Holiday Gifts For A Teacher

Over the years, I have received some thoughtful, inspirational, useful and wonderful holiday gifts from students. I have also received more Christmas themed coffee mugs than I knew what to do with, and most of them ended up at Goodwill. Make sure to read the tips at the bottom!

1. Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Amazon Gift Cards

2. Thirty Three Lunch Box (customizable) 

3. Monogram Wrap Bracelets

4. Tile Tracker 

5. Hand Sanitizer 

6. Candy & Popcorn Caddy 

7. Bluetooth Speaker

8. Anthropologie Candle 

9. Fuzzy Winter Socks  

Tips for the perfect gift...

1. We not do expect gifts. We would take words of appreciation, and support at home, over gifts, in a heartbeat! 
2. Ask your child's teacher what some of their favorite hobbies and/or restaurants are. Gift cards never fail to please. My teaching partner and I used to trade Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts gift cards because she liked one and I liked the other. 
3. Have your child sign their own name. Even if their penmanship is awful, it means more to us if they sign instead of you. 
4. Don't feel obligated to spend your grocery money on us; we greatly appreciate handmade cards.
5. If you're going to bake, please check ahead to make sure the teacher does not have any food allergies. 
6. Brainstorm with other parents in the class; group gifts are just as great as individual ones, especially if you're short on funds.
7. Help your child pick a thoughtful gift - Don't let your child go into the "junk drawer" at home for a gift - we can tell when the nail polish has been used and really, it's just insulting to us. 
8. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give us, is your time. I never had a para or teaching aid and was always relieved when parents offered to take things home to finish them (cutting out laminated pieces, organizing projects, etc.) 
9. Avoid things that are Christmas themed; Santa Claus mugs, Christmas tree ornaments, hand towels with Rudolph
10. Please also keep in mind, that not everyone celebrates Christmas, myself included. Teaching in the south, I was a rare breed, and proud of it. It gave me the opportunity to teach my students about Judaism, and let me tell you, they were mesmerized! *One year, a child gave me gelt and a beautiful hand written card; I was almost in tears.

I hope everyone has a fun and easy time finding the perfect gift, or making a special card for a teacher this holiday season!

xoxo
-E