First, the facts: we all know teachers work hard and they’re not exactly doing it for the huge paycheck. But did you know teachers spend, on average, $600 of their own money (non-reimbursed) each year on educational supplies for their classrooms? That includes books, workbooks, puzzles, and even basics like paper and pencils. Many teachers report spending as much as $1200 a year! And before you envy teachers who get to book it at the 3:00 bell, most full-time teachers spend at least 50 hours a week teaching, planning lessons, creating individualized plans, grading work, preparing students for tests, attending conferences, meetings and professional development classes. Besides the money and hours they spend, teachers are tasked with a tremendous responsibility—nurturing the intellectual, social and emotional growth of our children!
So we think teachers deserve a very BIG THANK YOU! this year! Here are some easy and often inexpensive thank you gifts to show them how much you appreciate everything they do. (You won't find a single “World’s Best Teacher” mug on the list!)
1. A gift card to a local restaurant, coffee shop, store, movie theater or even a nail salon.
2. A handwritten card from you or your child.
3. Flowers or a houseplant.
4. Tickets to a local play, concert or sporting event.
5. Nominate a teacher for the Carson-Dellosa BIG THANK YOU! $300 Shopping Spree! If your nominated teacher wins, they will receive a $300 Carson-Dellosa gift certificate for our award-winning educational workbooks, software, games, puzzles, learning cards, and everything they need to organize and decorate their classroom! If your teacher is selected, you’ll also win a $50 Carson-Dellosa gift card toward our parent-recommended products like our best-selling Summer Bridge Activities books! http://bit.ly/XsiFGz
7. Send a complimentary note or email about the teacher to the school principal. Share a copy with the teacher!
8. The gift of your time: attend a field trip, do an art project or read a book. Just ask your child’s teacher what they need!
9. Send in classroom supplies. Many teachers start running low on stuff like tissues, hand sanitizer and copy paper toward the end of the year.
10. Grade-level appropriate books for the classroom library. (Nonfiction books are especially needed in Grades 2 and above.)
Carson Dellosa is a sponsor of Macaroni Kid and supplied this article and contest.
