10 Teacher Appreciation Gifts that Don't Cost a Thing - Happy Home Fairy (2024)

I taught 2nd grade for 4 years and then preschool for 4 (and still going!). I remember spending all my money on supplies and special projects and being at the school late at night creating bulletin boards and grading papers. I remember praying for my students and their families and looking forways to best serve them.

I know without a doubt that the teachers who care for my boys give 100 times more to my kiddos. They love them and serve them as if they were their own!

Finding ways to honor these precious teachers is a goal of mine. I have shared dozens of posts helping you do just that (see them all HERE)! But most of themrequire some amount of money and, let’s be honest, most of us don’t have money.

Teacher Appreciation Week is next week, May 8-12, so how about some FREE ways to bless your child’s teacher?

Principal Letter

This is my favorite free way to appreciate a teacher >> let the principal of your child’s school know that you think your kid’s teacher is amazing. Simply take 5 minutes, sit down at your computer, and draft up a simple email or document detailing why the principal made the best choice when hiring your child’s teacher! It’s Always Autumn explains this idea in detail and even provides sample writing promptsto get you started! Check it out HERE.

Recess Coverage

Do you know what would make your teacher’s day?! Arrange with the school for you to drop in and take over her recess time so that she can take a quick break. I imagine every school has different policies on stuff like this, but it doesn’t hurt to ask and it has potential to totally knock your teacher’s socks off!

Social Shout-Out

The next time you are on Facebook, update your status with a shout-out to your child’s teacher. It can be as simple as, “My boy, Noah, has had the best year because of his teacher, Mrs. Sandoval. Thank you, Mrs. Sandoval, for helping my child grow!” Some of you might be social media friends with the teacher, so make sure to tag him/her if you do this. If not, tag the school’s Facebook page!

Child Note

When I was teaching, my favorite gifts were the letters from my kids. It meant the world to me to hear their little hearts and encouragement. Don’t know what to say? You can finda FREE Printable letter for your child to color and personalize HERE from Frugal Novice.

Door Decor

Trace every student’s hand on construction paper and cut-out, write HANDS DOWN, YOU ARE THE BEST on a poster board and hang everything on the teacher’s door for a happy surprise. This year at our school the students are all receiving a small, cut-out sun. They will take these home and write what they love about their teacher across the front. Then they will send the suns back in and we will hang all of them on the teacher’s classroom door. Nothing elaborate like THIS DOOR of awesomeness, but simple, free, and meaningful.

Bathroom Break

Like the recess coverage, see if your child’s school will let you pop in to the classroom for 5 minutes so that the teacher can take a bathroom break. Don’t know what to do with a class full of kids? Be prepared with a quick story time! HERE are my favorite books to get kids laughing!

Classroom Clean-Up

Having a whole mess of kids in one small space can offer a terrific amount of germs! Ask the teacher if she needs any cleaning done in her classroom. Maybe wiping down the blinds or dusting the bookshelves or scrubbing the desks could be a huge blessing to a busy teacher.

Car Surprise

Find out what kind of car your child’s teacher drives, then while he/she is teaching, leave a note under theirwindshield. You can find an adorable FREE Printable Teacher Appreciation Poem HERE from Kindergarten Works. THIS FREE Printable inspirational sign is also super cute! If you have a few bucks, tie a helium balloon to the door handle, too!

Applause Time

Have the teacher leave the room for a minute, then tell all of the students that when the teacher returns, they get to give the teacher a standing ovation! A round of applause for a job well done!

Photo Fun

Take a photo of the teacher with your child or the whole class. Upload the photo to a free photo editing site like PicMonkey to add cute sayings like BEST TEACHER EVERto the picture (Need help with that? Click HERE for the how-to). Print or send it to her in an email.

Whatever you decide, the teacher will love it.

And so will your checking account. 😉

Joyfully,

Julie