There’s always a parent at each school. This parent is the one that elicits oohs and aahs from the teachers when they realize her child is in their class. She is always there to volunteer, and gives the best teacher gifts at Christmas and the end of the year.
While I am not this mom, I’m not the one they groan about either (I hope). OK, now I’m paranoid, someone tell me if they groan about me 
I try to do something creative, but not too out of the box each year for teacher gifts. At Christmas, I usually make them some kind of chocolate covered something-or-other. My standard fall-back is a restaurant gift card.
But I usually try to be a little more thoughtful with gifts to the people I’ve trusted my children with all year. This year, the budget was tight, and so was time, so I thought up these backyard barbecue kits. You could probably add a few more things to these buckets, but I wanted to add some fun, colorful, useful (the operative word in gifts) items that would show them we’re thinking about them- all while staying under $5.
Each Backyard Barbecue Kit contains:
- Large snack/drink tub (Dollar Tree $1)
- White tumbler, decorated by the kids (Dollar Tree $0.33)
- (2) Brightly colored tumblers (Michaels $0.50)
- Fun picnic plates (Michaels $1)
- Lettered journal (Michaels $1) My 8yo insisted on these. Could be used for the guest book, or fun memories?
- Marinade or BBQ Sauce ($0.50 Harris Teeter on sale with coupon)
- A few fun straws (Michaels ($0.16)
Total cost: $4.49. I actually want to add a bag of chips, which will probably get snacked upon right after school. So that might put the cost slightly over $5. But all in all, I think the teachers will know how much we value them, and have some cute stuff to use at their next cookout. That’s what it’s all about, right?
What do you do for teacher gifts?
UPDATE: We brought these in for the teachers today and their eyes lit up so big! It felt really great to make them happy after they’ve cared for my kids all year.
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About Sarah Pinnix
Twitter: reallifesarah
says:
Now that I’m looking at them in the picture, I’ll probably add some tissue paper to fill them out.
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Cute. I’d probably be the groan-maker. It’s part of the reason I homeschool. I’m positive I’d be the parent no-one cares to know. ;0)
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MamawW Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Ihink it is great you homeschool.
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Cindy Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:42 pm
It’s the only way I could avoid having to give teacher gifts! LOL
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Sarah
Twitter: reallifesarah
Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Cindy, you crack me up!
Twitter: amymchodges
says:
Love these Sarah! I’ve been trying to think of what to do, now I am totally stealing your brilliant idea!!
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Sarah
Twitter: reallifesarah
Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 8:25 am
Awesome!!!
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Very cute, thanks or sharing.
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Twitter: CowsDontMoo
says:
Super cute! I love Dollar Tree-they have some really cute stuff for making gift baskets like these!
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LOVE this idea! I did the same basic thing but used the Dollar Tree foam coolers as the “holders”. Very cute and useful (at least I think so!) for the summer. Thanks for sharing.
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Sarah
Twitter: reallifesarah
Reply:
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:12 am
That’s such a great idea for a container!
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I am so stealing this idea. Thanks.
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I love this Sarah!!
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I am the grade parent for both of my kids. For one of the teachers, the class came together can was able to give her an $83 donation to her favorite charity, the American Cancer Society. I have never seen her that close to tears before (or maybe was that because we gave her 2 duty free lunches that week)
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Sarah
Twitter: reallifesarah
Reply:
June 5th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Oh, Amber, that is such a terrific idea!!! Maybe I’ll make it a point to find out if our teachers next year love any charities
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What about a candy bar card? You buy some branded candy bars and compose an appreciation note using the candies’ names in the note. Then you make the big thank you card and glue the candy where you used its brand name… This is cute and sweet.
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