The best gift ideas for teachers on Teacher's Day

On the eve of the annual professional holiday of teachers, many parents and students are concerned about what to give the teacher for Teacher's Day. I would like to give my favorite teachers a truly special gift that they will remember for a long time. Fortunately, the list of things that will be pleasant and useful to people who, at the call of their souls, become mentors of our children, is quite large.

What to give a teacher on Teacher's Day

To choose a worthy gift for a teacher and thank him for his participation in the lives of our children, we need to take care of this in advance.

Let’s first familiarize ourselves with the rules, by following which you can avoid common mistakes that can ruin this important holiday in the life of a teacher and a child:

• gifts for Teacher's Day should not be too expensive, in the end, it all depends on the family budget, in addition, an exclusive item can plunge a person into embarrassment and even cause a negative reaction;
• a good bouquet and sweets are traditional things, but on this day it is better to show your imagination and give the teacher something extraordinary;
• the purchased item should not only be beautiful, but also practical; even a souvenir keychain can have a useful function, not to mention more serious items;
• the gift can be memorable, and since many teachers are rather sentimental people, it makes sense for them to give a hand-made design using photographs of schoolchildren; even a simple image of students, framed in a beautiful frame, can touch the teacher to the depths of his soul;
• sometimes it is worth making personal gifts to your favorite teachers, thereby showing gratitude and respect for their work, in this case it could be the person’s favorite flowers, a small item with engraving, a special card with music or light accompaniment;
• you don’t need to take the teacher too seriously, because in ordinary life he can be a cheerful person with a good sense of humor, so, depending on the situation, you can present him with a medal, cup or certificate for the best teacher, it is quite possible that such a gift will make him smile his usually concentrated and serious face.

Of course, it is reasonable to maintain a certain distance in relations with the teacher of your daughter or son, and familiarity should be completely excluded, but you still need to say a few warm words when presenting a gift. Therefore, you need to think through your short speech in advance.

Questionable gifts

Not everything can be given to a teacher; for example, the following things may cause him confusion:

• money (this is very unethical);
• tights or underwear (such a gift can only be from relatives or very close people);
• cosmetics, perfume (you can miss the scent, if this is your choice, then it is better to give a purchase certificate to some branded store);
• Jewelry;
• alcohol;
• crystal vases, dishes (every teacher accumulates them in large quantities over a long period of work).

Of course, each class and each student will decide for themselves what to give the teacher on Teacher’s Day; these are just tips before the upcoming holiday.

What can you give a teacher on Teacher's Day? - video

DIY gift for Teacher's Day ✿ Gift ideas for teachers

Gifts for a woman teacher

For the most part, school teachers are women, and each of them has their own character, worldview, and attitude towards students - strict or more loyal. Therefore, of course, gifts for a female teacher should be selected taking into account her individual qualities. However, there are things that are suitable for all representatives of this noble profession:

A teacher of the middle age category can quite easily be given a good-quality leather notebook, a diary, a desktop organizer, convenient for storing office supplies. Don't forget to give the teacher a small but tasteful bouquet of burgundy roses or other flowers she prefers, preferably in a deep, rich color.

For older teachers, it would be appropriate to present a certificate to a book store, a set of personal fountain pens in a special case, or a leather briefcase. On your own behalf, you can present a warm blanket or blanket, a hammock for your feet, a tabletop electric fireplace, or a certificate for the massage room.

A young teacher will be suitable for all kinds of computer accessories - wireless mice, original flash drives, a Skype headset in a stylish design. You can also give a girl a set of cosmetics, consisting of many bubbles, bottles, jars, always in gift wrapping.

Advice. When purchasing a gift for a teacher in an online store, do not forget to enter the secret word to receive a discount. See current code words in Labyrinth, My-shop and Ozone stores here

A universal gift for women who have dedicated their lives to teaching children can also be:

• an oil painting depicting an autumn landscape or a self-portrait made to order from a photograph;
• personalized mug;
• bouquet of fruits and sweets;
• a ticket to a concert of your favorite singer, to a theater, to an exhibition;
• quality watch or lamp.

You can give the teacher computer equipment as a gift from your class, for example, a scanner or printer with a stack of office paper, or a comfortable swivel chair.

A female teacher can sincerely rejoice at such gifts as decorative figurines, shelves, souvenirs, paintings and wall calendars, beautiful clocks, vases and boxes - everything that can decorate the classroom or her own home.

Gifts for a male teacher

Fortunately, more and more men devote their lives to working in schools and other educational institutions, but sometimes this circumstance can confuse parents who do not know what to give them for Knowledge Day.

Of course, gifts for a male teacher also depend on the financial capabilities of the family, but, in any case, there are many practical, interesting and original things for them:

1. You can be guided by the narrow specialization of the teacher and congratulate him on the presentation of a gift directly related to his work: give a mathematician a complex puzzle, a sports teacher - tickets to a sports competition, a physics teacher - an unusual thermometer, for example, “Galileo Galilei”.
2. A leather case or briefcase - teachers usually carry student manuals and notebooks with them, so this is a very practical gift.
3. A male teacher, no less than a female teacher, may like a good painting, a photograph in a trendy luminous frame, or an original self-portrait made by a professional artist.
4. You can give a teacher a desktop model of a biofireplace from your parents, which will make his home office more comfortable and warm.

It would be great if the gift is related to the teacher’s favorite hobby; of course, you should find out about this in advance. In such a situation, there is an opportunity to present him with an interesting, and perhaps desirable, thing.

If a teacher loves all kinds of hiking trips, then it would be wise to choose a gift for him in the form of a compact barbecue with a set of skewers or a grill grate, a folding chaise longue or a stand that he can take outdoors.

Many men are partial to fishing, in which case a high-quality spinning rod can be a gift. If a teacher is interested in scuba diving, this gives him the opportunity to purchase a set of diving equipment.

On their own behalf, class students can present their favorite teacher with handmade crafts:

• a wall newspaper in a humorous style with memorable photos;
• a video clip in which the guys congratulate the hero of the occasion;
• photo collage of unusual photographs related to the life of the school;
• a beautiful composition made with your own hands from scrap materials - clay, leather, stones, beads, etc.

Students do not have to give expensive gifts to their teachers on this day; such gifts are usually made by parents, who beforehand collect money and discuss what is best to choose. Usually, the choice falls on household appliances, electronics, an expensive stationery set or a rare, exclusive book. However, there are too many such options to list them all.

Inexpensive gifts for teachers on Teacher's Day

It is clear that not all parents can contribute a round sum for a gift to their child’s teacher, but, in general, this is not required of them. It is important that the item is not trivial, tastefully decorated and given from the heart. And for this you just need to apply a little imagination.

Inexpensive gifts for Teacher's Day:

• stylish thermal mug with a lid and spoon, as well as a special marker;
• unusual prefabricated desk calendar made of cubes;
• chameleon mug with temperature and filling indicator, can change its color and inscription;
• T-shirt with the inscription “Special Teacher” (for male teachers);
• ecocube or growing pencil, home flower in a cache-pot or pot;
• personal notebook or diary;
• a small tea set or a can of coffee with a mug and spoon in a gift box;
• ceramic tea set in the form of a tower, consisting of two cups and a teapot;
• original pen with flash drive;
• table clock in the form of a book;
• a thermal glass with the inscription “To my favorite teacher”;
• personalized set of chocolates;
• a set of board games, which includes checkers, dominoes, lotto, chess and backgammon;
• photo plate with a portrait of the teacher;
• a set of magnets with a picture of a teacher;
• a funny stand for glasses in the shape of a big-nosed man;
• LED flashlight that attaches to the book;
• a reusable notebook with a special marker - what is written can be erased with a regular eraser, and then written on the sheets again;
• smartphone charger in the form of a bracelet;

Perhaps the simplest gift will be a personalized notebook for notes “The Best Teacher”, made to order in a gift box. This is a high-quality and inexpensive gift, to which you can attach a small bouquet of autumn flowers in combination with yellow and crimson maple and oak leaves.

Personal gifts

Such a gift is usually given to the most beloved teacher. It does not have to be expensive (expensive things should not be given to teachers at all: they will feel obligated, or even consider it a bribe).

In elementary school, you can make crafts for Teacher's Day, then each student will give their first teacher a gift that is different from the others.

Older schoolchildren can present the teacher with a postcard or a modest bouquet, or you can give them a small, beautifully packaged souvenir. If the idea of ​​flowers is not inspiring (the teacher will obviously be given more than one bouquet, and yours may get lost), then a bouquet of sweets or toys will definitely be remembered by the teacher. A box of chocolates is also suitable as a sweet gift, preferably those whose taste has been tested, and always fresh.

Stationery items are also appropriate as a personal gift: a beautiful pen, an elegant notepad, a convenient calendar, etc.

How to congratulate teachers of different subjects

On Teacher's Day, I would like to congratulate all the teachers who guide a child through life, because each of them makes their contribution to his development. Of course, you can get by with a universal gift, such as a personalized pen, a good notebook or a book, but you can also show respect for the teacher’s narrow specialty, and then the gift will turn out to be truly relevant and memorable.

A few unusual ideas will help you decide what to give your teacher for Teacher's Day:

1. geographical map or globe, as well as books, gift compasses, souvenirs brought from abroad, colorful posters with elements of maps, will be suitable for a geography teacher
2. biology teacher an exotic plant, for example, a Venus flytrap or another carnivorous plant in a beautiful pot - due to his profession, the teacher simply cannot remain indifferent to such a gift.
3. A wonderful gift for a historian would be a plaster bust of one of the historical political figures of past eras, which will decorate his desk. He will gladly accept any interesting historical books or encyclopedias.
4. physics teacher can be given a perpetual motion machine in the form of an unusual design, which, moreover, is a kind of anti-stress device. Also, as a gift, a table lamp in the form of an Edison lamp or a wall clock with gears outward in the steampunk style can be used.
5. An original gift for a chemistry can be any beautifully designed glassware for chemical experiments - round and cone-shaped flasks, beakers, crucibles and beakers with gradations. If you put in some effort, they can be decorated with designs and filled with candies and chocolate.
6. Gifts for teacher's day for a literature may not necessarily be in the form of books; they can also be skillfully made book stands and holders, for example, in the form of a typewriter. They can be used on the table and on book shelves.
7. When choosing a gift for a math , you also need to focus on his subject, for example, give a fashionable and high-quality model of a calculator, a better programmable one or a graphic modification with a printing function. The teacher will be interested in any electronic novelties - a wireless laser keyboard, a desktop USB fan connected to a computer. A gift such as a set that includes an alarm clock, a clock with a projection on the wall, a humidity regulator and a thermometer is also suitable.
8. There are many interesting and necessary things that are perfect for a present to a physical education . First of all, this is an excellent set of accessories for sports - such equipment includes a compact bag, a pair of hand expanders, a jump rope, weighted armbands, and an elastic bandage. A good, and most importantly, not trivial present is a “Golf” mug with a recess in the bottom, the set also includes a small club and a ball for rolling the ball into the hole. It is possible to choose other interesting things for this teacher - a wireless mouse in the shape of half a football or basketball, an alarm clock with images of funny people doing exercises, a table lamp-projector “Football”.

Collective gifts

Traditionally, gifts for teachers on Teacher's Day are given from the entire class. Such a gift can be expensive.

We list the options for such gifts:

• a large beautifully decorated bouquet of flowers;
• stationery, but not piece goods, but a set, organizer, etc.;
• a gift for the interior, classroom or home room - the teacher will decide. Such gifts are very diverse: a painting, a wall or table clock, a table lamp, an interesting candlestick, an armchair;
• computer devices, gadgets, accessories: a comfortable keyboard, a wireless mouse, a laptop bag, a set of flash drives or an external drive, a case for a tablet, etc., the choice of modern devices is wide. You can also give a digital photo frame, an inexpensive digital camera, or an e-reader. If you discuss it with the teacher in advance, sometimes a printer or scanner as a gift will be quite appropriate and necessary for his work;
• gifts by item. Subject teachers can receive gifts in accordance with their specialty: a geographer can be given an original illuminated globe, an art teacher can be given an album with reproductions of paintings, a wordsmith can be given a gift edition of a dictionary, etc.;
• gifts for hobbies. If a teacher tells students about his hobbies, then choosing a gift based on his interests will be just the thing. Women who are interested in sewing, knitting, embroidery, beading, macrame, decoupage, etc. will be delighted with all sorts of materials for their needlework, and culinary specialists will be delighted with an album with recipes or newfangled tableware made from unusual materials. Lovers of fishing, hunting, active recreation, and fitness also always have something to give.

Household appliances and other gifts for teachers

If the gift is made from a class or parent committee, then the money collected is quite enough for small household appliances and other entertaining and practical things. And here, appropriate items are considered to be a blender, a toaster, a mixer, perhaps even a yogurt maker, as well as a steamer or multicooker, which will allow a woman teacher, and perhaps a man, to facilitate the fulfillment of their everyday needs. You can give male teachers a good coffee maker if the person is partial to this drink.

It would be logical to add a pack of coffee or tea to such a gift if an electric kettle is given. You cannot leave such gifts without gift wrapping; you must place your gift, at least, in wrapping paper on top of a cardboard factory box.

High-quality flower vases are still popular, especially porcelain and original glass models, and such a surprise cannot be considered banal or undesirable. Many female teachers will be pleased to receive this particular work of pottery art as a thank you for their work. At the very least, such a gift will allow you to place in it at least some of the flowers donated by children and parents.

Flowers, even if they are short-lived, still bring joy to our teachers, so giving can and should be done. But it is worth paying attention to their freshness, non-standard composition and suitability for the age of the mentor for whom they are intended.

If we more often move away from stereotypes and take into account the interests of our teachers, then choosing a good gift will not be difficult.

What things should not be given to a teacher?

Given the fact that a relationship is established between a student and a teacher, which is far from equality in the generally accepted sense, and, moreover, is limited by strict rules, they cannot be personal even with their positive status. The student remains a child who needs knowledge, and the teacher remains a mentor who teaches him. This is a kind of subordination, which is not accepted to be violated, which is why it is undesirable to give some gifts. They can cause misunderstanding, resentment, appear offensive and belittle the teacher.

And, first of all, it is money. Some parents believe that this is a good alternative to a gift, because with it a person can buy something useful for himself, but most honest teachers will indignantly reject such a gift, because money, as a rule, obliges for reciprocal actions - which, it’s easy to guess , especially if the student is not a very good student.

A similar mistake is presenting expensive items, such as jewelry made of precious metals, expensive household appliances, which, moreover, will look out of place. That is why the unspoken rule of gifting is the average cost of the purchased items, or even a symbolic congratulation on the presentation of a modest but tastefully decorated souvenir, complemented by a small bouquet.

Other gifts that may offend or upset a teacher:

1. Cosmetics and perfumes. It would seem that what would happen if you gave perfume or a cosmetic product, especially to a young teacher? Probably, for this, you need to have a good understanding of what makeup products she prefers. As for perfume, the student is also unlikely to be aware of her favorite scents and brand of perfume. In addition, it is not customary to give gifts in single quantities (one jar of cream, one bottle of tonic). On the other hand, such a gift can only be given to her by a family member or close friend, based on the rules of etiquette.
2. Bath products and hygiene procedures are already an intimate sphere of a person, and such a gift is unlikely to please the teacher, unless it is a gift set of handmade soap, which must be presented with a large beautiful card and at least a few flowers.
3. By giving clothes , many parents take a very big risk - in order to choose it as a gift, you need to know well the size and taste preferences of the person. Moreover, you cannot give underwear items - panties, sorry, and socks. People can accept such things from their relatives, or buy them for themselves.
4. Kitchen utensils and a set of cutlery , spoons or forks, are also not included in the list of gifts that can be given on Teacher's Day. Inappropriate, ridiculous, does not correspond to the solemn atmosphere. But there are always exceptions - a beautiful tea set, a cup and saucer of an original design, a mug in an exotic style with a personal inscription.
5. Bed linen is not the best solution; such a set would be more suitable for a kindergarten teacher, or for giving on any other day, for example, on March 8th. True, you can personally give such a gift to the teacher.
6. It is also not customary to give alcohol , even high-quality, elite ones. A bottle of expensive cognac, brandy or other alcoholic beverage is simply inappropriate in a public educational institution. In addition, many people associate it with a bribe.

Of course, in different cases and under different circumstances, there are exceptions to such rules, and some things are acceptable to be presented, but it is always important to distinguish when a gift is given from the whole class, from parents or a child.

Why give gifts to teachers?

Anastasia Leukhina

Head of the GO “Horizontal”, teacher at the Kyiv School of Economics

27 August 2020, 12:03

This material is also available in Ukrainian

If you ask someone what these gifts mean, no one can give an answer. But he continues to chip in, because everyone does it

My first teaching experience was at 16. Thanks to my good English, I started working in a private kindergarten group. I just spoke to the children in English.

I received the first and only gift in almost 20 years of teaching at the same time, at 16. A restless mother of one active child secretly slipped me a bottle. It was a chemically green kiwi liqueur popular in the 90s. I still remember this bottle. She refused to take it back, I refused to take it back, so it sat in the kindergarten locker for a while until someone found a use for it.

I didn’t quite understand what she wanted to say with this gift. Pay for the extra effort with her hyperactive child? Want more attention or special treatment? What did she want in return?

As a child myself, I felt that this bottle created additional expectations and obligations. Transactions that are not entirely clear and transparent for all parties.

The next meeting with gifts for the teacher took place when my 7-year-old child came home from school.

Many people find it easier to pass than to share their experiences.

23 years of studying and teaching at an American school, at American and Canadian universities, in Mogilyanka and the best business schools in the country passed without gifts, bouquets or tables set for teachers. But let's go back to 2012. Klim in the first grade of a regular Chernigov school:

“Mom, today was the teacher’s birthday. The mothers of Masha, Fedya and Sonya gave her flowers and big gifts today. Why didn’t you give her anything?”

“Well, you see, usually gifts for birthdays are given to friends, but we are not friends with Marya Ivanovna. You just learn from her. It’s not entirely right to give birthday gifts to a stranger on whom you depend.”

“Mom, why did the mothers of Fedya, Sonya and Masha give her gifts? What are they, friends? - the first-grader exclaimed with a confused look.

I didn’t know how to explain to a child that in every case of giving, the context and energy of intention with which the gift is chosen is important. And that in this context, a gift to a teacher is a purchase. Buying attention, a good attitude and, quite possibly, a better grade. I didn't know how to explain to my child that this was a way to protect, pay attention to, and receive special treatment for my children. That demonstrative giving of gifts in front of other children is social pressure on parents to bear more. And that this is pressure on the teacher to behave differently and please.

My friend Marta spent the whole year on the parent committee of an ordinary Ivano-Frankivsk school. She shares that teacher gifts are the lion's share of the work for class parents. You need to decide what to buy, agree on the amount, choose, buy, pack and deliver.

In some cases, the head of the committee makes such decisions himself, in others he asks what the teacher wants, and thirdly, he coordinates with all parents. This coordination sometimes occurs so violently, as if a conversation about a gift is a battlefield of values ​​and worldviews. Some donate dishwashers. Others are certificates for a beauty salon. Still others are books about education. Fourth - gold jewelry.

The parents of my friend’s class decided to give the task and gift to high school students. The children bought a hookah for their first teacher, because: “Everyone needs a hookah. She won't buy it for herself. By the way, do you know that she smokes? We know! So, it’s better to smoke a hookah.”

Paying for special trainings or conferences as a gift is not popular. Teachers consider them to be an insulting message that they are not good enough, that they are being sent away to study.

It is customary for teachers in Ivano-Frankivsk to give gifts four times a year: on September 1, on their birthday, on Teacher’s Day and on Angel’s Day. Each time it is a job for a whole committee. According to my friend’s observations, almost a third of the informal payments collected from parents over the year (4,000 UAH per child in a class of 32 children) went towards gifts for the class teacher.

A friend, the mother of a second-grader, shares her observations:

“Gifts for teachers are a long-standing tradition. We do them because everyone around us is doing them. Because our parents did it too.”

Understanding and following the traditions of the society in which you live helps you survive. If you go to Indonesia, it’s easier for you to do as the locals do. Same with gifts.

If you ask someone what these gifts mean, no one can give an answer. No one understands or knows, but continues to chip in - because everyone does it.

The list of all parental payments is visible to all parents. If someone fails at something, it will be known and become a topic of conversation and misunderstanding. That’s why there are never any problems with the gift box—everything is donated.

Martha says that a gift to a teacher is a sign of attention and love. I doubt.

Different parents of different children may have different attitudes towards the teacher. Not everyone can share the love and respect for him/her. But they are required to hand over the money - this is a way to ensure their own safety and prevent their child from being bullied.

Many find it easier to pass than to share their experiences, discuss difficult situations, or give feedback to the teacher. It's easier to give up than to tell the truth. It's easier to pass than to solve problems.

Another friend is Vinnitsa school teacher Natasha. I ask her how she feels about acts of giving. “I’m trying to convince my parents not to give me any gifts. And not because it’s unpleasant for me, but because it deprives me of freedom in relationships and obliges me. And God forbid from collective gifts “from the class”. There are always those who handed over the money reluctantly, someone handed it over “with a fight”, someone handed it over silently, but in their hearts they regretted and much more, which the teacher guesses and risks (by taking the gift) later running into negative reviews and comments . The teacher is already too dependent and unprotected to be exposed to such trifles as “Bird’s milk” and a pack of tea! A tiny personal gift - yes, maybe, if you feel closeness, kinship and an honest desire to thank. But don’t give gifts with a purpose or under compulsion. It's a matter of trust. And it either exists or it doesn’t.

For me, this voluntary-forced collection has always been an act of violence. I didn’t understand why so much energy and strength of adults should go into these purchases, which have nothing to do with the educational process.

And why did these gifts have to have material value? Why, instead of poetry, songs, paintings and celebrating special moments together, other ways of showing respect and gratitude, I had to choose between a microwave and a gift certificate?

We ended up leaving school. Partly so as not to experience this coercion, so as not to humiliate oneself and not to accustom the child to this form of buying a teacher’s favor. Now Klim is studying by correspondence at a public school, where I have never passed anything in 4 years. I was never asked to do this. Neither the teacher nor the other parents. This does not in any way affect the relationship between children and teachers. According to my observations, it does not affect the educational process either. The absence of illegal commodity-money relations with the school relieves a lot of tension and saves a lot of time, and brings a lot of respect to each other.

And while I dream that all investments (parental, corporate and government) would be aimed at the quality of education in schools, and not at buying location in them, Marta continues to follow traditions, donate money and look for an alternative school - so as not to waste her resource to meaningless traditions.

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