"No Apple Mugs, Please" DC teachers on end of year gifts
FIT4MOM DC
It’s that time of year —backpacks are looking a little rough; the lost-and-found pile might topple over; your calendar is filling up with performances, graduations, and presentation; and it is time for end of year teacher gifts.
If you are looking for a more guidance than "teacher gifts are not expected, but are appreciated" - we got you! We talked to DC teachers and parents from pre-school through middle school to get actually information on what teachers want and what families give in our region.
What Do Teachers Want?
Aside from insisting that end of year gifts were not expected, all the teachers we spoke with said that the most meaningful gift is a note from your child (or from you!) sharing what they loved about the year, what they learned, or how the teacher made an impact.
The teachers we talked to were divided on whether or not to include a photo with your note. One Pre-K teachers told us that it wasn't necessary because they take pictures of the kids in class for newsletters, but some DCPS elementary school teachers said they really treasured a printed picture of their students on a field trip or at an assembly or doing a presentation.
Okay, but really?
When pressed teachers agreed that cash or gift cards, especially for Target, Amazon, or DoorDash, were their top request. The parents we talked to also preferred cash or gift cards, and from Pre-K to to 5th grade parents pretty uniformly said that they had given or were planning to give $20-$30/teacher as part of a pooled gift.
By middle-school, when students are changing teachers for most subjects, end of year gifts are not nearly as universal and seem to be reserved for teachers a student/family specifically wants to show their appreciation for.
When it came to pooled gifts, parents that wanted to show a little extra appreciation typically did it through flowers or a smaller personalized gift.
*Note About Personalized Gifts
The DCPS elementary school teachers we talked to could not have been more gracious. They are absolutely honored by any gift and truly do not expect anything. That said: please, skip the "world's best teacher" mugs and anything with an apple on it.
It is likely a pretty widespread opinion that people prefer gifts they know were selected with them in mind - teacher said the same but there was there was a clear divide between useful and ornamental gifts with a preference from the former. For example, if you know that your child's teacher loves gardening, it is likely that they would prefer pair of gardening gloves to a little ceramic figure of a garden patch.
Gift Card Alternatives
If you want to do something instead of or in addition to a gift card or cash, here are some ideas we heard from pre-K teachers and DCPS elementary school and middle school teachers.
- Classroom supplies: sharpened pencils, post-it notes, markers, etc. Some teachers have a supplies wish list. You can always ask.
- Cleaning supplies: most teachers breakdown their own class room at the end of the year so a bag with paper towels, windex, magic erasers, etc could be really helpful.
- Help! Parents and older students can offer to help with year end wrap-up activities or cleaning or breaking down the class room.
💬 Final Thoughts: Do What You Can, and Know It’s Enough
Every school and family is different. Some schools or their PTAs provide guidance on end of year gifts. You might get lucky and an un/official room parent might reach out to organize a group gift (be sure to thank them!).
Whatever you give — or don’t give — we know that parents and students really want to show their teachers how much they are appreciated. We hope these insights help you find the right way to say thank you to these very important people in your kids' lives.
We’re cheering you on as you wrap up the school year. You’re doing amazing, Mama.