Ask your child what he loves most about his teacher or what his teacher has said he really enjoys. Let the inspiration for the gift flow from your child so that he feels involved, empowered and motivated to complement his gift with continued respectful behavior toward his teacher. Let your child make his own card for the teacher and write a thank you message inside. Encourage him to be specific about something he is thankful to have learned that year. If your child likes to paint, get him a simple flower pot and let him paint a design onto it or a message or poem for the teacher. Fill the pot with coffee beans and pen flowers.
If your child enjoys baking, have her help you create a treat for her teacher. Make something as simple as chocolate chip cookies or banana bread. You can also make brownies or cupcakes or even have your child prepare a fruit or fresh vegetable basket for your teacher if you know that the teacher has dietary intolerances or just prefers fruits and vegetables. Include the recipe for any treats you make on a note card and attach it to the bottom of the plate or slip it inside of the basket so that the teacher knows exactly what's in the food and how to make it again. Have your child include a short hand-written thank you note to the teacher along with the treats.
Let your child give his teacher something she can use like a paper clip holder or colored paper clips in different shapes that your child thinks your teacher would like. If your child enjoys crafts, help him make his teacher a paper clip holder out of clay. Let your child pick out a box of pencils that he likes and give them to his teacher with a note of appreciation. Pair the pencils with a note pad that the teacher can use for planning purposes. Teachers may appreciate these types of supplies that their schools generally don't provide.
If you don't have the time to make or buy a gift, swing by your local ice cream shop or a chain restaurant and get your child's teacher a gift card. If you can't afford a $25 gift card to a restaurant, get him a $10 gift card for a coffee shop. You can also give a gift card for online retailers if you know, for example, that your teacher likes music, books or electronics. Have your child write a note of thanks to the teacher and slip the gift card inside of it.