No things. I do not have room for your statue or coffee mug or artwork or lotion. But I feel like I can't throw it away.
Gift cards and a nice note of what specifically your child liked or learned from me (and a picture of them--I suck at names and learning 300 a year...)

Letters from parents with heartfelt messages of their appreciation are the best gift. These really are a morale booster for me. I teach Pre-Kindergarten, and I love handwritten notes from my kids because it shows me how much progress the children have made (with my help) in their writing skills over the year. I also have a soft spot for flowers. Gift cards are great as well, and help me buy school supplies I otherwise wouldn't have (like Model Magic, butterfly nets and larvae, etc... materials that are considered "extra" and unnecessary, but that really enhance the curriculum).

A cute piece of artwork along with a gift card.

Gift cards (which is really acknowledgement that teachers spend a lot on their classrooms).

The best material gift I ever got was a series of tasteful stained glass ornaments that my student had done (middle school and her mom was a stained glass artist), but I don't expect anything like that ever again.

Anonymous wrote:

The best gift is always a meaningful letter telling me what I have done well. Bonus points if you cc my principal. Otherwise, I love classroom supplies or gift cards to places I can use to purchase items for my classroom.



This. Also like the idea to get a note from the student personally.

Yes, and to the English teacher who likes the geeky mugs--that's great, but most of us have enough mugs. Please no more with "best teacher" type things!

Understood, but, but...I was given a mug that says "Shakespeare hates your Emo poems", and also one that says "What Would Jane Do?" I love things like that! (The kids love them, too, actually: the Shakespeare mug is a thing of legend in our school now).

A meaningful letter. I don't care about gifts, but I treasure the letters. When I receive gift cards I use them to purchase items for my classroom, so gift cards to places that sell school items are always appreciated (I teach ES).

Generous gift cards

The best gift is always a meaningful letter telling me what I have done well. Bonus points if you cc my principal. Otherwise, I love classroom supplies or gift cards to places I can use to purchase items for my classroom.



This. Also like the idea to get a note from the student personally.

Yes, and to the English teacher who likes the geeky mugs--that's great, but most of us have enough mugs. Please no more with "best teacher" type things!

[Up]

Anonymous

The best gift is always a meaningful letter telling me what I have done well. Bonus points if you cc my principal. Otherwise, I love classroom supplies or gift cards to places I can use to purchase items for my classroom.

This. Also like the idea to get a note from the student personally.

Also, when a parent takes the time to write a meaningful note. It is really nice to know that the parents do appreciate what you have done for their child.

Besides amazon gift cards the best gift I ever got was an enormous tote bag from Lands End with my name on it. So helpful with trips on the boat.

English teacher here... I love Amazon gift cards and coffee mugs with geeky literary references.

The best gift is always a meaningful letter telling me what I have done well. Bonus points if you cc my principal. Otherwise, I love classroom supplies or gift cards to places I can use to purchase items for my classroom.

I'm not a teacher- but they're people. They'd love something they'd use. Did your room mom send out hints at Christmas with stores and things they like? Start there. We know our teacher likes to take her boys out for I've cream so we're getting her a gc for ice cream.

As the end of the year fast approaches, I'd love to hear from teachers what gifts they've really enjoyed and loved.