Teacher Gifts

Summer vacation is almost here, and sending in a small thank you to class with your child is a nice way to wrap up the year. Teachers' favorite gifts tend to be practical, says Debbie Wallace of Highland High School in Gilbert Arizona, "Because of slim budgets, we end up using our own money for extras and supplies, so gift cards to Staples or Target or for a website like art.com are really appreciated." If a gift card isn't in the budget or you'd like a creative way to package one, try the following ideas:

Just My Cup of Tea

Find a distinctive tea cup and saucer at an antique or home goods store and fill it with a gourmet set of tea bags and a box of specialty biscuits. Slip a gift certificate inside the cup, or help your child write a personalized note. "I love getting a letter or a note written by one of my students," says Macy Robison, a music teacher at the Summit Montessori School in Framingham, Massachusetts, "I always keep those."

Cup o' Soup

Moms aren't the only ones packing school lunch each day, teachers do too. Shop for a thermos with a great design, as well as a few gourmet dry-soup packets and package of oyster crackers. Pack the goods into a basket or box and add a personalized note. Your child's teacher will thank you all year long.

Spa Day

If your child's teacher would enjoy a day of pampering, organize a group gift providing a manicure or pedicure at a local salon. Buy an inexpensive set of flip flops, and cut out a cardboard foot (hint: trace the flip flop onto the cardboard and cut it just a bit smaller so it fits perfectly). Use brightly colored polish to paint nails on the "toes." Slip the cardboard foot into the flip-flop (make a slit in the cardboard so the foot stays attached to the strap). Attach the gift card to the cardboard with a simple note and you'll be sure to make a splash.

You Helped Me Grow

Purchase a small indoor/outdoor pot and add a few seed packets and a bright pair of gardening gloves. Using a bamboo skewer or large piece of cardstock, make a tag that says "Thanks for Helping Me Grow." It's the perfect container for a gift certificate, or a thoughtful present for a teacher with a green thumb.

Frumus.com

If your child's class has decided on a group gift but you'd like to streamline the collection process, consider using frumus.com . This free service allows you to register a collection envelope online, so students or parents can log in at any time and contribute. Use the funds to make a purchase directly from one of frumus' partners, or shop at the store of your choice. Frumus.com

Remember that a small token can be as meaningful as an expensive gift, so don't feel like you have to go overboard. "End-of-year gifts don't have to be extravagant" says Ursula Bohn, a French teacher at Meridian School in Orem, Utah, "it's just nice to be remembered."