How to Pick Out a Gift for a Teacher

Choosing a gift for a teacher can be a challenge. My advice (as both a teacher and parent) is to adhere to the old saying, "It's the thought that counts." And nothing says, "I did not put any thought into this gift" like a mug. I am not sure when or why mugs became the official teacher gift, but I think it's safe to say that most coffee-drinking teachers already have a mug.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Figure out how much you would like to spend on the gift. Many classes pool their money and give a "class gift" to the teacher. If you attempt this, be sure to include all of the children's names on the card, whether or not they donated to the gift.
2. Decide what you would like to buy the teacher. Gift certificates are always appreciated. Some schools offer SCRIP gift certificates in which a certain percentage is donated back to the school.
3. Choose the gift by looking around the teacher's desk. Most of the time there will be some indication of what the teacher likes to do on their desk or somewhere in the classroom. If you cannot figure it out, feel free to ask them; they won't mind telling you.
4. Avoid personalized gifts featuring either a picture of your child or the entire class. Most teachers don't really need a mug or mouse pad with your child's picture on it. They might truly adore your child's class, however, that does not necessarily mean they would love a framed picture of them.
   
   Also, most teachers do not need a sweatshirt with "#1 Teacher" stitched into it.