Check with the school to be sure you understand its gift policy. Some schools forbid gifts altogether; others discourage them or set a dollar limit on their value.
Check with your child to make sure she wants to give a gift. If your child doesn't, but you do, make it clear that the gift is from you.
If your child does want to give a gift, involve her in the selection process. Start by asking your child what the teacher might like.
Shop with the idea that the gift is a token of your child's appreciation for the teacher's efforts. Think small and inexpensive.
Better yet, encourage your child to make a gift. Even a first-grader can frame her picture with Popsicle sticks, and those are the types of gifts teachers treasure long after they've eaten the last box of chocolates.
Shopping at the last minute? Personalize that "World's Greatest Teacher" coffee mug with a handmade card from your youngster.