Stop Buying Mugs: What Massachusetts Teachers Actually Want Instead

As I sit here typing this very sentence, I am taunted by the small stack of "thank you" cards just staring at me waiting to be addressed. It's the end of the school year and that means teacher gifts are on the to-do list.

Gone are the days of placing a shiny, red apple on the desk. Over the years, I've purchased everything from gift cards to local coffee shops to candy and small plants for my kids' teachers.

What do the teachers actually want, though? We asked teachers here on the SouthCoast to share what they would love and what you can or should avoid when it comes to showing your appreciation for the educators in our lives.

"I just want a gift card and just a day off," one preschool teacher said. Though the latter is certainly not up to us, we can deliver on the first request.

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What Mass Teachers Beg Parents to Avoid Buying

A gift card to where, you may ask? Well, another teacher called to let us know her preference. "Target gift card, Amazon gift card, Starbucks gift card. Anything but a mug," she said. I have to agree. As a mom who isn't a teacher, I think the gift giving of the mugs can be put on pause for a bit.

The Genius Classroom Supply Bin Strategy

One of our listeners shared another unique idea for a teacher gift that she used to do when her children were younger. "I would get a storage bin and I would put all the school supplies that they would need for the following year," they said. "I would choose a book that would be donated to their classroom and I would just do a gift card to Target or Amazon. Just something small just to show that we appreciated them for the year."

The High Impact of a Free, Heartfelt Note

"A heartfelt note is always super sweet," one teacher shared. It's a great way to have the teachers feel appreciated and it's free for parents to do. Maybe have your child write the note themselves for an extra special touch.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Target to grab some gift cards.