School’s out for summer
School’s out forever
School’s been blown to pieces
No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher’s dirty looks
Well we got no class
And we got no principles
And we got no innocence
We can’t even think of a word that rhymes

Alice Cooper – School’s Out

“School’s Out for Summer”

Even for kids who are too young to know the lyrics to the classic Alice Cooper song, these words evoke excitement of the purest kind. Images of bbq’s and baseball, slip ‘n’ slides and sprinklers, ice pops and flip flops all come to mind. But before the kids toss their backpacks and school books into the closet for summer hibernation, take a moment to think about the teachers who just put up with your kids for the last nine months, five days a week, seven hours a day (and you know your kids)…

Giving a teacher a gift should never feel obligatory, and by all means, if you had a negative experience with a burnt-out teacher, a gift would be insincere. However, for those teachers who helped your children grow brighter, more creative, more inquisitive, and (could this possibly be?) more mature, you might consider giving a small token of appreciation at the end of the year to show your thanks.

Luckily, I do actually mean a small token. Lavish gifts from students can sometimes make teachers feel uncomfortable, and certain school districts have actually placed limits on the dollar amount of gifts that teachers are allowed to accept (usually not less than $50, though).

The best way to choose a gift for a teacher is ask your student to pay attention to what his/her teacher loves. Does she constantly compare Revolutionary War battles to epic baseball play-off games? Well, then sports-related gifts are the way to go. Does he lament about the lack-luster classroom library? Give a few books! Does she hang pictures of her adorable pit bull all over the classroom? A gift card to PetSmart!

Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult for your children to pick up these cues (they’re obviously way too busy paying attention to the lessons!), so I’ve listed a few safe routes to take when giving gifts to a deserving teacher.

A Day Off or a Night Out

A dedicated teacher is most likely working before school starts, and well after school ends. Giving the means to a relaxing day or a fun night let your child’s teacher take a breath and unwind.

• Gift cards to movie theaters, restaurants, or beauty salons/spas let teachers enjoy time off, without having to break the bank. Gift cards sometimes get a bad rep for not being “thoughtful enough,” but trust me – teachers love ‘em! Think about it – would you rather get a plastic, monogrammed, apple-shaped paperweight, or twenty dollars to T.G.I. Fridays? Turns out you can’t actually eat the apple-shaped paperweight, but you can eat a Caesar salad and a burger! Plus, the gift cards don’t need to get expensive. Twenty to twenty-five dollars is more than enough to show appreciation.
• “All the ingredients” to relax: To help that over-worked teacher wind down at night, get oversized mug and place some tea, a good book, and a nice bookmark inside. For the ingredients to a cozy Sunday morning, take that oversized mug, and put some unique coffee flavors inside with a book of crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Or, for a night in, wrap a couple packets of popcorn to a DVD or a gift card to your local video store.

“My best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read”

The quote is from President Lincoln, and seven score and some-odd years later, a great book is still a wonderful gift. There are many avenues to take with books for teachers.

• If you are giving to a teacher in middle or high school, where teachers are subject-specific, you could give a great historical fiction to a social studies teacher, a new best-selling novel to an English teacher, etc.
• It is also usually safe to give books about teaching in general. Books that send an appreciative message, or that commemorate influential and outstanding teachers are great to give. Just don’t give self-help teaching books: “Failing as a Teacher? 12 Easy Steps to Succeed!” Hopefully, the issue here is clear.
• Last, feel free to give books that have nothing to do with teaching! Sometimes teachers need a break from intellectually challenging books, and just want to relax with a no-brainer. Picking a great book you’ve recently read or have seen on the best-seller list can be a nice idea (however, you do take the risk that the teacher doesn’t share your taste in literature).

Luckily, you don’t need to pay for overpriced books from popular chain retailers! It’s easy to find great-quality discounted books. Try your local (non-corporate) book store, or discount websites such as www.half.com.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

I’ll admit it. In seventh grade, I hated my math teacher, and occasionally spent the period drawing pictures of her with devil horns. Despite my morose artwork, and perhaps due to a bit of growing up, I now like to think that teachers are mostly kind, well-intentioned, generous people. I think it is safe to say that most teachers would value a charitable gift.

• A Donation in the Teacher’s Name: There are tons of non-profit and charitable organizations out there, and I’d bet that a large portion of those would interest the teacher at hand. An Earth-Science Teacher? Donate to an environmental group, like the Sierra Club! Biology Teacher? Medical/Health Organization! Music Teacher? The “Save the Music” Foundation! English Teacher? A youth literacy program! And of course, if you’re completely stuck, there are general educational organizations, or children-centered charities, both locally, and internationally.
• Another option is to give the teacher a gift card that lets them chose where to donate the money to. As MLR and I have mentioned in the past, www.globalgiving.org is a great place to purchase these types of gift cards (and MLR recently organized a GlobalGiving giftcard giveaway offer to his readers!). This website allows the recipient of the card to choose where the money goes. You can pick by region (locations all over the globe are offered!), or by category (education, environment, health etc.) It brings attention to lots of smaller, grassroots projects that otherwise might not get the same attention.

Pencils, Planners, Paper Clips, Oh My!

It’s no secret that most teachers end up reaching into their own pockets in order to buy decorations, supplies, and materials for their classrooms. Many schools allow teachers stipends in the beginning of the year to help cover costs (in my case, $50 per year), but this often falls short. It’s hard for the dedicated, enthusiastic teacher to pass up a great new book for the classroom, or a deal on new folders for the students just because the school budget won’t cover it. Thus, helping teachers turn their classrooms into the vibrant, educational haven they envision is a great gift.

Here, again, it may be helpful to have your child pay attention to their classrooms. Does the teacher have a giant bin of colored chalk? Don’t buy that, then! Does he constantly ask students to run next store to ask to borrow graph paper or protractors? There’s a useful gift! Even if it’s the end of the year, don’t fear that your gift won’t be useful. Unless the teacher is retiring, rest assured that your gift will be remembered and valued in September!

• Shopping at stores like Staples and Office Depot is best when you can spot sales; their regular prices are sometimes steep. Sites like www.slickdeals.net often feature deals and coupons for these types of stores. Also, don’t overlook your local dollar store! Almost every dollar store has a “teacher section” with great buys!
• Another option, of course, is a gift card to an office supply/school supply store. This ensures that the teacher gets exactly what is needed in the classroom!

A Few Kind Words

If you give a gift, PLEASE, give a card too! I can’t say I wouldn’t love a new book, or a gift card to Applebee’s, but the card is what makes a gift truly meaningful, genuine, and unique! I began this post saying that you should only give gifts to teachers you feel deserve them, so it shouldn’t be difficult to express why you are thankful!

Furthermore, if a card or even a letter on notebook paper is all that is in the budget, don’t worry! In my own humble opinion, if a teacher does not value appreciative letters and cards from students at least as much as a gift card or a DVD– then that teacher should find another profession.

You or your child (whoever is writing the note) should write honestly and from the heart. That being said, here are a few ideas just in case you’re experiencing writer’s block!

• Tell the teacher exactly what it is that makes him/her so special! Words like “great” and “super” are kind, but specific traits make the card more sincere. Did your son have trouble year after year with multiplication until this teacher taught him? Did your daughter hate to read until this year? Does this teacher explain history in a way that truly interests your child? Does this teacher make your child excited about science experiments? Say so!
• Was there a certain lesson or activity that really spoke to your child, or helped them grow? Did you child talk about that class debate for weeks? Did she ask to have that collage she made for English class hung up in her room? Again, mentioning these specifics make a kind letter even more heartwarming.

As a last suggestion, if your child is in elementary school, and is part of a close-knit classroom community, you may consider giving a “group gift,” in which each student contributes a small $5-$10 amount, in order to give the teacher one large gift or a combination of gifts.

My Christmas Menorah

Above all, a gift is a gift, and a teacher will appreciate anything received. Despite the fact that I’m Jewish, I’ve received multiple Christmas ornaments from students during the holiday season. However, I hang these sparkly snowflakes and snowmen up in my home, amidst a plethora of menorahs and Jewish stars simply because they represent what I love: teaching my students. Going out of your way to say thanks to a teacher is always more important than picking the perfect gift, and will make any teacher stop and smile.