Hi, friends! I am going to be sharing a few fun items that we are gifting their teachers on the first day. Teachers are heroes in my opinion. I like to work with them as partners, and support them with whatever resources my energy level and budget allow (supplies, treats, volunteering, etc.). A super popular idea is adding a gift card or gift certificate to their favorite restaurant to a stack of paper plates and napkins. My school supply collections with My Mind’s Eye are the perfect extra touch. Who wouldn’t want a night off from dinner and dishes? Snag a cute printable to add to to the mix from my friend over at Grace Collective Shop. For more ideas, feel free to check out some previous year’s school baskets in THIS post.
I did a huge teacher poll on Instagram, and out of hundreds of responses the #1 favorite gift teachers loved was gift cards. Personalized gifts, handwritten notes and artwork were next on the list (although gift cards still dominated BY FAR). Things teachers said time and time again that they didn’t enjoy receiving: MUGS(this was the most popular answer, by far), candles, perfume/cosmetics, and handmade baked goods.
I want to preface this post by saying THESE GIFTS ARE EXTRAS. If you don’t have the energy and/or the budget for teacher gifts, you’re still a fantastic parent, and your kiddo will rock this school year. It is important that this is more about sentiment than it is about spending. The basket is comprised a few affordable ideas, that can be gifted together, or as inspo to pick and choose. Feel free to save this post as a resource for Teacher Appreciation Week as well. My hope is it will save you some time, as you look to treat your child’s educators.
Also, be sure to download our FREE Teacher Survey, to give to your child’s teacher. They fill out all of their favorite things. This made it a breeze when it came time for things like the Teacher Appreciation Week and the holidays. I am someone who cant stand to gift people things they dont/want need, so I love the idea of catering your intention around things teachers actually want.
1. Storage Clipboard
2. Plates
3. Napkins
4. Gift Cards
5. Printable Gift Card Holder
6. Place Mat
7. Ruler Ribbon
8. Table Runner
9. Treat Box
Free Teacher Gift Ideas:
I want to close out this post with mentioning again that teacher gifting (and really any gifting) is rooted in sentiment. I also know it has been a HARD year, and we don’t always have the space in our budget for these extras. Here are a few free things you can offer up to your child’s teacher this year:
- Offer to come read to the class. No visitors allowed? Record yourself reading and send it to your teacher to play for the classroom.
- Volunteer to create the monthly classroom newsletter
- Volunteer for anything. Be proactive and ask if you’re needed.
- Donate any extra items you may already have like snacks and pencils.
- Donate books your children have outgrown to the library.
- Join and participate in the PTA program.
- Ask the teacher if there are household items like paper towel rolls and oatmeal cans that you can collect throughout the year for crafts.
I hope this helps, friends! I will be sharing some up close video/stories of these items over on Instagram. You can find all of my back-to-school shares in my highlight there. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them below! I pray you have a beautiful school year ahead.
Want to make sure you don’t lose this free download for later? PIN IT!
