Buy Teachers' Gifts Now

It might be fall, but now is the time to purchase your child's teacher gifts. Teachers always appreciate tokens of student appreciation, especially those that are hand-picked by their students. Parents can save a bit by stocking up now while things are on sale, and the back to school sales are a great time to do this.

The Cup of Joy

Teachers tend to get overwhelmed by coffee mugs, so think of a drinking glass instead. Pick up a pretty drinking glass and fill the bottom with colorful pebbles, shredded wrapping paper, or wadded tissue paper. Then, fill the glass with some supplies you find on sale now. Pens, Sharpies, highlighters, and pencils can fill the glass. Add a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a pretty ribbon with some teacher style and you have a pretty thank-you gift all ready for the next occasion. If your child helps you pick out the goodies, it will be more meaningful.

Teacher's Bouquet

Create a bouquet that will last until the end of the year. Gather a small but elegant vase and push a piece of flower foam inside. Purchase a variety of writing supplies, all of them green. Push each pen, scissors, ruler, and marker into the foam to make it stand. Then, using fun foam from the craft store, cut flower heads and push them onto the top of the pens. (The handle of the scissors doesn't need a flower top because it already looks like green leaves.) Add a hand-written note from your child just before giving the gift.

Classroom Box

Often the entire class creates one gift for the teacher at the end of the year. If you're in charge of the group gift, plan ahead and grab some things now. It's hard to shop for a teacher, but take a moment to think like a teacher. How much money do you think he/she spends each year on supplies for her classroom? Grab these very supplies now while they're on sale (just like the teacher is doing.) Look at the storage cubicles in the school aisle and pick up a colorful fabric storage bin or plastic tote-the kind a teacher would use in the classroom. Then, fill the bin with supplies and put it aside for later, saving the total receipt.

When things get crazy in June, you'll only need to divide the total cost and run the class collection fund. The other parents will appreciate the bounty of the gift, and the teacher will use her supplies for next year's class. Think of it as a gift from the graduating class to the upcoming class. All it will need is a class-made card at the end of the year.

Happiness and Health

There are some things a teacher loves that just aren't on sale in fall. Fill a pencil box with all the things that make teachers feel better during those long winter school months. Line the bottom with flavored vitamin C cough drops. Add some packets of herbal teas and some bottles of hand sanitizer. Teachers always appreciate hand lotion, as well. Save your healthy box for a time when your child says the teacher doesn't feel well or during cold and flu season. Most likely, she'll share it with her students and spread the health.