It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.
This month, thousands of schools are celebrating the teachers and educators who help shape the young minds of tomorrow inside classrooms at Kiddie Academy and beyond, every day.
National Teacher Appreciation Week has long been a time when children and parents bestow handmade and themed gifts, trinkets and hodgepodge to teachers: all heartfelt gifts that are cherished but don’t always stand the test of time.
While you’ve probably read articles about “what teachers really want” this year, we’re going to show you how to take your teacher appreciation gifts from mid-century-boring to modern and contemporary for the teachers in your child’s life who probably have enough crayon-and-popsicle-stick picture frames and will be able to use your gift for months, or even years, to come.
Instead of an Apple…
…give an Apple card.
Giving a teacher an apple might have been the kind way to show your appreciation in the early 19th century, but today, your child’s teacher is much more likely to get excited about seeing this fruit when it’s embossed on a gift card to the App or Music Store. Available in a variety of designs and denominations, the card can be used for anything on the App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store, or Mac App Store.
Instead of a “#1 Teacher” coffee mug:
Give a S’well bottle:
The “World’s Best Teacher” coffee mugs are a dime a dozen and so last century. Upgrade your teacher from their ho-hum teacher-message mug to a BPA free, stainless steel S’well bottle that will keep their coffee hot for longer than it takes for her to recite the alphabet from A-Z. The bottle boasts keeping hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours. S’well bottles start at $25 for the 9 ounce bottle and go up to $45 for the 25 ounce bottle.
Instead of a picture frame:
Give Chatbooks…
Why give one photo when you could give hundreds of snapshots! Give Chatbooks, a curated book of photos from a designated Instagram account. Check out this post from Chatbooks with ideas to get the whole class involved. Chatbooks collections start at just $14.
Instead of a name plate:
Give a letter board.
You may have seen these flying around the internet and social media. These aren’t the same old letter boards you used to see in an office or church lobby marking the way to the choir room. Letter board art with quotes, phrases and words are a trendy addition to any classroom and are sure to be cherished by your child’s teacher. The simple black and white design offers a bold statement for your teacher to make her own. Larger boards allow you to leave some negative space for a more artistic look. Have fun with the message to your teacher when you’re preparing the gift! Handmade Letter boards can be found on Etsy, Letterfolk ($50-125).
