Back in December, when we asked teachers for the Best Teacher Gift Ideas, by far the most cherished gift mentioned was a handwritten note or card from their students. Just a few words to let them know that all their hard work made a difference to our kids; according to our Very Important Teachers, this small gesture goes a long way.

But the other idea that received a lot of thumbs-up for its usefulness was a gift card to either a local establishment or national chain, where teachers could treat themselves or buy something for the classroom.  Turns out, what some think of as a go-to, last-minute gift is actually so very appreciated.

Related: Cool printable gift card holders for teachers

And so, as we begin National Teacher’s Week and near the end of the school year, we thought about the input our awesome teacher readers gave us, and put together seven of the best ways to combine the ease of giving gift cards with the thoughtful sentiment of a handwritten note or drawing.

It brings together the best of both worlds, ensuring our favorite teachers know just how much they are making a difference, while also giving them a little something extra.

– Find out how to win $100 for your classroom below! – 

Printable Teacher Thank You Card (free printable, Thirty Handmade Days)

Simply print this colorful, free thank you card and let your kids fill in the blanks with their own comments. Or, act as scribe for your preschoolers and fill in their (often hilarious) thoughts for them. The finished card then folds up easily to hold a gift card of your choosing.

Ice Cream Gift Card Teacher Appreciation Gift (tutorial, Creative Capital B)

Pairing a set of ice cream bowls with a gift card to a froyo or ice cream shop makes a thoughtful gift as we head into summer, though blogger Capital B tops off this treat in the sweetest way possible: With a short handwritten note from her son to his teachers. Full of creative spelling and signed with Love, this is one idea that will melt a teacher’s heart.

Photographic Gift Card Holder for Teacher Appreciation Gift (tutorial, Come Together Kids)

We love the cleverness of this idea which makes a somewhat impersonal gift card and makes it so special. Ask your child to strike a pose, creating a uniquely photogenic gift card holder starring them. Click over for the DIY, plus ideas for creating a booklet of writing prompts for the kids to fill out. Or for very young kids, let them draw pictures.

Gift Card Bouquet for Teacher Appreciation Gift (tutorial, Happy Home Fairy)

If you are in charge of a gift from the preschool classroom (bless you, class parents!) then this idea may be up your alley. It may require a bit of organizing, but the finished project is super adorable. Grab a snapshot of each child, ask them to decorate a flower, and then have each  parent donate a different gift card to add to this bouquet. Crafty types can decorate the flower pot, but we think it’s what’s on top that makes it really special.

Fill-in-the-Blank Teacher Thank You Note (free printable, Stephanie Corfee for Lil Blue Boo)

With its pretty printable watercolor-like design, this free printable on Lil Blue Boo looks like a store-bought card. We love the fill-in-the-blank interior page which is perfect for young writers. Simply tuck a gift card for coffee, books, or another favorite store inside.

Printable Thank You Card for a Teacher Appreciation Gift (free printable, Positively Splendid)

Though not specifically a teacher card, this  colorful, printable thank you card allows children to draw a picture of either their teacher, a favorite classroom memory, or themselves for the teacher to remember them by. Just tuck the gift card inside.

Printable Gift Card Holder for Teacher Gift (free printable, Pretty Providence)

This printable gift card holder from Pretty Providence gives kids a spot in which to write a short note of thanks. We like that the gift card can be glued to the front of the card, or just make a few snips and slide the card into place.

A message from our sponsor:

The National Education Association and National PTA want to remind you that it’s time to #thankateacher for National Teacher Week!

Let’s join the NEA and the National PTA in saying thank you to a very important teacher in our kids’ lives during Teacher Appreciation Week. From May 4-8, you can…
1. share a photo (like a picture of a teacher, a picture of a teacher with your child, or even a piece of paper with a thank you message on it)
2. share this post
3. post the apple graphic above on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Remember to use the hashtag #thankateacher and you could then be one of ten submissions randomly selected to win a $100 Visa gift card for your teacher! For more information, check out https://www.nea.org/thankateacher.