Gifts that are related to retirement can help to show a teacher that the school kids, and perhaps the parents if they assist with choosing the gift, are thinking about the teacher’s future. Some gifts may be humorous. For example, a T-shirt that has the word “Retirement Rocks” can bring a pleasant smile to a teacher’s face. These types of T-shirts can be ordered from a specialty store or hand-drawn with fabric markers. Other ideas for words on a T-shirt include “Retired Teacher on the Loose” and “The Legend Has Retired.” These words can also be printed on a coffee cup for a nice retirement gift.
Small statues or paperweights in the shape of an apple can make for retirement gifts that last. Apple gifts are also symbolic of the traditional gifts of real apples that school kids bring for teachers. The commemorative apple statue could be inscribed by specialty stores with thoughtful wishes from the school kids such as “You Made a Difference” or “To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever.” The teacher’s name and the year could also be inscribed.
Retiring teachers may also appreciate the creativity, thoughtfulness and work that went into a retirement gift that the school kid made. This may be particularly pertinent for younger school kids. If the teacher taught any particular craft during the school year, such as creating pencil holders from clay, the school kid could fashion one at home, inscribe it and present it as a retirement gift. Other homemade gifts that a retiring teacher may appreciate include a coffee cup that is decorated with permanent markers with a design the school kid made. The teacher’s name could be drawn on the cup by the school kid along with a large heart, for example. Younger school kids could make jewelry boxes or memo holders out of Popsicle sticks and glue.
Other gifts a retiring teacher may appreciate include wind chimes, a teacher tapestry pillow, a teacher appreciation frame that frames a poem written by the school kid, and a schoolhouse keepsake.