If You Really Want to Buy Something...

Mary Beltran, a second-grade teacher in Pacifica, California, says, "Most teachers I know always appreciate gift certificates to Starbucks, Target, school supply stores or bookstores. New teachers, who spend a lot of their own money on books and supplies, especially appreciate these gifts." She also emphasized that a personal touch makes a gift special, saying, "I always get a kick out of gifts that have been chosen or made by a child."

A Gift for the Whole Class

Other teachers agreed that gifts to teacher supply stores, bookstores or other places they could buy much-needed things for the classroom were greatly appreciated. One teacher suggested that parents can tap their own skills to make a special contribution to the classroom: "One of the best gifts that I ever received as an educator was the donation of a parent's carpentry skills to put a door on an ugly sink cupboard for my classroom.