The List: 13 Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Teachers spend as much time as you do with your kids and teach them important things like how to spell their name. Show your child's teacher how grateful you are with one of these 13 Creative Ways to Say Thank You.

Worth noting. A personalized pad of paper for the educator you admire won't cost you much in the way of time, money or craft supplies, but will be a genuinely well-received end-of-year gift they'll actually use.

We can't stop kids from growing. So for those instructors who give that little extra along the way—a needed push, hug, or hand up—a bounty of blossoms in a DIY custom container (made by small hands) will send the right personal message.

School's out for the summer—whether we like it or not. Down-to-earth teacher types will be thankful to scrub away the remains of days spent in the soil with this all-natural hand brush and moisturizer set.

Reinforcing the old adage ‘it's what's on the inside that counts' is fine for kids, but not us adults. We need our carry-alls to look good from the outside and we're not afraid to admit it. Whatever you stuff into this cute customized tote the kids create will likely pale in comparison to the outer art made from the heart.

Good teachers don't usually stand for labels (‘gifted' vs ‘smart') but they'll make an exception in this case. Gift a great grab bag with their name on it for anywhere they'll go this summer.

While their days might still be spent with more rudimentary materials (chalk, pencils), there's no stopping the technology train. Your/their favourite teacher will appreciate a head start on the hi-tech highway with a portable LCD tablet for their own daily tasks and to-do lists.

Give them a little squeeze on their last day. For the teacher who likes to take off in the summer, a set of travelling tubes for lotions and other liquids will make packing up (for camping or airport security) much easier.

We may not possess many of the key ingredients that make up a good teacher (patience in particular), but what we lack in scholarly skills, we can make up for with good gift giving. Cooks of all kinds—even the most basic—will get a kick out of custom spatulas destined to stir things up a little.

For all the great gift ideas out there, few will mean more than a donation to a charity someone is particularly passionate about. A small donation to a cause of their choosing will send all sorts of messages to a terrific teacher, including ‘thank you for all you do.'

Add a little glass to your gift. Much like the recipient who has multiple talents (educator, disciplinarian, negotiator, counselor), the Mason jar has multiple uses too. Pop in the present and you have the perfect vessel for gift card giving.

We're all familiar with the idea that good things come in small packages. Deliver on that thought with a reusable silicon take-out/lunch container that doubles as a nifty gift box for small but wonderful surprises.

Most of us think our kids are bright. Stay on theme with a colourful tote kids can customize themselves with the teacher's name, their classroom number and more. Add in some complementary coloured tissue and pop an envelope on top. Having kids do some of the work? Smart.

Try this simple addition. Add dozens of children plus a morning start plus required curriculum to get through minus any disruptions. You'd need a daily injection of caffeine too. Wrap up a coffee (or tea) card with a cute message that says it all.