Christmas

Because nobody is expecting it. December arrives with a list and a date; October arrives with neither. A teacher who is thanked in the middle of an ordinary month remembers it far longer, simply because somebody chose to rather than had to.

Anything specific to them. A note that names one real moment from the year, or something carrying their own name, grade or room. Teachers keep those for years — often in a drawer they can point to straight away — because it proves someone was paying attention to them in particular.

Room number is the quiet winner, and almost nobody thinks of it. Schools often have two teachers with the same surname, first names can feel a little familiar, and grades change from year to year. A room number belongs to that teacher for that year and can never be spelled wrong.

One parent offers to organise it, everyone contributes a small amount, one thoughtful piece is chosen with the teacher’s name on it, and every child signs a card to go with it. It is the easiest version for everybody, and the teacher ends up with one thing they will genuinely keep.

They are the loveliest people to surprise. They look after children all year and are thanked the least often, so a small gift with their name on it tends to mean a great deal. If you would like a gift to be remembered, this is the warmest place to send one.

Naming something only you would know: the grade, the room, the year, the subject they light up about. It takes a second to add and it is the difference between a gift for a teacher and a gift for this teacher.