The Savvy Five: Teachers’ Gifts

We know you don’t want to get caught holding the bag—but when June comes, it’s worse to get caught without a bag. Especially on the last day of school, you’ll want one filled with a nice gift and a thank-you note in hand (that goes for nursery school, too). For their unlimited patience and fun way with our kids, teachers deserve our thanks for a great school year. So to help you with that, here’s this month’s SavvyFive, our favourite teacher’s gifts you can make or buy (no need to thank us).

Tuffo Water-Resistant Outdoor Blanket
Good for: The outdoorsy teacher
Why It Made the List: This innovative, water-resistant and durable picnic blanket includes a carrying bag with storage pocket, comes in a variety of colourful and durable fabrics and is machine washable. At 54” x 84”, it offers the promise of time away from the classroom and a lazy, hazy summer filled with relaxing picnics and beach days. It’s big enough for a whole family to enjoy and the interior batting makes it super-comfy, too (in fact you may want one yourself for soccer tournaments and family reunions). ($49.95, available at mountainbaby.com)

Homemade Herb Garden
Good for: The green-thumbed or gourmet-chef teacher
Why It Made the List: Teachers will appreciate their own living herb garden in time for summer, and the kids will love helping create it. Have the kids hand-paint ceramic pots (you may want to help with the glazing). Then take a trip to the garden centre to pick out a variety of herb plants and pot them up in your decorated pots for the gift that keeps on giving all summer long (assuming it gets watered on a regular basis). (Thanks to reader Lisa Henderson for this savvy idea.)

Personalized Stainless-Steel Travel Mug
Good for: The coffee loving teacher
Why It Made the List: These stainless-steel travel mugs are totally customizable, making it easy to acknowledge your teacher’s name, favourite colours or quote. We’re partial to the simplicity of the Initial Mugs but regardless of which customization you choose, it will definitely help your teacher start the morning off right every day this summer and beyond. ($28, available from kathyandkimoriginals.com)

Painted Muskoka Chair
Good for: The cottager teacher
Why It Made the List: If you’re in charge of the class gift, gather all the kids together one day after school or at a class party, and have them make their mark on a wooden Muskoka chair with acrylic paints and/or permanent markers. Once the chair is fully decorated (you may want an adult to help with inscribing an official thank-you message from the class on the back of the chair first), you can finish it with several coats of acrylic varnish for a wonderful and memorable group gift that’s sure to provide some relaxation for Teach this summer. (Thanks to reader Laurie Foote for this savvy idea.)

Personalized Stationery
Good for: The old-school teacher
Why It Made the List: Sometimes Twitter, Facebook or Foursquare just don’t cut it for keeping in touch with people, and that’s where everyone should have some classic stationery on hand. Recognize teacher this year with a set of Meringue Inc. notecards. Designed in Toronto by mom entrepreneur Helen Billett, they come elegantly personalized and available in 34 different designs. You never know, you might even get one back in the mail as a thank-you card. ($22 for a set of 12, available at meringueinc.ca)

So whether you buy or DIY, you’ll go straight to the head of the class with these savvy thank-you gifts.

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