• A small gift can show big appreciation.Juan Silva/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Good teachers work well beyond the school day -- doing everything from grading papers and assisting with extracurricular activities to mentoring student teachers and assisting troubled students. A teacher appreciation gift can be anything from a simple thank you to a large group gift. Whatever the gift, a sincere gesture will be appreciated long after the school day is over.
  
  

Supplies

• Teachers often purchase classroom supplies with their own money. A bag of supplies such as crayons, glue, facial tissues, scissors, hand sanitizer, dry erase markers or colored paper makes a useful gift. Ask the teacher if there are specific supplies needed for the classroom. A gift card to a teaching supply store or a discount department store makes a nice gift, too.
  
  

Cards

• A simple and sincere thank you note makes a wonderful gesture. A handwritten thank you note from an appreciative parent, or a handmade thank you card from an excited student will brighten any teacher's day. If the teacher has done something special for the class, have all of the students sign a thank you card.
  
  

Personal

• If the teacher has a specific hobby such as camping, reading, photography, crafting or bicycling, give a gift that suits his interest. If her hobby is reading, buy a cloth book bag and have all the children in the class sign it. Or, have the class pitch in and get a signed copy of a book by a favorite author. A gift card to a store that caters to a specific hobby or interest also works well.
  
  

Personalized

• Create a gift personalized by the class. Paint-it-yourself pottery shops offer a variety of gifts that can be personalized, including mugs, platters, bowls, pitchers and ornaments. Frame a class photo in an autograph mat and have each child sign his name. Create a one-of-a-kind school spirit shirt for the teacher. Have the school name and year printed on the front and have each child sign the back. The teacher can wear this special shirt on spirit days for many years to come.
  
  

Gift Cards

• Teachers have 20 to 30 children in their classroom each year which often means more mugs and teacher-themed knickknacks than there are shelves to put them on. Gift cards for restaurants, department and book stores, and grocery stores make wonderful gifts that teachers can use for themselves or the classroom.