School supplies are a useful gift for a teacher, but you can do more than just fill a basket full of much-needed supplies. Instead, turn the school supplies you purchase into an attractive bouquet. Decorate a flowerpot by dipping the student's hand in finger paint and including hand prints all over the pot. Then, fill the flowerpot with colorful thumbtacks, paper clips and binder clips. Stick pens, pencils, whiteboard markers and pieces of chalk in the flowerpot, serving as the "flowers" in the bouquet. Attach notes of gratitude to the items sticking out of the bouquet for a personal touch.
Your teacher likely has tangible gifts from years past in his desk drawer or home closet. Rather than risking giving him a repeat gift, give him something he's sure to appreciate. Coordinate with your teacher's assistant or school administrator about cleaning the classroom on a Saturday morning. The students and parents can dedicate a couple of hours to cleaning the classroom from top to bottom, organizing desk and cubby holes, cleaning the white board or chalk board and dusting the shelves. Replace the current bulletin board with one that says "Thank You, Mr. Morrison," along with notes of gratitude from the students.
Thank your teacher by having the student draw a picture or write a letter that expresses his gratitude. He can tell his teacher about his favorite activity during the school year or share with her how she improved his knowledge. Frame the picture or note in a simple wooden frame so that the teacher can proudly display it in her classroom or at home. It will serve as a reminder of exactly why she teaches.
A seasonal end-of-the-school-year gift is a summer survival kit for your teacher. In this kit, combine school-specific items as well as other creative items he'll enjoy. Embroider a beach towel with your teacher's name on it, and throw in a pair of flip-flops. Add in some books for summer reading -- classics like J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" and Ernest Hemmingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" are books your teacher will enjoy, even if he's read them before. He can add these books to his classroom library in the coming year. In the meantime, this basket provides some items for relaxation during the summer months.