Teachers work hard to help our children learn. Not only do they teach academics, they’re often called upon to help teach the lessons of life. Teachers care about our children. In return we can show our appreciation by giving the gift of memories.

Help your child make something special for the teacher in their life. The most loved and appreciate gifts are homemade and teachers will cherish these gifts for years.

Book Bag

Use your child’s class photo on a book bag. Scan the photo and use an iron-on transfer to adhere it to a white linen or canvas book bag. Use a second iron-on transfer to list the children’s names that are in the class and the year. Adhere this to the opposite side of the bag. Before you wrap the book bag, slip two or three books into it that the teacher can use to build a classroom library.

Decoupage Tea Tray

Purchase a wooden tea tray with handles, and then have your child select photos of class trips, parties and sporting events. Fasten the photos to the tray using decoupage glue. Stencil the date and year and the name of the school on the tea tray’s handles. Have your child sign the tray. When it has dried thoroughly, apply a clear coat of waterproof stain.

A variation of this gift is to buy the wooden tray and have each child in the class sign it after you’ve attached the class photo. Once the signatures have dried, apply a coat of clear, waterproof stain.

Memory Book

Have your child create a memory book. This should be started well before the date it will be given.

Use a scrapbook or hard cover journal for this project. Have your child look through photos of class trips, parties, sporting events, fundraisers and other extra curricular activities and chose ones that have special meaning. Scan the photos or have duplicates made for the child to glue into the memory book. Glue a picture near the top of each page and then have the child write several sentences or even a story about what the photo means to them. Be sure they add their name and the date to the inside cover. When the teacher opens the gift a smile will light up the entire classroom.

Books

Each year teachers spend their own money to add books to their classroom library. Books are always much appreciate by teachers. To make the gift even more special, create a label on your computer. Add a bit of clip art to brighten it up. Print the label and have your child add the name of the teacher, the name of the school, their name and the date. Glue the label to the inside of the front cover. Each time the teacher opens the book, they’ll remember the child that gave it to them.

Your child’s teacher will love these unique memory gifts and they will be cherished for many years.