For example, fifth grade teacher Kelly Larson in Medford, Oregon, says to skip the mug and go for the contents. Her suggestion for a great gift? "There's always coffee. Hot, in a cup, delivered," she says.

Simple, right? But it's true that gifts from the heart - ones that show you put thought and energy into them - make for some of the most memorable treats. "The coolest things I've gotten so far are handmade beaded items from this really great mom and her daughter," says Larson. And the most unique so far? "One boy gave me a start from his mom's 15-year-old spider plant, and he decorated the pot."

"Something I tried last year was a big hit for teachers," Mia Cronan, editor of MainStreetMom.com. "I made up plastic storage baskets of school supplies, gift certificates for Starbucks, notepads, picture frames, sample size of shower gel and a bottle of nail polish." What makes this gift so special? This mom of five from Hudson, Ohio, says, "It's personal, usable and fun, and they could reuse the plastic bin in their classroom or at home."

Lessons learned
By giving your child's educator a present, you're doing more than spreading a little love. You're also instilling in your child an important value. "I believe that giving a teacher a token of your appreciation for their year of hard work is a must," says New York-based Certified Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant Melissa Leonard ( establishyourselfNY.com). "Sit down and explain to your child why you are going to pick something special out for their teacher. Once you name a few examples of what teachers do for their students, have them add to the list. By saying these things out loud, a child begins to really understand how much hard work the teacher has done throughout the year. By discussing how much his/her teacher does throughout the year, your child will hopefully have an Oprah 'a-ha' moment!"

To help your child get the most out of the concept, don't prepare the present behind the scenes - Leonard says you should be sure to involve your child in the process. "It may be as simple as letting them help pick out the gift, wrapping it or simply handing over the gift to the teacher. Have your child write the thank you note to go with the gift," she says. "For a young child in kindergarten, have them dictate the thank you note. By putting into words why they feel lucky to have them as a teacher, your child will probably feel more grateful and grasp the concept."

Putting thought into being thoughtful
Coming up with a great gift idea sometimes means thinking outside the box - and thinking beyond what you would personally like to receive!

Unless you know the teacher very well, steer clear of gifts that may not take into account some very individual tastes and interests. To start, be very careful about buying scented products - including lotions, soaps and candles. Second, watch out for allergies. A lot of people are allergic to flowers or pollen, making hand-crafted paper flowers a safer bet. Finally, most teachers agree that they have received more than enough "Best teacher" store-bought trinkets over the years. Something a little more personal might better fit the bill.

Here are some more fun, creative and budget-conscious ideas to thank teachers, bus drivers, crossing guards, cafeteria helpers and all the other important people who helped to make the year fantastic.

That's interesting
What are your teachers' interests? You can take those into account when choosing a gift.

Sports fans: Window clings or bumper stickers with their favorite teams, cool sunglass cases, sports bottles (decorated of course), sweat bands, pedometers or stadium seats.

Travelers: No-spill mugs, travel-size toiletries, soft-cover travel or language books (with a hand-drawn bookmark), laminated luggage tags, or a little pack of munchies for the trip.

The chef: "Cookbooks are good - there's one for every topic and every type of person," says Cheri Sicard of Fabulous Foods, "from gourmets to kids cooking in their dorm rooms." Other ideas: Quality utensils, a utensil holder, dishtowels, potholders (check out the latest silicone kind) or some cute magnets.

Gift cards and certificates
Because of their flexibility, it's hard to go wrong with gift certificates and gift cards.