Gift traditions
Teacher Appreciation Week: What to Give, What to Skip, and What Teachers Keep
When Teacher Appreciation Week is, what's appropriate to give, school gift rules, group gifts, and thoughtful ideas teachers say they really keep.
Teachers receive a remarkable number of mugs. Also candles, hand lotions, and ornaments shaped like apples. It's all kindly meant, and most teachers are genuinely grateful. But if you ask them privately what they treasure, the answer is surprisingly consistent: notes and drawings from their students.
Here's a practical guide to Teacher Appreciation Week and teacher gifts in general, including the etiquette questions parents quietly wonder about.
When is Teacher Appreciation Week?
In the United States, Teacher Appreciation Week is usually held during the first full week of May, with National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of that week. Many schools and parent-teacher organizations plan small events: a breakfast, a themed day, notes from students.
The other big gift-giving moments are the winter holidays and the end of the school year.
Is it expected to give the teacher a gift?
No. Gifts are never required, and good teachers don't keep track of who gave what. But a thoughtful thank-you is widely appreciated, and for many families, it's a nice way to teach children gratitude.
If money is tight, a heartfelt note from your child is just as welcome as anything you could buy. Often more.
Check the rules first
Before buying anything, find out whether your school or district has a gift policy. Some public schools have limits on the value of gifts staff can accept, or rules about cash and gift cards. Private schools may have their own guidelines. The front office or your parent-teacher organization usually knows.
When in doubt, a handwritten note and a child's drawing are always fine.
What to give: ideas teachers appreciate
Notes and drawings
Teachers keep these, sometimes for their whole careers. A specific note works best. Instead of "Thanks for a great year," try:
- "My daughter used to hate reading. Now she reads under the covers with a flashlight."
- "He talks about your science experiments at dinner every night."
- "Thank you for noticing when she was having a hard week."
Have your child add a drawing of their teacher, or of their favorite moment in class. Our film The Sun Teacher is about a child who drew the whole class as a solar system, with the teacher as the sun in the middle.
Classroom supplies
Many teachers spend their own money on supplies. Ask what's on their wish list: books, markers, tissues, sticky notes, art materials. Some teachers keep online wish lists.
Gift cards
Popular with teachers and simple to give: coffee shops, bookstores, school-supply or general stores. Check the school's policy first.
Consumables
A favorite snack, good coffee or tea, something they can enjoy and finish. Ask about allergies or dietary preferences if possible.
What to skip
- Mugs, unless you know they collect them
- Scented lotions and candles, since scents are very personal
- Apple-themed decor, which they've almost certainly received before
- Anything very personal, like clothing sizes or perfume
- Homemade food if you don't know about allergies
Our film Not Another Mug is a playful take on exactly this problem.
Group gifts from the class
A class gift lets families pool money for something more substantial, while removing any comparison between individual gifts.
How to organize one
- Ask a room parent or volunteer to coordinate.
- Make contributions optional and anonymous, with no suggested minimum. Every family should be able to sign the card.
- Choose something the teacher wants: a gift card, a classroom item, an experience.
- Include a card or book signed by every student, or a page from each child.
A class drawing book
One of the most-loved group gifts costs almost nothing: every child draws a picture of the teacher or of their favorite moment, and the pages are bound together. Teachers often say these are the gifts they keep longest.
Gifts for special teachers
Some teachers leave a mark that lasts years: the one who taught your child to read, the art teacher who told them there are no wrong colors, the one who got them through a hard year. For these teachers, a more personal gift can be fitting.
Our film The Key to Every Book is about a reading teacher drawn holding a key that opens every book. Another, No Wrong Colors, is about an art teacher who said yes when a child drew a blue sun.
If your child draws a teacher like that, the drawing itself can become the gift. At ANORA, we embroider children's drawings on hoodies and T-shirts, stitching them as drawn. A class drawing of a teacher, worn on casual Fridays, is a gift that teachers tend to love. You can upload a drawing here and preview it first.
Keep in mind that a personalized garment is a bigger gift than a note, so check your school's gift policy, and consider making it a group gift from the class.
Don't forget other school staff
Teacher Appreciation Week is a good moment to thank the people who often get overlooked: aides, librarians, the school nurse, office staff, custodians, bus drivers and lunch staff. A note from a student means just as much to them. Our film Band-Aids for Everyone is about one of those quiet heroes.
Frequently asked questions
When is Teacher Appreciation Week?
In the U.S., it's usually the first full week of May, with National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of that week.
How much should I spend on a teacher gift?
There's no expected amount, and a note costs nothing. Check whether your school has a gift limit. Group gifts let families contribute whatever they're comfortable with.
What do teachers really want as gifts?
Teachers consistently say they treasure handwritten notes and drawings from students. Gift cards and classroom supplies are also popular and practical.
Can I give a teacher a gift card?
Usually, yes, but some schools or districts limit gift values or restrict gift cards. Check with the school first.
