Forget the apple and get a Virginia teacher something they actually want for Teacher Appreciation Week this year.
National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4 to 8, is just around the corner. The job of a teacher, although rewarding, can be difficult. Consider showing your appreciation for your child’s teacher during the week by gifting them something more personal.
Here’s your guide to getting a Virginia teacher something they actually want for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Speak during a school board meeting
Most public school districts in Virginia hold monthly school board meetings during which individuals can speak publicly about matters related to the schools. Normally reserved for the beginning of the meeting, the public comment portion will likely have a two to three-minute limit per speaker.
Attending a meeting to express your appreciation for your child’s teacher to members of the school board is a great way to signal to the division’s leadership just how impactful the teacher’s work is.
Make sure you check with your school division to see whether you are required to register in advance or can do so before the meeting starts. The Virginia Beach School Board has guidance on how it handles public comments that you may find useful.
Write a letter to the editor
Most local newspapers accept letters to the editor, meaning that members of the community can write short letters on issues of local importance that will be published on the opinion pages.
Similar to speaking during a school board meeting, a letter to the editor is another free way to publicly express just how appreciative you are of your child’s teacher.
The Central Virginian in Louisa is an example of a newspaper that accepts letters to the editor through its website. The News Messenger in Christiansburg also accepts letters to the editor through email.
Gift ideas that are budget-friendly
Books
Teachers are constantly trying to pique the interests of their students with fascinating stories that will inspire them to develop a lifelong passion for reading. However, school libraries might not always have books that align with students’ interests. Help out your child’s teacher by getting them a gift card for a local bookstore.
The Little Bookworm
Location: 401 South Main St., Suite 103, Blacksburg
A gift card from The Little Bookworm makes a great gift for a teacher. The local children’s bookstore aims to help children discover the magic of books. A $20 gift card could help the teacher add a book or two to their classroom collection that their students will love.
Supplies
Surprisingly, teachers nationwide spend an average of $500 to $900 of their own money on school supplies each year, according to the National Education Association. Show your appreciation for your child’s teacher by cutting down on their out-of-pocket expenses with a gift card to a local stationery or craft supply store.
Merrymaker Fine Paper
Location: 3022 W Cary St., Richmond
Merrymaker Fine Paper has been fulfilling Richmond’s stationery and supply needs since 1979. The store stocks stationery, journals, writing instruments, and desk accessories. A gift card from here could certainly help lower your teacher’s out-of-pocket expenses, or a planning journal could help organize lesson plans if you want to pick something out yourself.
Classroom plant
Classrooms can be sterile and bland environments that aren’t necessarily conducive to learning. Help your child’s favorite teacher liven up their space by gifting them a classroom plant.
Botanical Dwellings
Location: 105 E Davis St., Culpeper
Botanical Dwellings is the perfect place to go for a classroom plant. Owner Tabatha Fulton’s goal is to incorporate greenery into everyday settings.
When shopping for your teacher, you can select the pot or planter and the plant. A hanging planter with Philodendron Brasil is ideal for elementary classrooms, so curious students don’t start digging in the dirt. Terrariums are a good low-maintenance option for teachers who might not want to worry about watering plants during school breaks.
Personalized drinkware
Teaching can be an exhausting endeavor, no matter how experienced the educator is. For that reason, it’s important to be properly hydrated. Getting a teacher personalized drinkware is a great way to remind them how appreciated they are every time they reach for a drink.
All Star Impressions
Location: 621-D Townside Rd., Roanoke
All Star Impressions, which has been around since 1993, offers personalized drinkware through engraving techniques. Get the 64-ounce growler for $70 for the teacher who prefers water, or the 30-ounce ringneck tumbler for $39 for the teacher who likes to stay caffeinated throughout the day with coffee.
Candles
No matter how proficient a teacher is, educating tomorrow’s leaders can still be stressful and tiring. To help your teacher slip into a restful mood at the end of the day, consider gifting them a locally produced candle.
Coastal Virginia Candle Co.
Location: 6661 Hickory Fork Rd., STE A, Hayes
Go to the Coastal Virginia Candle Co., which was started by Sebastian Brock in 2018. Brock began pouring candles in his Newport News sink, and he now offers candles that captures the essence of the tranquil Virginia coastline. The company’s candles are hand-poured with premium wax and high-quality fragrance blends designed to help create calm spaces. The siren song candle has notes of jasmine, violet, and cedarwood, and for $29.99 it’s sure to do the trick.
Lotion
Gifting a teacher a nice, locally made bottle of lotion with a calming scent is another way to help them relax after a long day at school.
Sun and Spruce
Location: 5524 Williamson Rd. Ste 15, Roanoke
Sun and Spruce is the perfect Virginia-based producer to turn to for a calming bottle of lotion. It was founded in 2020 on the idea of bringing together nature’s bounty and self-care. The couple who run the business, Krissy and Wes Reynolds, say that they create the products to delight both the senses and the soul.
Teachers will surely love the brown sugar + fig handmade lotion that promises to leave the skin feeling soft and moisturized.
Clothing
While schools don’t have as strict a wardrobe for teachers as some professions, they still expect their teachers to look their best. This likely means that new teachers will have to buy new clothes for work. Help out the new teacher who is making a difference in your child’s life by providing them with a gift card to a trendy thrift store so they can pick out the items that will make them feel their best while in the classroom.
DAV Thrift Stores
Location: 1525 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach
Having served the Hampton Roads community for more than 30 years, DAV Thrift Stores has eight locations. Proceeds from the stores are used to support the Disabled American Veterans Department of Virginia.
Teachers looking to build out their wardrobes will be able to browse the extensive offering of clothing, shoes, belts, ties, and other accessories.
