacher has helped your child over the year. It would be a great addition to a teacher’s portfolio (and there are so many teachers out there still trying to find jobs).  Also you can send the teacher a similar email, cc-ing the principal & vice principal, so they can also hear what’s going on.

2. Homemade

We love giving this Five Minute Fudge

A simple gift or craft from your child is great, and would go along well with the thank-you note above.  Baked goods are great as well, but consider attaching a copy of the recipe, in case of allergies.

3. Donate

Make a donation to a local children’s charity in their teacher’s honour.  Or purchase some fun books and supplies to donate to the classroom.

4. Be Creative

A few of my favourite end-of-the-year gifts were creative summer-y gifts. A little basket with ice cream toppings and two cute ice cream bowls. Or a beach-y tote bag with an insulated cup, a magazine, and some munchies. In this case,  the dollar store is great for making a little gift basket. (In terms of dollar store items, make a judgement call – if it’s an item you would use in your own house, go ahead. If it’s a figurine of a moose, or plastic flowers, or again anything with apples and “teacher” on it, skip it!).

Have a look at some fun Pinterest ideas here!
Follow Marya R’s board Creative Teacher Gift Ideas on Pinterest.

5. If all else fails, gift cards always work

Gift cards are always great to give and get, but you don’t have to spend a fortune. $5-10 at Dairy Queen is always nice.  Dairy Queen and Cineplex are fun summer-y ones – but you could also do Starbucks or something. You can tuck one into the handwritten card or note.

 Don’t Forget:

There are so many people involved in your child’s education, and they all deserve a bit of appreciation. A card, a note, or  a small gift card are great options too. You don’t have to do something for everyone but consider a few of them, especially if your child has had a special connection with one of them

• Music teacher, French teacher, Gym teacher, etc.
• An EA or helper in the class
• Principal
• Janitor
• Crossing Guard
• Bus Driver (stay tuned for our guest post next week from a former bus driver)

We thought this post would be a perfect chance to share some love in a giveaway. We picked up a Cineplex Night Out for 2 (2 movie passes, 2 drinks, 1 popcorn, $25 val), and then contacted Dairy Queen to see if they might want to share a little love with those hard-working teachers  – and guess what? They gave a huge, resounding, yes! They want to help you thank the teachers by giving you 5 $10 DQ gift cards! Dairy Queen is the perfect stop on a warm summer evening – and trust me, teachers appreciate it every bit as much as our students do! Let’s give 3 cheers for hard working teachers, DQ, S’mores Blizzards, Peanut Buster Parfaits, & Dilly Bars!

So sign up below! Give some away, keep some – we won’t tell! 🙂 
Open to Canadian residents only. Must be 18 years or older to win. Winner must respond within 12 hours of receiving notification via email or we will draw another winner. Prize will be shipped express post. Good luck! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Marya R

I live in Bowmanville, and am a mom to four young boys - it can get a little loud in my house. I am a Christian, a part-time French teacher, a piano teacher and former homeschooler. I love finding the best deals, which will come in handy when our boys become hungry teenagers! We just moved to a house with more outdoor space, and I'm still getting used to life in the country (a walk around the block is a lot longer here!).

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