Stop giving teachers coffee mugs!! I kid of course. Teachers are selfless and gracious and any teacher appreciation gifts they are given by a child or family means so much to them. Whether you are shopping for Teacher Appreciation Day, Christmas gifts, or a just-because gift for your teacher, we’ve got lots of unique teacher gift ideas that will help!
Remember-teachers don’t expect gifts and don’t *need* them either.
However, it’s so nice to feel appreciated, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week, which always occurs during the first full week of May!
Many people default to giving teachers a mug because they aren’t really sure what they would like! (And honestly, some teachers think a mug is the perfect gift and they collect and treasure each one.) However, I’m going to share lots of ideas to celebrate your favorite teacher and all the hard work they do!
In this post, I’m going to share some of the BEST teacher appreciation gifts teachers have ever gotten.
(This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that Amazon sends me a little pocket change, at no cost to you, if you purchase through one of these links. This helps keep my site running!)
How do I know these are THE best teacher gifts? Because they told me!
I asked my Facebook group of elementary school teachers to share some of the best teacher appreciation gifts they have ever received. Here they are:
1. Plant Gifts for Teachers
Teachers shared how nice it was to receive a plant or flowers picked out by a child or their family.
You don’t have to get them from a fancy florist! You can just swing by a local garden center and pick something there. Small flower or succulents are great for the classroom. You can even try to incorporate their favorite color! Put a note that says, “Thanks for helping me grow!” with it, and have your child sign it.
If you have a garden, pick some fresh flowers and send them in with a wet paper towel to keep them from wilting.
2. Gift Cards as Gifts
Restaurant gift cards are really thoughtful gifts.
Why?
Teachers are BUSY and work many hours. A restaurant gift card can take dinner off their to-do list one night. And, since they aren’t making NFL sized salaries, they probably aren’t treating themselves that often.
Not sure which restaurant to choose? Pick from your local restaurants, the teacher’s favorite restaurant, a coffee shop, something that has a variety of cuisines, or maybe a DoorDash gift card so the teacher can have lunch delivered to her at school one day!
Target, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Amazon gift cards rank up there among teacher favorites too. Many teachers spend their own money on their students and their classroom, so gift cards like these are always thoughtful and helpful. Some teachers say these are the best gifts to receive.
3. Gift School Supplies for the Classroom and for the Teacher
As I just mentioned, teachers spend so much of their own money on supplies. Hooking them up with some GREAT supplies is a nice way to show that you appreciate them.
Here are some PERSONAL supplies teachers love to receive as a gift:
- Papermate Flair Pens
- Colorful Markers (Expo)
- Anchor Chart Markers: Mr. Sketch or Sharpie
- Personal Laminator and Laminating Pouches
- Post It Sticky Notes Limited Edition Colors
- A sweater, hoodie, or t-shirt with the school mascot
- Water bottles
- Tote bags that they can use to transport their lesson plans back and forth from school and home
- Gift card from teacherspayteachers
Here are some helpful CLASSROOM supplies:
- Ticonderoga Pencils
- Fine point black Expo markers
- Party Favor Toys (These are great if the teacher has a prize box for student rewards. You can also find these types of items at the dollar store.)
You can send in helpful supplies any time of year. It’s the perfect way to let your child’s teacher know you appreciate them. Just include a personal note with it!
4. Homemade Gift Ideas
My favorite gift that I ever received was a painting from one of my students. She brought it to me on the last day of school. On the back she had written, “I love you Mrs. Smith, I will miss you.”
This gift meant so much to me because she had had a rough year at our school and she challenged me in a lot of ways. When she brought me this painting she had made with her special message, I cried!
Homemade gifts are so special and are a great way to put a personal touch on fun gifts for the teacher.
Here are other handmade gifts teachers shared that they had received and LOVED:
- A bracelet
- A sign
- A decoration for their desk
- A homemade book (written and illustrated by the child)
- Ornament with a handwritten note inside (great for Christmas time)
- A card with a handwritten note from the child and/or family
- Something in the teacher’s favorite color
- A self-care gift basket
5. Other Thoughtful Gifts
Thoughtful gifts are some of the ones that stick with teachers over the years the most. These gifts show how much the family knew and cared about the teacher.
Here are some thoughtful gifts teachers received:
- A tote bag with the teacher’s name on it
- Massage or spa day gift certificate
- Airplane miles to help the teacher’s family visit
- A blanket with a picture of the teacher’s pet on it
6. Photos From the Year
Another great gift for teachers is a keepsake photo from the year. Think back from any memorable moments from the year. You could also use a class photo or a photo of the teacher with the student giving the gift. Just put it in a frame!
One teacher shared that a family gifted her a photo of the class on a field trip. It was in a frame and signed by all of the students.
Photo gifts are so thoughtful because teachers treasure their students. Having a photo to commemorate their year together is always special.
The Bottom Line
When you decide what to give a teacher as a gift, it’s important to remember that it’s not about how much money you spend.
Many teachers wrote about how letters from parents and cards from students were so special and they saved them. A note is such an easy way to celebrate great teachers! Remember, the most important thing is to let the teacher know they are appreciated and cared for.
