By SpringfieldMoms.org

No need to wrack your brain for gift ideas for your children's teachers.  Springfield Moms polled elementary and intermediate school teachers and found out their most cherished and favorite holiday gifts from students, the best ones to use in the classroom and the ones they have far too many of!

Do you have ideas to add?  Email us with your fabulous gift ideas for teachers, and we'll include it on our list!

Favorites

"A little girl where I used to teach gave me her Bratz doll. I will always remember how much she wanted me to have it because it was so special to her… It was a gift that meant a lot more than the actual item. She didn't really have money to give me anything."

"One of my students gave me homemade corn salsa and chips. It was tasty and I still remember it several years later."

“I still have items from students from 10 years ago. It is really neat when kids remember your favorite likes—singers, football teams, etc. and then purchase a gift around that kind of theme.”

"All gifts given by kids are a nice gesture, especially the thoughtful homemade gifts. I always get way more coffee cups and hot chocolate than I could ever use. Out of all the gifts I receive, I probably get the most use out of the gift cards."

Gift certificates or gift cards for Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Lowe's, VISA, department stores, movie theaters or area restaurants.

Longaberger Christmas mugs filled with home-made caramels.

Baked goods.

Chocolate turtles, caramels or mints from Fannie Mae’s or Peases.

Lotions from Bath and Body Works.

Sports items from your teacher’s favorite teams.

Goodies (bought or home-made) that we can serve to guests during the holidays.

Family photos or Christmas newsletters.  This teacher loves reading about her students and their families.

"My all time favorite gift was a Christmas tree skirt that my kindergarten class made for me. One of the moms made the skirt, and the children put their painted handprints on it. It turned out really cute! This group of children are now freshman in high school, so it makes getting the skirt out every year even more fun. I also have a large planter pot that was also covered with painted handprints – I put flowers in it every spring – that class is now SENIORS in high school!”

Movie bucks or Family Video gift cards.

“Things that the kids obviously pick out themselves because they are so proud.”

“I especially like handwritten notes from the students or gifts that you know they were thinking of you and know it is something you have talked about at school. For example, one time I had a student give me a bag of licorice – she had insisted that is what they should get me because she knew that was my favorite candy.”

“It's nice when the class goes together ($5 each) and gets the teacher multiple dollars in gift card/s.”

"A generous gift certificate from the whole class to Giganti's."  

"All-time favorite gifts….gift card to Xochimilco for Margarita Night every Thursday all summer and a note attached to remember this "SWEET little boy" while you are there."

 Most Useful in the Classroom

Springfield Moms reader Jo Ann Isham wrote in with this idea:  "I had a stamp made that read 'Please return to Mrs. or Mr. so and so.'   This way they could stamp all their books or other items they may loan to parents and students."

Pads of paper large enough to write a note to a parent, or note cards for this purpose; popular children's books.

Colored copy paper.

Sharpened pencils for students who need them.

Gift certificates for Staples or Ergadoo.

Expo markers. One set of 8 – 12 colors, large style would be fantastic! As far as the thin markers go, 20 – 24 would be good.

The latest board games and books for the classroom.

Magazine subscription to kids' magazines like Your Big Backyard and Ranger Rick.

Stickers, puzzles, educational games, books.

Books with CDs included.

Games for indoor recess.

Not to be Ingrateful … But These are Overdone

"Worst – candles, coffee mugs, a "salt" shaker (the teacher of the twin got the "pepper" shaker)"

“Most of us have enough cute ‘teacher-y’ things, unless it's something really unique.”

“NO – Apples.”

“After 30 years, I have a bulletin board full of teacher décor as well as my entire windowsill, and then some. I loved it when I first got it and have enjoyed it, but I really don’t have room anymore.”

“Lotions.”

“Any ‘apple’ gift, coffee mugs."  Another writes: "I will say that I could live without another mug."

“The apple coffee mug (little secret: most teachers don't love the apple- themed stuff).”

“Not to into the "teacher/apple" stuff- It seems to be a standing joke with most teachers.”

"Candles."  Another writes; "I think one year I got an already burned candle and lotion."

Christmas ornaments.

Ornaments, teacher items such as frames or sayings to hang or statues to sit, calendars with sayings on them, Christmas décor.

Mugs, candy.

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