What are some really thoughtful and useful teacher gifts?

It's nearing towards the end of school and I have 3 teachers in mind that I'm going to give gifts to that have helped me thorughout my school years. What are some really creative, thoughtful and useful gifts that they will remember me by? Please post your ideas here thanks!

What are some really thoughtful and useful teacher gifts?
As a teacher, I don't expect gifts from my students. If you feel the need, a handwritten "Thank You" card with a picture of you would make any teacher's day! List some specifics of what the teacher taught you as a person as well as in the classroom.
Reply:Some suggestions for gifts other than the usual picture frames or teacher-related trinkets (and a small reminder of the summer fun to come) include:








A beach towel that folds into a beach bag, along with a bottle of sunscreen and a water bottle


A gift certificate to a store like Staples or Office Depot, placed in a tote bag


Iced tea glasses, iced tea spoons, and either fun-shaped ice cube trays or plastic "ice cubes"


Ice cream sundae dishes or cups, an ice cream scoop, and all the trimmings — nuts, sauce, and sprinkles


A journal, designer pen, tea light holders, and tea light candles





I am not a teacher or a mom but this is from a web site my mom was looking at for my little sisters teachers
Reply:Many schools prohibit parents and students from giving teachers gifts. An exception is usually made for homemade gifts. If you could make and give them some artwork, a craft item, or a food item, I'm sure that they would be touched. Be sure that you write a letter with each one. I think that a lot of teachers save such letters to refer to when it seems that they are getting no appreciation.
Reply:As a teacher, I dont normally encourage my students to give e gifts. But taking from what you said, i seem to surmise that they were your past teachers? And so, given that, relationships are no longer compromised. Speaking again as a teacher, I prefer a note of thank you. Believe me, those two words go a long, long way and will always be remembered by us. I know I do when students tell me that :)
Reply:The sweetest tokens that I've gotten are cards in which the students took the time to write a nice note inside. I save them and put them in a file folder. On those days when I feel as though I'm beating my head against a wall, I take them out and re-read them. It reminds me of past students and of the impact I have had on their lives.





Most teachers don't want gifts, per se, just a sincere thank you!
Reply:Last year about half my class gave me Christmas presents. A lot of the kids gave me a box of chocolates or something, but the ones I really remember are the two or three children who simply gave me a card. Inside the card, they had written (in their neatest handwriting :-D ) a short note thanking me for being their teacher and what they liked about my class.





Back when I was a student teacher, my class stole a merit award (I don't approve of that, btw) and presented it to me for being an excellent student teacher (I DO approve of that).





Be creative and make it heartfelt. I would discourage buying something in favour of making something. It doesn't have to be elaborate. Both these ideas were simple, cheap and effective.
Reply:Teachers don't hear "thank you" enough! The gift I loved the most was a poem composed by a student about the impact that I'd made on his life. It still makes me cry!