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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The "Oh Crap, I Forgot" Teacher Appreciation Gift

YIKES!

I'm usually so prepared for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I know how much that meant to me back when I was a teacher. Because I love gifts. Even the smallest gesture meant a lot.


But, with Easter being so late and us being out of town, I got totally thrown off schedule.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, with TODAY being Teacher Appreciation Day.

Did you forget, too?

If you need an easy gift, I'll give you a few ideas.

Send the teacher a note or email, saying that you would like to bring her lunch on Friday: give her two or three different suggestions as to where you could bring lunch from and ask if she has any requests.  This works because it's a sweet gesture, but you have a few days to actually do it!  And really, bringing in a lunch that the teacher didn't have to make or buy from the cafeteria really is a gift!


Gift Cards!  The real beauty of these is that you can most likely send one to your child's teacher's email! Like you had it planned all along, but wanted her to get it on Teacher Appreciation Day. But, no need to even go to the store to buy one!


A thank you note goes a long way: your child's teacher spent a LOT of hours with your child this past year.  Whether they were your favorite or not, they still put a lot of time into helping your child.


Creatively disguise some candy from your child's Easter basket as a sweet treat for the teacher. Okay, maybe not: there are nasty kid germs on all my boys' candy. And if I gave it away, I couldn't eat it.


Lunch, a gift card, a thank you note: those are my suggestions for those of you who, like me, let Teacher Appreciation Day sneak up on you!

What are you doing for your child's teachers this year?

See the Movie Baskets I made for Teacher Appreciation Day last year, when I wasn't a slacker.

Labels:

59 Comments:

Blogger Oka said...

I am struggling with this one bog time this year. Not because I can't pick gifts. More because I have yet to build respect for a few of the teachers. I am sure I will come around before the end of the week (I always do).

May 3, 2011 at 7:13 AM  
Blogger Rebecca said...

I love the idea of buying the teacher lunch at the end of the week...Friday lunches out were always the best!

The gift card thing is awesome too...having it delivered to their email is such a good way to make her happy in the middle of the day...right when she's ready to kill someone! ;)

May 3, 2011 at 7:29 AM  
Blogger The Blonde Duck said...

I don't have teachers. :)

May 3, 2011 at 7:37 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It's TODAY?? I bought a really cute Kleenex box for her, but it broke! It is specifically for teachers. I honestly think I'm about to hot glue it. I don't think she'll be able to tell. I need to send it with my son today. Thanks for making me aware of this!!! I owe you one!!

May 3, 2011 at 7:44 AM  
Blogger Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I had no idea it was teacher appreciation week. My son only goes to preschool 2 mornings a week, so I'm kind of out of it. At least, that's my excuse. Maybe we'll try to pull something together to take in tomorrow. He has 6 teachers though (eek!)

May 3, 2011 at 7:50 AM  
Blogger Natalie said...

Ha love the ideas! Great way to buy some time to actually get the gift! :)

May 3, 2011 at 8:00 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh CRAP! I didn't have a clue! I was wondering why they invited all the Mothers in early for "Muffins with Mom". Just a clever ploy to get more loot!
I'm kidding, of coarse. I'm kidding but totally screwed! Thanks for the ideas, I have to pull something out of my butt ASAP!

PS I'm really glad I read your post today, or I would be the only mother standing there without a gift, just shoving muffins in my face!

May 3, 2011 at 8:03 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

I forgot too.
I think I am going to blow it off as my gift to myself. I am a teacher!
My fourth grader's class is supposed to each bring one flower to make up a bouquet. I don't think I could convince my older boys to bring anything for all their teachers.

May 3, 2011 at 8:17 AM  
Blogger Kmama said...

Yup. I totally forgot.

I might buy some flowers or something and bring it to school on Thursday, when I'm there for Buddy's Mother's Day performance. It's easier to do that than to try and send him with something on the bus.

I'll probably also just get some donuts for Buster's daycare teachers.

May 3, 2011 at 8:28 AM  
Blogger Evonne said...

I didn't realize today was teacher appreciation day. Oops! I might get some thank you cards when I go to the store this morning.

Someone from the PTA is doing little things for the teachers this week, but I forget what.

May 3, 2011 at 8:47 AM  
Blogger Elena Wollborg said...

Well, my kids aren't in school yet - but as a teacher - I love you for posting this! I will say, I truly, truly appreciate when parents do things for this week. It really does mean a lot. :)

May 3, 2011 at 9:08 AM  
Blogger Samantha said...

Bree isn't in school yet, but I'm sure I'll need this last minute gift list in the future :)

May 3, 2011 at 9:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I'll have Ryan send all his teachers a email since they live all over the state. I totally forgot that was today.

May 3, 2011 at 9:16 AM  
Anonymous Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I LOVED the gift card moms when I was teaching CCD. I HATED the moms who'd send their kid in with tacky tchotcke-y religious junk.

You know, because I was teaching the kids what was important.

Cold hard substitutes for cash.

May 3, 2011 at 9:17 AM  
Blogger Heather (One Take On Life) said...

Love the list, especially the lunch idea. I just went with a heart felt thank you note.
I will get her a gift in under a month for the end of school. I wonder from a teacher's perspective did you get gifts at the end of school? Ours always seem to.

May 3, 2011 at 9:20 AM  
Blogger The Random Blogette said...

Oh crap! I totally forgot. I will have to make Dave go pick something up! I a thinking $25 gift cards to Michaels. The teachers really seem to love those gift cards since they pay for a lot of supplies out of their own pocket.

May 3, 2011 at 9:23 AM  
Blogger Kir said...

I knew because it's all week at our daycare/day school..but they have so many teachers that I can't do something for each ofthem....so I am doing something for EVERYONE...the gift basket will hit their room later today!!!!

great post! I wish I would have thought of the lunch idea. Hmmph. :)

May 3, 2011 at 9:34 AM  
Blogger John said...

I've actually thought about stockpiling candy that my wife & I don't like for gifts like these.

I'd live in constant fear, as a teacher, of getting rid of the random crap you'd receive. I just know that I'd take some ceramic angel or something and use it for target practice or something . . . only to have the kid's little sibling come through a few years later & having her mom give me a second stupid piece of religious kitsch to "complete the set."

May 3, 2011 at 9:36 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Boy, I didn't get nice things from my students' parents back in the day when I was a teacher. Great suggestions!

I just stopped by from SITS to say hello. Hope you find time to do the same.

May 3, 2011 at 9:42 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I loved gift cards and having take out brought in for my lunch!

May 3, 2011 at 9:50 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Both my big kid's teachers are at a conference today, must have been a slacker mom who scheduled that!! Why do they have Teacher Appreciation Day so close to the end of school, that totally screws me up. AS if I needed an excuse.

May 3, 2011 at 9:57 AM  
Blogger Renegades said...

I am actually on top of it this year. On Monday I sent a coffee cup filled with candy and a photo holder and I've got bookmarks made to go on another day.

I appreciate teachers who make my children glad to go to school and learn.

May 3, 2011 at 10:00 AM  
Blogger Rebecca Dot Com said...

okay, i totally never got teachers gifts as kids... is this something new that has happened in the last couple of years. Wow, good to know for when my kiddos go to school - I can be prepared! thanks for sharing!!!!

May 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Babes Mami said...

you always have so many great teacher ideas!

May 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Heidi said...

Great ideas. I'll have to keep those in mind for when my kids are in school.

May 3, 2011 at 10:47 AM  
Blogger Alissa said...

Thanks for the ideas and the reminders. My son's last day of school is next Thursday and so I had thought about waiting until then to do something but maybe I should do a little something today and next week as well.

May 3, 2011 at 10:50 AM  
Blogger Lourie said...

Totally didn't even cross my mind! But I love your ideas. Simple, easy and reasonably priced. I think thank you notes are best for the Middle School and High School years as they have 6 different teachers. Or am I wrong?

May 3, 2011 at 10:52 AM  
Blogger Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

That is so sweet of you to always remember the teachers! Today, parents have brought in a bunch of food for breakfast and lunch at the school. Oh, temptation!

May 3, 2011 at 11:04 AM  
Blogger Cindi said...

When mine were younger (elementary) we got lucky. We had a parent volunteer (Mom) put together a "Teacher wish list" (direct wishes from the teacher) at the beginning of the year, then sent it home with the kids. It made shopping for such occasions (and holidays) so much easier.

May 3, 2011 at 11:14 AM  
Blogger Macey said...

Wow, the lunch one is a fabulous idea!!! Never would have thought of that!

May 3, 2011 at 11:27 AM  
Blogger Tammy said...

Our PTA is making our teachers a special lunch on Friday...which is so cool. I put together a springtime flower pot full of annuals. I took it into Brad's teacher yesterday. Then for Em's teacher a parent is bringing in a morning treat each morning. I am bringing in Banana bread on Friday.

May 3, 2011 at 11:34 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

I had no idea it was Teacher Appreciation day, but last night I was planning what I was going to do for the end of the year. I think I'm going to write her a really nice letter letting her know how much I appreciate her being my daughter's teacher this year for kindergarten. I have no idea what else to do.

May 3, 2011 at 12:22 PM  
Blogger Sonora said...

Its nice to have the perspective of a teacher on this. My oldest is in kindergarten this year and it is my first experience with things like this. I really did not know what to do for Teacher Appreciation Day. I missed it, but I think I will do something anyway. Better late than never!

May 3, 2011 at 12:28 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

The kids are going to make cards, and our PA always puts on luncheons and treat breaks during the week. But ours isn't for a few weeks yet.

May 3, 2011 at 12:35 PM  
Blogger Emmy said...

They have changed it into Teacher appreciation month at our school with a different suggested activity every Thursday to do-this week for the kid to write a poem to their teacher.

But yes, I do need to get some sort of gift too, thanks for the reminder.

May 3, 2011 at 1:43 PM  
Blogger Courtney K. said...

Thankfully my son isn't in school yet, so I don't have to fool with it. But I think the idea of bringing the teacher lunch or sending a gift card is MUCH better than all of those ridiculous store bought gifts that she'll most likely never even use. :)

May 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zach's school just did a GE gift card sale and I bought 3 $10 ones for teacher gifts - I was going to wait until the end of the year, but maybe I should give them this week instead!

May 3, 2011 at 2:25 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

As with last year the other moms have come up with a week long themed giving event... Yesterday Candy, today flowers, tomorrow hand written cards, thursday SPA them and Friday our teachers favorite things she loves Tea so it is tea theme

May 3, 2011 at 2:34 PM  
Blogger Veronica said...

Thankfully our teacher appreciation week is next week. We're planning it today.

We're doing a gift basket, plus having the kids do an 8.5x11 not, drawing plus picture to put on her door and in the classroom and then we'll make the pages into a book.

I'm giving non-toxic hand sanitizer towards the gift basket. Kids shouldn't be using purell and the other toxic stuff anyway and I know classrooms are huge on using sanitizer!

May 3, 2011 at 2:49 PM  
Blogger Tracie Nall said...

These are great last minute idea (the lunch one is my favorite!)

My question is....since I homeschool, does that mean that I have to buy myself a teacher appreciation gift? Because there is this dress I've been looking at.....
(I like lunch too! Especially if said lunch happens at Chilis!)

May 3, 2011 at 3:04 PM  
Blogger The Suburban Princess said...

lol! Your evil monster truck comment had me cracking up!

I wasn't aware of Teacher Appreciation Week, but now that I have been enlightened I suppose I should do something for my son's three preschool teachers and his two speech therapists.

Regifting Easter candy doesn't seem like such a bad idea...at least that would be one way of keeping it out of my mouth and off of my thighs. :)

May 3, 2011 at 3:24 PM  
Blogger Beth Zimmerman said...

I could have used one of those weeks back when I was home-schooling! :)

May 3, 2011 at 3:27 PM  
Blogger Kara @ His, Hers and Ours said...

Things are pretty tight right now, but the note idea never even crossed my mind! Thanks!!

May 3, 2011 at 3:35 PM  
Blogger Deputy's Wife said...

Oh, crap. I have such good timing! I didn't know that was this week and I just left my daughter's school, needing to talk to the principal about her jackleg guidance counselor. I will send something for her teacher though, I absolutely adore her!

May 3, 2011 at 3:59 PM  
Anonymous Paula @ Simply Sandwich said...

Thanks so much for these suggestions! I want to do something different since it is our last year at the elementary school and now I have ideas! :)

May 3, 2011 at 4:56 PM  
Blogger Kimberly said...

I knew this week was Teacher Appreciation Week. I used to be a teacher and we did special things all week for this. But my son's school? They had it the week before Spring Break (4/10-4/15). And the worst part? The parents weren't notified in time. So now the teachers probably feel awful for not being recognized and the parents feel awful because the district screwed it up!

May 3, 2011 at 6:16 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

I just looked at the calendar this morning and saw that this week was teacher appreciation week. I'm totally unprepared. Thanks for the ideas. I think we will be headed to the store tomorrow morning to buy a gift for my daughter's teacher.

May 3, 2011 at 6:24 PM  
Anonymous Kimberly said...

I can luckily dodge that bullet for the next 2 years! Boom.

May 3, 2011 at 7:53 PM  
Blogger mintifresh said...

I'm so not prepared!! I'm so self involved right now I feel like I am failing everyone!

Those are great ideas!

May 3, 2011 at 9:20 PM  
Blogger The Mommyologist said...

Oh no!!! I totally forgot!! I will have to run out and get something tomorrow for sure!

May 3, 2011 at 9:23 PM  
Anonymous Lori said...

Oh, Shell...I'm such a slacker! My Teacher Appreciation gifts are going to have to be redesigned as End of Year gifts. I have three weeks to get it right. Ugh...

May 3, 2011 at 10:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How weird- Sadie's preschool calendar says Teacher Appreciation days are at the end of May. Maybe b/c she isn't in regular elementary school yet.

I like to give little plants that the teachers can either keep in the classroom or take home!

May 3, 2011 at 10:40 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

So my little guy is just a baby ... I have to give a gift?! haha Oh the things I have to learn to be a mother!! Thanks for the great ideas :)

May 3, 2011 at 11:29 PM  
Blogger Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

Our school celebrated the week before Spring Break. Each day was something different. Monday: cards and notes, Tuesday: flowers (and they even send in a mom to arrange them for you!) Wednesday: school supplies Thursday: Sweet Treats and Friday is a luncheon by the PTA.

Because I couldn't get on top of things for my own kids teachers, I ended up tracing their hands on white paper, wrapping the cut-out around a green pipe cleaner and curling the fingers around a pencil: homemade Easter Lily!

May 4, 2011 at 6:11 AM  
Blogger Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

We did thank you notes...we went big for Christmas presents, so it had to be cheaper this time.

Having said that, I can't recall a time that I ever got a gift (besides booster club bringing donuts for all teachers). I guess it's harder in high school, though.

May 4, 2011 at 11:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My kids are in middle school...so we have forty-eleven teachers...so they're not getting gifts. (Is that awful?)

May 4, 2011 at 2:54 PM  
Blogger AiringMyLaundry said...

I did cards, chocolate and candles for my kid's teachers :)

May 4, 2011 at 6:18 PM  
Blogger A Mommy in the City said...

I used to be a teacher and I loved getting gift cards. I also loved the hand made cards from my students!

May 5, 2011 at 4:49 PM  
Blogger Momma Fargo said...

Thanks for the reminder! I very much appreciate teachers and especially those that are so dedicated.

May 7, 2011 at 12:03 AM  

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