DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea & FREE Printables

Today marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week, a full week of opportunities to shower our children’s teachers and staff. As room mom for my daughter this year, I was searching for a fun, personalized way to show her teachers how much they mean to all of our families.

While teachers certainly appreciate ANY gift, they often prefer when asked items such as gift cards, handmade cards from the children, drawings or photo gifts from students, edible items they can enjoy or treats and longer lasting things such as a houseplant, potted herb or flowers over personalized gifts etc. And, that makes perfect sense when you think about it. If a teacher were to receive 2 mugs for every year they taught from students….well, that would be A LOT of mugs :).

So for this year’s teacher appreciation gift ideas, I organized 3 days for my daughter’s preschool class that were fairly simple.

Day 1, we offered potted orchids in beautiful green planters with a gift tag from the class, reading “Thank you for helping OUR DUCKS Grow!”

Day 2, I asked the moms to bring a small ‘treat’ of some kind from their child for the teachers. Small value items like a coffee gift card, homemade goodie, donuts, etc. We brought the teachers a cookie mix and wooden spoon with a gift tag reading, “Thanks for making me one smart cookie”.

Day 3, each of her teachers received a laminated flip book with a card from each card shown above. I sent home the little cards in an envelope with each child 2 weeks ago and asked the moms to have their child tell them what their favorite thing(s) about their teachers were. And, for those preschoolers who could write their own names on the card, to add that little touch. I collected the cards, laminated them and added them to these little 1 inch rings as a keepsake.

We hope they feel loved all week long!!!

To create your own class flip book, or personalized love note from your child, download the FREE printable shown below. Or, to create a special note from your child to their teacher, download our large 5×7 size below.