Teacher Appreciation

Our daycare gave us suggestions for the week (and it makes things so much easier). A lot of them wanted gift cards, favorite treats, I often bring individually wrapped things like cookies, muffins, chips. If possible even a card is likely to be appreciated. I teach high school and I couldn’t handle their jobs at all. They are teachers without a doubt

As a teacher I love gift cards (target, Walmart, Starbucks, Dunkin, whatever), thoughtful thank you notes are always great

I am a new mom and a teacher. The answer is: money. A nice card with a thoughtful message is a nice supplement. But really, money. $20 cash, $50 cash if you have the means. We are wildly underpaid!

I worked in daycare for years, a card and a chocolate bar or hand cream or a gift card means the world! We’re so overworked and underpaid, it’s nice to be appreciated!

We’ve ordered in lunch for daycare before and that seemed to go over well. We didn’t know how many / which aides were in our kids rooms and this way we could give everyone something

Our school has themed days 1. Bring a flower (real,fake, or hand drawn), 2. Card (gift card) 3. Supply item for class room (teachers have wishlists) 4. Favorite snack or drink 5. Handwritten note

Teacher's aide here. We get a survey at the beginning of the year asking things like our favorite places to eat or shop are, or if we collect things, favorite snacks and drinks, and they even ask if we need something for our classroom. These lists are then posted to the school's Facebook page and parents can get ideas.

Personally I like getting hand soap because it's something I tend to forget to buy and it's always nice to have an extra in the closet.

I taught for 9 years at a title 1, inner city school, 98% below poverty level, the area is also considered a food desert. With that being said, we never expected anything from our kiddos but one year the art teacher had the students work in groups and each group created a book cover for their favorite teacher. Then the writing teacher had the students write letters to their favorite teachers. And we were gifted the book at the end of the week…it was the best gift ever. And I still have it!

I am a parent, I don't really do teacher appreciation week (sorry teachers). I DO, however, give Christmas gifts, end of school year gifts, and at the beginning of the school year when we get a "communal for the class" list of needs I offer the teacher to just tell me what they haven't gotten after the first week and I buy everything left on the list, then at Christmas I reach out to the teacher to see what they need re-stocking on (typically it's printer paper and board markers). If nothing is needed I reach out to the principal and ask if there are basics needs for the school (like pencils, 3x5 note cards, printer paper, markers / erasers)

For Christmas I usually get like a mug or a small basket, fill it with hot chocolate varieties, a $10 gift card to closet coffee shop, some tea bag varieties, chocolates, and some other fun things I find (last year was a honey stir stick for the tea).

For end of year I get a tumbler of some sort, fill it with lemonade packets, sunglasses, a $10 gift card to local coffee shop, some bath bombs or cool soaps. This years end of year gift is based around a neat looking soap dispenser I found at Costco. They will get the drink mixes, coffee, and something that I find last minute because I have been swamped.

I did do my pre-schooler teachers this year. There are 3 of them. They don't get the $10 coffee card. Sorry pre-school teachers. I also suck up the principal and get her the same teacher gift each year --- I am NEVER asked to help with class trip chaperones or other random school events in return (I like to think that's why at least!!). And I often don't get charged the "you were 5 mins late to pick up the kids" fee either. Maybe that do that for everyone, but I like to think my gifts are the reason!!!