Teacher Gift Guide

It’s that time of the year where families may want to get a little gift for their child’s teacher. I will say, as a high school teacher, it is much less common to see, but when it does happen, it makes my teacher heart smile! But coming up with a unique idea to gift to the teacher can be hard. If you’re looking for ideas, look no further, as below I list 12 ideas of what to give your child’s teacher, from a teacher.

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1. Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts gift card

Most teachers I know survive through coffee – myself included. Just a small gift card to a coffee shop would make any teachers day!

2. Self care items

As teachers, we take a lot of our work home with us, physically, emotionally, and mentally. So we can get burnt out pretty quick. Providing us with some self care items would remind us to take care of ourselves! Maybe a set of bath bombs, some face masks, or if you want to go all out for us, a gift certificate to get a massage even! I would be eternally grateful for a reminder from my parents and students to take care of myself.

One of my personal favorite self care items is my TeacherCareCrate that I get every month! I’ve been receiving them since the company first started and I look forward to them every month. You can gift a subscription of one, three, six, or twelve months. Or there’s even specific Teacher Appreciation crates that are put together already as well!

3. Package of masks and/or tissue boxes with hand sanitizer

Depending on where you live, teachers and students may be masked in the classroom, so providing a pack of disposable masks to your teacher could be a great way to limit their costs. Or you can bring a box of tissues as winter time is prime cold season. Around this time, I have students asking for tissues several times a day and I run out quickly! On top of the masks or a box of tissues, a bottle of scented hand sanitizer is always nice to provide as a gift to a teacher. 

4. Pencils, pens, lined paper

Similar to the above item, getting supplies for the classroom is a great gift for teachers too! Often times, these things are paid for our of the teacher’s pocket, so just a few items can help alleviate the financial load for us. 

If you’re looking for more ideas similar to these items, look at what teachers need for back to school!

5. Flair pens and/or Inkjoy

Now if you don’t know, there is a long debate between teachers about these pens. Team Flair or Team Inkjoy? I’m personally Team Inkjoy, but still use Flair pens when I have them. But gifting these to your student’s teacher will make them smile for sure!

6. Mug with tea or hot chocolate

If your teacher doesn’t enjoy coffee (how do they survive?!), you can always get them some hot chocolate or tea with a cute mug or to-go cup!

7. Chocolate or baked good

Chocolate always makes the day better. Period. If you’re thinking about doing a baked goodie, make sure to check the school’s (or teacher’s) policy as some teachers don’t accept homemade food for health reasons.

8. Expo markers

Many teachers use Expo markers or whiteboard markers fairly frequently. Refilling their supply of markers will make their day!

9. A plant

Often times, our classrooms are our homes away from home. We spend a lot of time in our classrooms, so we try to make it as comfortable as we can. I love having plants in my classroom or in my home. One of my favorite plants was a gift from a student after my husband and I bought our house. It still blooms once a year and it reminds me of that student every time I look at it.

10. Alcohol

Some teachers enjoy wine to relax (and some don’t!). But it’s always funny to us when a family gifts us teachers alcohol. It’s like they understand the stress.

11. Gift card for dinner

Some teachers have a tendency to stay after school way past their contract time, which results in little time for dinner. Instead of bringing us food, getting a gift card to a restaurant would be a sweet – or savory – gift for a teacher.

12. Thank you or appreciation note

This one costs no money. Taking the time to write a thank you note or send us an email of appreciation means the world to teachers. Every time I’ve had a family member, or even a student, tell me how much they appreciate me, it warms my heart immensely. For me personally, this is the best gift I could receive as a teacher.

Have you ever gifted a teacher? What did you give? What was the reaction?