It’s hard to believe the school year will soon be coming to a close with about one month to go. Teachers work so hard; it’s nice to give them a little something before we part ways for the summer! I usually like to contribute to the classroom gift card pool for my daughters’ teachers, but it’s always fun to give something personalized as well. There are lots of cute ideas out there on Pinterest including your fair share of candy bars, sodas, powdered drink mixes, and more. While many are creative and thoughtful, there is a way to get in on the fun while still (somewhat) honoring our real food values.
So today I present to you…
Five Unique Teacher Gift Ideas!
- SALAD GIFT SET: Salad Bowl, Servers & Salad Dressing Bottle with recipes.
– - MADELEINE GIFT SET: Pan + Homemade Whole-Wheat Cakes.
– - HOMEGROWN HERBS: Parsley, basil, mint, thyme and/or rosemary in a cute pot.
– - HOMEMADE S’MORES KIT: Homemade marshmallows, whole-wheat graham crackers, & dark chocolate.
– - MOVIE GIFT SET: Homemade cinnamon glazed popcorn + Movie Passes
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Speaking of honoring your values by sticking to real food, Plan to Eat can help you do just that. Their online program makes healthy home-cooked meals easy by simplifying your meal planning and automating your grocery list. It’s nearly impossible to avoid processed food if you don’t plan ahead …so meal planning is key! Simply plug-in your favorite recipes (from blogs or books), select what you want to make for the week, and they’ll not only keep track but automatically generate your shopping list for you in seconds. This sponsor of ours has a free 30-day trial so you can try it out. PS – This service would make a great teacher gift as well!
Simple Corn Salad Recipe
Michelle
May 3, 2016 at 10:29 pmI am a former teacher turned administrator and I love all your gift ideas, especially #1 and #3! I also want to add that a sincere, handwritten thank you note from a child or parent is also a lovely gift. :)
MrsBWilcox
May 9, 2016 at 6:01 pmSo true! My hubby is a kinder teacher, and he has framed the handwritten notes from students for years… it’s his FAVORITE gift. ;)
Mrs Howes
May 10, 2016 at 2:30 pmMy youngest loves drawing and writing notes for all her teachers but I can’t get my oldest to do anything to save my life lol. Nice to know the teachers do appreciate it
Monica
April 20, 2017 at 1:32 pmJust to piggy-back off of this…if you are truly impressed with a teacher the best gift is to write a letter to the superintendent and cc the principal. This will go in the teacher’s permanent file. I received a few of these over the years and I treasure them and am grateful for the time parents spent writing them (they don’t have to be long–just heartfelt!)
Michele
May 4, 2016 at 7:09 pmI, too, am a teacher turned administrator, and I just wanted to thank you for thinking of us. It is an extremely difficult profession these days….
Wanda Hayward
May 8, 2016 at 12:38 pmAnother nice gift for a teacher might be a gift card to a teacher store to buy some supplies or books for the classroom.
Anne
May 9, 2016 at 9:22 pmI’m a teacher as well, and I’d love to encourage folks away from giving sweets as gifts. I know it can seem lovely, but getting so many is overwhelming. I am a big fan of gift idea #3 and #5 (swapping herbs for the sweet coating on the popcorn). How about a homemade spice mix or a couple of your child’s favorite recipes handwritten on index cards? Perhaps a nifty lunch container? (I know you have some favorites…) Some fancy tea or coffee? There are plenty of food-themed gifts that are delicious, inexpensive, and stay away from sugar all together.
Candi
May 12, 2016 at 8:29 amAwwww!
How sweet!
I usually give the teachers a HUGE hanging flower basket. I pick the biggest and the best. I know how much I enjoy a gorgeous flower arrangement on my back porch.
The right baskets (in most areas) with the right care can live and be enjoyed until the first frost. Every teacher I’ve handed an enormous trailing assortment to has loved them.
So fun!
Greatschen
May 20, 2016 at 4:01 amWOW, really great ideas! do you have something for physics teacher? He’s going to retirement after 25 year in one school. We found some shop, kingdom of universe, and there is opssibility to buy a star.. He’s in love with astronomy, so we’re thinking to buy that star, telescope and name that star with his funny nickname from our school… Do you have some additional, maybe DIY ideas?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
May 20, 2016 at 4:46 pmLove the star idea. I have a couple boys who love science. We love this site for cheeky gifts: http://www.geekwrapped.com/.
Sarah
May 23, 2016 at 2:39 pmThanks for these great ideas! Need to come up with something good for my kids teachers!
Brian
June 22, 2017 at 1:10 pmGreat list of suggestions. Good teachers deserve the recognition.
Stephanie T.
November 1, 2017 at 1:57 pmI taught for a long time. Frankly gift cards are the best. Maybe to the local garden center if the teacher gardens or Target or an Amazon gift card, etc. I was given very thoughtfully made gifts that show time and love, but I never used them. All these years later I’m putting them into the Goodwill pile feeling guilty. I agree with no sweets. Really no food. No mugs either. Thoughtful cards are great.
Anita
June 19, 2018 at 5:21 amI am very appreciated with this Article. As I am also teacher and I just wanted to thank you for thinking of us because people mostly don’t like teacher… Nowdays,people hate teachers if we try to correct them, It is an extremely difficult profession these days….
Janis
July 29, 2018 at 1:38 amThis is such an AWESOME list of gift-giving ideas!The presentation is amazing too!! I thoroughly enjoy the variety and the thought of each gift idea. I am sure this list will be very handy for Teachers Gifting! Thank you!!