Thoughtful Gift Ideas to Show Appreciation for Your Student Teacher
The end of a student teacher's time in the classroom marks a significant transition, and expressing gratitude for their hard work and dedication is a meaningful gesture. Finding the perfect gift can be a thoughtful way to acknowledge their contributions and set them up for success in their future teaching endeavors. This article explores a range of gift ideas, from budget-friendly DIY projects to more substantial presents, ensuring there's something for every situation and budget.
Personalized and Heartfelt Gifts
Class-Created Book of Advice
One of the most cherished gifts a student teacher can receive is a collection of heartfelt notes from their students. Have each student write a piece of advice for the student teacher, sharing their thoughts on what makes a great educator. These pages can then be bound into a class book, creating a memorable keepsake filled with wisdom and appreciation.
Fingerprint Art
Engage the students in creating a personalized piece of art. A simple yet touching idea is to decorate a picture frame with the students’ fingerprints. Using a $1.00 wooden frame from a craft store, help each student place their thumbprint on the frame with paint, writing their name underneath. Insert a class photo for a lasting memento. Alternatively, use fingerprints to create a colorful design on a clipboard or canvas bag, such as flowers, bees, or butterflies.
Letters of Recommendation from Students
Encourage students to write letters of recommendation for their student teacher, highlighting their positive qualities and explaining why they would be an excellent addition to any school. These letters can be a valuable addition to the student teacher's portfolio.
Personalized Photo Album
Compile a photo album filled with pictures taken throughout the year, capturing special moments and memories shared with the students and the student teacher. Include captions written by the students, sharing their thoughts and memories associated with each picture.
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Autographed "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
Purchase a copy of Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and have each student sign the front cover, offering their well wishes and encouragement for the student teacher's future journey.
Practical Gifts for the Classroom
Gift Cards
Gift certificates to TeachersPayTeachers are an awesome idea and something that’s sure to be appreciated! Gift cards are a versatile and appreciated gift, allowing the student teacher to purchase items they need for their classroom. Consider gift cards to stores like Target, Lakeshore Learning, Barnes & Noble, a local teaching supply store, Dollar Tree, or Amazon.
Classroom Library Starter Kit
Help the student teacher build their classroom library by asking each student to bring in a new or gently used picture book. This collaborative effort can provide a valuable foundation for their future classroom. Lisa VanderLugt used her Scholastic Bonus Points to “purchase” a box of books for her student teacher to start a classroom library, using 10,437 bonus points.
Teacher Tool Set
Assemble a tool set specifically designed for the classroom, including items like staplers, tape, scissors, and other essential supplies. Attach a note that says, “You have all the tools to be a great teacher.”
Personalized Stamp
A personalized stamp is a practical and fun gift. You could choose some fun pre-made teaching/grading ones, or get one personalized with their name on it. Or if they have a fun saying they like, have a stamp made with the saying on it.
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Classroom Supply Basket
Put together a basket, tote or crate with all kinds of things that they’ll need when they have a classroom of their own. Mr.
Mini Drawer Organizer Filled with Supplies
A 16 mini drawer organizer filled with supplies is a practical and thoughtful gift that will help the student teacher stay organized in their future classroom.
Gifts for Personal Use and Comfort
Teacher Bag
Give them a teacher bag. Have the students make paint handprints on a canvas bag or buy your favorite teacher’s bag to use. Consider gifting a Vera Bradley totebag. The kids are chipping in $2 (at least they said they would). When she was out of the room, I showed the kids the bag patterns and we picked one out together.
Lunch Tote and Mini Crockpot
Give them a cute lunch tote. Most of my co-workers bring their lunches, so wouldn’t it be fun to have a nice new lunch bag? Target has some great ones or you could even get one from Thirty-One monogrammed. Have the students each write a small note on a piece of paper and fill up the lunch tote with them. Or you might also give them a mini crockpot to go along with the lunch tote.
Teacher Chair
Everyone needs a teaching chair. This might be a rocking chair, a stool, or a director’s chair. Shauna Isenhour’s cooperating teacher and class painted a chair for her with the kids handprints!
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Professional Development Book
Give your favorite professional development book.
Fleece Blanket with Class Pictures
My students and I brought in supplies that she might need in her classroom - stickers, stamps, crayons, glue, border, etc. we then made a bag with everyone’s handprint. We also made a book -“I like Ms. _ because” and every student filled out a page. One of my master teachers got me a gift certificate for a massage.
Unique and Creative Gifts
Handprint Umbrella
Make a handprint umbrella. A useful and oh-so-cute gift from the students.
Fun Lanyard
A fun lanyard. This lanyard is a charm holder that comes with 11 pieces of school charms.
Door Sign
Make a sign for their door. I did this for my own daughter’s teacher this year at the beginning of the school year. She moved grades and rooms and so I thought it would be fun for her to have a new sign for her door. She loves it. I used an apple sign from the Target Dollar Spot during back-to-school time. It doesn’t have to be an apple though, the Dollar Spot usually has some kind of board that would work at all times of the year.
HP Instant Ink Ready Printer
Give them the gift of a printer so they can be ready to start printing all of that fun stuff they’ve purchased off of TPT. I personally have the HP OfficeJet Pro6978 at home and can’t say enough good things about the printer and instant ink program.
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