A Special Teacher Thank-You: A Personalized Book
I grew up the daughter of a teacher, so I saw firsthand how hard teachers work. Fast forward a few decades, and now I see firsthand how what is expected of teachers has multiplied exponentially and how superbly so many of them do what they do. (After 15 years as a SAHM, I work now as a sign language interpreter and often interpret in school settings such as IEP meetings and staff meetings, but I also work as an adjunct college-level instructor, too.)
Teachers deserve more thanks than we can even give, but I have discovered that a personalized book is one of the best ways to thank a special teacher.
A Meaningful Gift
When my children were in elementary school, I appreciated all the teachers and assistants who connected with my children, helped them grow, sparked something in them, and made the year so meaningful. It really meant a lot to me personally to have my children cared for and served that way.
Like many moms, I liked giving year-end thank-yous, and after one extra special year with an extra special teacher, I decided a personalized book would be so much more fitting than a gift card or flowers or lotion.
The first time I did this, I asked all the parents to have their child write a little something to the teacher. I included photos, and all the parents contributed a couple of dollars to this group gift. I wish I’d taken a picture of the book, but I’ll never forget the teacher’s sweet reaction and the kids’ excitement about giving her something so meaningful straight from their sweet little hearts.
Since then, so many deserving teachers have received books from my kiddos as thanks. Putting into words the things the child learned, appreciated, remembered, enjoyed, etc., is just a priceless way to thank a teacher.
Ideas to Make This Yours
There’s something special about the combination of words and photos. Yes, a thank-you note or book by itself is very meaningful and special, but when a 6-year-old face is there alongside the words, those words come to life. Here are a few ideas for making a special thank you book truly personal.
- Include the whole class. Take photos throughout the school year to include in the book, such as class fieldtrips or activities, school parties, field day, etc.
- Use your child’s words. Ask questions to prompt responses. What was the most fun day of this year? What did you learn the most? What quality does your teacher have that you appreciated? What was the hardest thing you did this year that you are proud of? What will you always remember about 3rd grade? What is your favorite thing about Mrs. Spritzer’s class?
- Show growth. Take photos of artwork your child creates, completed homework on the first day and homework on the last day, reading or math learned, a growth chart, etc.
- Use an ABC outline, such as “A is for Activities. Miss Holmberg gives us fun activities to help us learn math facts,” etc.
- Write first and take photos to match. Maybe your child loves reading and wants to thank the teacher for having so much free reading time. Get the words down, then take a photo of your child reading or of your child’s favorite book.
- Make it from everyone. Get a photo and a little paragraph from each student. Each student will have his or her own page, then, in the book!
Easier Than You Might Think
Now that about 15 years have passed since I last thanked a teacher with a personalized book, I wanted to share this idea with you. I created my books from scratch using digital art and a software program (which you can still do–this is my recommendation, hands down), but I’m happy to also share with you some simple, clean, beautiful templates that are easy to put together, designed to impress with stunning quality and professional style.
This Chalkboard Snapshots is one of my favorite templates for a teacher thank you just because the chalkboard style is so cute. One of the pages of this template is for full text (without photos), too. The cover (left) is shown as a Father’s Day book, but it’s completely personalize-able, so it’s perfect for a teacher, too.
Don’t forget–these books are top quality, printed with the best inks, papers, and bindings in the industry so they will last for years and years to come. These are only two template examples, so if you’d like to explore other styles, find them here.
This Timeless Primary is a much simpler design, with pages in primary colors. This template is designed for more photos and less text, but there’s a page of just text, too.
And, yes, these personalized thank-you books could certainly be created for coaches, music teachers, church leaders, and other special people in your child’s life.
If you’re looking for something special FOR someone special, a personalized DIY book is the way to go. It means more and lasts longer than traditional teacher thank-yous, and it gives your child (and you!) a chance to put gratitude into words.
Take this idea and run with it! I’d love to see the teacher world flooded with personalized thank-you books! 🙂
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