Whether for the holidays, a birthday, the end of the year or just because, these teacher gift ideas will get you moved to the front of the class. Each teacher gift was selected BY teachers FOR teachers.
Can We Really Thank Them Enough?
As if we shouldn’t be sending gifts and thank you notes every day to the teachers that put up with mold young minds and shape the next generation, we scramble the day before a holiday or the last day of school to find that perfect gift to express our gratitude. The end result? A ceramic mug with candy…
Okay, not always. But far too often… And while all the teachers I surveyed agreed that they equally love any gift they receive from a child, many of them expressed that a simple thank you with a hug or a hand written thank you note goes much further than any physical gift ever would.
Frances made Mrs. Barbie the necklace she is wearing at the beginning of the school year. She painted her the picture (on the left) towards the end of the school year.
Growing Up with a Teacher
When I was a child, my mom was an elementary school music teacher. I remember my favorite school day for her was the day before Christmas vacation and the last day of school. She would come home with a box of gifts from her students and always let my sister and me open the gifts. Being the sugar addicts that we are/were, we loved the homemade cookies and candy. (Of course, Mom had to inspect everything before we could eat.) Mom received dozens of ornaments over the years and to this day she still hangs many on our family Christmas tree. In addition to the Facebook survey I took, I asked Mom to contribute to the list. Her top picks for favorite gifts were gift certificates, ornaments, CDs and home made goodies with her least favorite being overly personal items like lipstick and perfume.
“Ornaments were always my favorite because even to this day I remember who gave me each one and remember them fondly and my time with them in the classroom. It is a great way for me to share stories with my kids. Plus I always take a picture of it and send it to that student to show them I still have it and to wish them a Merry Christmas.”
-Rosie Contri Johnson Retired Music Teacher
What Gifts Do Teachers Really Want? I took a survey on my Facebook page asking teacher friends to share the best gifts that they’ve received from students over the years. I also asked if they would share ones that they didn’t particularly care for. In addition to over two dozen responses, I received numerous inbox messages, emails and texts with suggestions. After rounding up all of the responses, I found there was one resounding sentiment…teachers are happy to be remembered and appreciated.
“Anything is appreciated and loved especially because everyone is coming from different economic backgrounds.”
Best Teacher Gift Ideas
Thank you note
Gift cards (Starbucks , Target, Walmart , local restaurant )
Ornament (with child’s name and date)
Manicure or pedicure gift certificate
Personalized items (clipboards, cups, notepads)
School supplies basket (fine point Sharpees , laminating pouches , nice markers, sticky notes, card stock, ink)
Movie passes Original art from student
Local produce market or (plant) nursery gift certificate
Living plants (orchid, poinsettia, flowers)100% cotton kitchen towels Pre-packaged jarred cookie mix
Spa gift card
Amazon gift card Monogrammed bags
Books for the classroom Bookstore gift card with a bookmark made by the student
Cute lanyard (for keys or ID badge)Beach bag with magazine, sunscreen, etc.Redbox gift card with snacks (I love this gift package !)
Prepackaged tea Prepackaged gourmet foods
Any items the teacher collects (angels, nativity scenes, etc.)
Scarf /pashminaCharity donation
“When I was teaching I loved getting ornaments. It’s even more fun now when I’m putting up my tree to remember the kids who gave them to me!”
GIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK
Baked Goods Roasted Rosemary Almonds , Rosemary Shortbread Cookie Cutouts , Pistachio White Chocolate and Cardamom Biscotti or Sweet and Salty Dark Chocolate Bark !)Scented Items Money
“Honestly, it is just nice to be remembered by my kids.”
LEAST FAVORITE GIFTS FOR TEACHERS
(…but equally appreciated because of the sentiment)
Ceramic mugs (note “ceramic” as I’m pretty sure not many would turn down a Yeti rambler )
Plastic cups with candy
Statues of Santa or snowmen (unless they collect them)
Picture frames (unless something sentimental with teacher and child)
Holiday tchotchkes and knick knacks
Holiday jewelry
#1 Teacher gifts
Stuffed animals (unless for the teacher’s child or pet)
Note: These lists may contain affiliate links.
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What Gifts for Teachers Are You Giving?
Do you have go-to gift ideas for teachers? Or, are you a teacher with an opinion about what you love receiving or what you prefer to pass on? Share below so I can add them to the list!!
Another one which we do that are always well received are caricatures of the teacher. These can be from a single parent or from the whole class. The beauty is that the aspects of the teacher they love can be incorporated into the custom artwork. This can be printed and framed or/and put on a shirt etc. Great value! Click name for link
These are great ideas, we usually club together as a class and give gift vouchers for Christmas and the end of term The teachers seem pleased with this. I get my kids to do a homemade thank you card as well.
We always give wine. We make our own wine and we always create fun labels for when we are giving gifts to the teachers. So far, all the teachers have loved the gift.
Sometimes I pair the wine with a gift card, candy, or some cheap trinket that my child picked out (I always tell the teacher that we will not be offended if they do not keep it but that (child’s name) was just so excited to buy it.)
However, I know that wine is not always the best gift – some school do not allow and some teachers don’t drink. Luckily, we have not experienced that yet so I can stick to my go-to gift!
Depending on the teacher, I will also give wine. The teachers fill out a form at the beginning of the year with their favorites–foods/drinks, colors, restaurants, sports teams, etc. If they include wine, I often will pair with something else.