I’ve had some incredible teachers along my educational journey. Mrs. Floyd made learning fun and fostered in me a life-long love for learning. Mrs. Greaves taught me to test-taking skills that served as a foundation throughout my education. Mr. Mathews showed me I could persevere when I didn’t fully understand a concept. Dr. Glahn gave me the confidence to read broadly and ask tough questions about Scripture.

While I’ve always appreciated my teachers, nothing prepared me for the gratitude–like tears in my eyes, overwhelming thankfulness–I would feel for the individuals caring for and teaching my children. So, every year when Teacher Appreciation Day rolls around, I feel an incredible weight to, well, show my appreciation. I overanalyze what to do, how much to spend, and how many people to thank every. single. year.

So, if you’re anything like me, trying to decide how to express your gratitude appropriately, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite ideas.

A gift card paired with a heartfelt note

OK, I realize this first one might sound like a cop-out, but every teacher I know says they’d prefer to get a gift they can use. Gift cards are usable! Even better if it’s a gift card to some place they love — their favorite boutique coffee shop, Nordstrom (who doesn’t love Nordies?), or a store they frequent, DoorDash money for a busy working mom. There are so many options!

Instead of waiting until the last minute to grab a Starbucks card on the way to school (I’ve definitly done that before), try planning ahead to get something thoughtful and pair it with a heart-felt note. I love to write my own personal note of gratitude for each teacher but also encourage my kids to write their own thank you cards too.

Flowers (consider faux)

You can’t go wrong with some beautiful flowers! Last year for Christmas, I gave our teachers this cute Amazon purse vase paired with Trader Joe’s flowers and a red velvet ribbon. They turned out so pretty! For Spring, I think brightly colored garden roses with this hot pink gingham ribbon would be so cute! By the way, do you follow @happy_arranging on Instagram? It’s where I get all my budget-friendly floral inspiration!)

Another idea is to give your teachers a nice faux flower arrangement. I realize not everyone prefers fake flowers, but they can be a beautiful and lasting way to spruce up the classroom or your teacher’s favorite space. If you are in Dallas, check out Parker Paschall or Lakewood Succulent Design. I have faux arrangements from both and people always comment on how beautiful they are!

Customize a “Charmlet”

Ok y’all, Charmlets are one of my new favorite finds! Honestly, these are a little better for out-of-town friends because the packaging is so cute and shipping is free, but I think they are a great little gift for teachers too!

Charmlet is a product of Inclosed Letterpress Co., a high-quality paper goods company. They make these darling notepads with different foil-pressed icons. Their “Charmlet” product allows you to create a customized box of 3-5 notepads with a matching pen and personalized notes. I’ve sent several of these to friends the past year and always have so much fun choosing which notepads to include. You’ll just have to check them out to see what I mean!

Something to Help Them Relax or Feel Pampered

With Summer right around the corner, teachers will have more time to rest and reset after a full year of loving on our kiddos. They’d probably love to use a gift card to a spa or nail salon! You could also pair a nice face mask with a candle and some tea for a “spa night in.” One year we gave all our preschool teachers nail polish and lotion along with a cute note that said “Mani thanks.” (Our main teachers got a nail salon gift card too.) They were a hit and easy to do for a lot of teachers!

For teachers who love to read, you could pair a thoughtfully chosen book with one of those pretty $5 chocolate bars from Whole Foods. I love gifting Ruth Chou Simon’s devotionals – they are meaningful and so beautiful that all the wrapping you need is a ribbon.

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I hope some of these are helpful as you think about how to encourage and thank your teachers this year!

What other ideas do you have? If you are a teacher reading this, what’s the best gift you’ve recieved from a student? Let’s share and help each other out!