EARLY YEARS: Showing Teacher Appreciation

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The website study.com has released a recent survey on teacher gifts, as students spend the month of May showing teacher appreciation.

“The go-to gifts for many parents and students are homemade goods, especially baked items. But more than a third of teachers surveyed, say they are the least desired gifts to receive. What teachers do seem to love are handwritten notes and letters,” says Cicely Glanton, the National Director of K12 Impact for study.com. “Teachers really want something personal and heartfelt from their students that doesn’t really cost anything,” she adds.

It’s the small, but meaningful gestures of appreciation - those seem to be the most impactful gifts. But if you do want to spend some money on a gift, Glanton says gift cards are favored by about 45% of teachers surveyed.

“For their flexibility and practicality for purchases in the classroom and outside of it,” says Glanton.

If you’re trying to budget the right amount for teacher gifts, how much should you plan to spend?

“Roughly 43% of teacher gifts are in the $10 to $20 range, based on the survey,” says Glanton.

As for the most memorable gift mentioned on the survey, Glanton reads a note from one teacher, describing the priceless gift she received from a student.

“To my surprise, he popped out from behind his mom and said “I love you” and handed me a picture. The picture was of both of us walking outside. He was a non-verbal special needs, and that was the first time he’d ever spoken to me," says Glanton.

For the complete survey results, click this link.