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Step 1
Avoid things labeled "Number One Teacher" or similar. If your child's teacher has been teaching for more than a year, then he probably has a dozen of these types of mugs, pencils or cards.
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Step 2
Focus on the teacher as a person. While you may never see your child's teacher out of the classroom, she has a life outside of school. She may like music (look at an iTunes card), coffee (nothing like a Starbuck's gift card) or shopping (check out any local shop's gift card selection).
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Step 3
Don't give a picture your child has drawn. While your child's arts and crafts are deeply precious to you, they are one of a dozen or more that your child's teacher sees every day. It's not appropriate for them to display it in the classroom as it hints of favoritism. And they likely won't want to display it at home.
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Step 4
Avoid specific holiday references. Unless you know your child's teacher well enough to know if they or their spouse celebrates a specific religious holiday, make sure any gift focuses on the holidays in general.
