Teacher Gift Ideas: What a Teacher REALLY Wants

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What a Teacher Really Wants for Christmas

This time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the Pinterest wonderland of pretty pictures, holiday decor, and gift ideas.  I’ve seen the most amazing DIY teacher gifts flooding my Pinterest stream, and trust me, they are incredible.  But I taught for eleven years in mostly low income areas and there were a few gifts that truly stood out as being my favorites– and you might be surprised with which ones I treasure most.  Recently, something arrived in my mailbox that brought me to tears and I wanted to share it with other busy, harried parents searching for the ‘perfect’ gift for your child’s teacher or caregiver.

Before I became a mother, or a even a teacher, I babysat for a family whose children were the same ages as my little minions are now.  Of course, time passes and that 3-year-old is now a Harvard educated lawyer and the then 5-year-old is off saving the world. 😉  While cleaning out, they found an essay written by their daughter in sixth grade (6 years after I’d been their babysitter!) and sent it to me in the mail.  It was a typical rushed, stressful day when I opened up the card and found this:

Teacher gift ideas for Christmas

An entire essay written by a 6th grader about who influenced her the most– and that person was, incredibly, ME.

My favorite teacher gift

My favorite line?

“When I was young I used to think she was a very young grandmother.”

My favorite line

{my friends are *so* laughing at me right now, because that describes me to a ‘t’!}

At the bottom, the red ink made me smile:

Red ink was the best part

The teacher grading the essay had also been MY teacher twelve years prior– in fact, I remember writing my own 6th grade essay on the same topic.  The joys of living in a small town!

Perhaps the most amazing thing, the thing I never told this young author, is that she influenced me quite a bit too.  When I met her, I started thinking of the day I’d eventually have my own children– and I wanted them to be just like her and her brother.  I really was like a young grandmother, right?

Back to what a teacher really wants for Christmas.  Imagine a classroom filled with individuals each stuffed to the brim with unique needs and personalities.  Coordinating meeting their questions and needs without blinking an eye would impress the most storied football coach.  Little shoes that need tying, noses wiping, hands holding– and oh, also teaching.  Creating lessons to inspire, reading books to capture the imagination, helping each child succeed and learn and grow.  Shaping interpersonal skills and soothing hurt feelings.  Communicating with parents while keeping the administration happy, all the while knowing in this day and age a teacher would lay down their lives to protect these precious treasures gifted to their care.

How on earth do you say thanks?

With words.

Saying thanks with words

It didn’t happen all the time, but when I was teaching once in awhile I’d receive a note of gratitude from parents and students.  I’ve saved each and every one.  In this interconnected social media age, I’ve even heard from former students on Facebook.  Last year, one mom private messaged me to say thank you– 16 years after I’d taught her daughter!  There’s no better gift in the world.

During my last year as a classroom teacher, I unwrapped a gift from a student who’s entire face was glowing with excitement to find a pair of used plastic earrings.  He’d wanted to give me a gift and his mother allowed him to choose an item from her own jewelry box since they couldn’t afford to buy anything for the teachers that year.  Those earrings remind me that the smallest, most sincere gestures are often the best.

Who would have thought a pair of previously owned plastic earrings would fill me with such joy?

So if you’re wondering what a teacher REALLY wants this year, consider taking the time you would have used to bake bread or cookies or giftwrap a mug and write a sincere note of thanks or have your child write all the reasons they love their teacher in a card.

If you still want to give more, go for a gift card.

Or hand sanitizer.

Both are always appreciated.

But mostly a sincere note of thanks.

Teacher holiday gifts

Maybe attached to a Lenox ornament.  But only because this is the last year with my son’s teachers and I wanted to give them an extra special high-5.

Please know that whatever you do, it will be appreciated because it came from the heart.  I only wanted to assure you that it doesn’t have to be pinworthy to be perfect.

Wishing you all a happy holiday, and thanking you for being so wonderful & supportive– sharing ideas, pinning, commenting and generally being the most amazing Lemonade Loves a person could ask for.  I’m truly grateful for YOU!

What a Teacher Really Wants for Christmas | Making Lemonade

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