Write a thank you letter to the teacher from you and your child. Send a copy of the letter to the school principal and include examples of the impact the teacher has had on your child over the year. Get together with other parents and students to come up with a class photo album of all the students to give the teacher, or an album full of thank you notes from parents and other teachers. Create a scrapbook of classroom activities so far that year to give the teacher. Leave room at the end for him to paste in some pictures from the rest of the year.
Make gift baskets around themes like personal care or food. A personal care gift basket for a male teacher could include basic necessities like toothpaste and shaving cream. Gift cards to restaurants are another good idea. Pick restaurants that are in the area and buy a gift card that covers two people dining at the restaurant so the teacher can take a companion. Gift cards to coffee shops, grocery stores and big box retailers are also appropriate for male teachers.
Many teachers work in schools with tight budgets and getting even basic equipment can sometimes be a challenge. Think about buying the teacher basic supplies like pens and notebooks. Ask your child about the equipment in the room to see if anything is broken or missing pieces and buy a replacement. Larger equipment can be a class gift from all the students or some of the students. Coordinate with other parents to raise money to buy the big ticket item. Give the teacher a gift certificate to an office supply store so he can buy classroom supplies.
Keep a few points in mind when buying teacher's presents. Do not give presents that are worth a lot of money. Keep presents small and simple, unless giving a gift from several students or the entire class. Some school districts even require teachers to give back expensive gifts over $50 because the gift might be misconstrued as buying good grades or bribery. Before buying a class pet, consult with the teacher. A pet might be a great idea the teacher appreciates, but the teacher or students might have allergies or dislike certain pets. Also, label the present a "Winter Gift" unless positive the teacher celebrates Christmas.