Teacher Gifts: It’s the Thought That Counts, Not the Size or Spacing of the Writing. Right?

One thing that I have accepted about myself is that I am not a crafty/creative person.
It doesn’t keep me from trying every once in a while. My kids usually cringe in fear (embarrassment?) when I announce that I’m going to try to make a gift instead of buying a gift.

“Homemade gifts are special.” I say. And when I make them, they are “extra” “special.” If you know what I’m saying and I think that you do. (See: These creations for a reference.)
Today is my daughter’s last day of Kindergarten. I wanted to give her teacher something special. I decided to try to replicate a gift that we had made for The Teenager’s kindergarten teacher. I couldn’t find the picture of the one we had made eleven years ago, so we did the best we could based on what we could remember.

I was up until 1am last night putting the final touches on it.

This is what Gabby will be giving to her teacher today.

We tried. We really did.

59 thoughts on “Teacher Gifts: It’s the Thought That Counts, Not the Size or Spacing of the Writing. Right?

  1. mommabird2345

    That is so sweet!! My daughter was just finished kindergarten on Friday. We just gave her teacher flowers (in a pot) and my daughter made her a card. This is WAY better. 🙂

  2. Traci

    I was a teacher for 10 years…this is an amazing gift!! So personal and thoughtful. Any teacher would be lucky to get such a gift!!

  3. Jean

    I love this!!! I don’t care about the writing size or spacing, didn’t even notice it. Just saw what a thoughtful and beautiful thing you made, not to mention those plants are so pretty 🙂

  4. Kathleen

    How could she not like it?! It’s adorable and choked me up just a little bit. You should be quite proud of your effort.

  5. Jackie

    I have no idea what you are talking about. I think that that is freaking adorable and may steal this idea!

  6. cristie

    I haven’t taught in a long time, but I would have loved this. Although I too am craft challenged so I may not be a good judge!! I do feel your pain though and I think you did an outstanding job. So much better than a mug.;)

  7. Jackie Hall

    Are you kidding me!?!?!? THAT is addorble! What a special, thoughtful gift. I bet she loves it. It is unique in a very good way. Very creative! I’m impressed. After your introduction I was thinking oh no… what did they do. I can’t wait until you give us the feed back as to what her reaction was/is. 🙂

  8. schoolofmom

    That’s so cool! And way better than the Starbucks gift card we got for our daughter’s teacher. I’m sure she’ll love it.

  9. bikerchick

    That is absolutely lovely, Yvonne! Quit being so hard on yourself– it’s homemade, it’s from the heart, and I guarantee it will cause some lumps in the throat, if not tears to form. Well done!

  10. Vickie

    I think you know I’m a teacher. What you don’t know is this is my 35th year.
    Honest to God the stuff I’ve gotten over the years that didn’t even make it to the car from my classroom….simply due to the obvious lack of thought…bottom line, some of the true JUNK that had no possible use in any life.
    Let me tell you that had I EVER been handed a gift like the one I see in that picture, I would have sobbed like a baby.
    I’m pretty sure I speak for teachers all over, just starting out, somewhat into the field, and old-timers like me. You did awesome and I guarantee she will NEVER forget it.

  11. Hilary

    That is precious.
    I’m only an Ed. major now and before moving home from college for the summer my kindergarten class I was working with made me a book of drawings and I look at that book multiple times a day. I look forward to getting many more precious gifts like that, it reminds me why I’m doing what I’m doing.
    Her teacher will love it.

  12. rebecca

    What’s not to love! As a teacher I can tell you I would LOVE an end of the year gift like the one you made!

  13. Jenifer

    I’m totally stealing this idea. My first born goes to kindergarten in August. I’m going to bookmark this post for future reference. You are awesome!

  14. ElizabethZ

    You are too hard on yourself (as USUAL) – thinking anything but that this gift is awesome. Any teacher would be proud to get this (as opposed to say – coffee mug? starbucks gift card? boring!). My twin boys start kinder in 2011 and I am SO filing this little idea away in my brain for later use! Excellent work! She’ll love it and you should be proud to be giving it.

  15. Clementine

    I’m a child care provider and I’d love to receive a gift like that. Gift cards are great, but this is a personal, precious gift from you and your daughter. I bet her teacher will love it!

  16. Jenna

    That is AWESOME! Great gift idea! And seasonally appropriate. Mind writing a how to blog post? I’d love to re-create it.

  17. Rebecca Grace

    I love it; it’s perfect just the way it is. If the lettering/spacing etc. was too exact, it would look like a commercial “fake” homemade gift. I think it’s awesome and wonderful that you took the time to do something so special for your child’s teacher!

  18. jessica b

    Y, that’s a terrific idea! i wish I had thought of that when my son was little!

  19. Chris

    I’m sure the teacher will love it. We’ve done something similar in the past but used my child’s worn (often cracked or out grown by this time) rainboots. The teacher always remember my child wearing the boots to class and enjoyed seeing them in her garden.

  20. Katrina

    That is amazing! I’m planning on doing a twist on your idea for my daughter’s daycare provider. Thanks for sharing!

  21. Amy

    I’m a teacher, er, I was before I started staying home with my kiddos…and I would cry my eyes out if I got that gift! In a good way!!! That’s so precious! I don’t think I’m in the teacher minority when I say that we prefer homemade, thought-out gifts to store-bought ones!

  22. rebecca

    I am a teacher and I would love that gift. So, so thoughtful. Thoughtful thank you’s go a long way. Might come as a shocker, but teachers don’t often get thanked by parents. So, when you do, it’s awesome.

  23. paige

    As a former kindergarten teacher (now I teach ms and hs), this would have made me cry and I would have treasured it forever.
    You did good!

  24. Donna

    Another teacher who LOVES this gift. Thoughtful heartfelt gifts such as this beat the heck out of a candle any day. I would treasure it.

  25. Y

    Thank you ALL for the positive feedback!!
    Just for the record– her teacher loved it. (she cried!)

  26. RachelJ

    Did you know that this posting is linked to from Cool Mom Picks?! It’s under the heading Web Coolness. If these comments about how great your gift is weren’t enough, how’s that for a confidence booster?

  27. Desiree

    I think any teacher (or influential person for that matter) would be extremely proud of a gift like that. I know I would.

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