Okay, while researching for this very post, I came across an article by USA Today entitled, “30 Best Gifts Teachers Actually Want in 2020.” Of course, I thought, “Well, they have it covered so maybe there’s no need to write a post rounding up the best teacher gifts.” WRONG! I read the article and a good portion of the items on the list are a. NOT WHAT I WANT (and I’m a teacher) and b. more than $100! Seriously, why would I EVER think that USA Today actually had something covered?
I mean, sure, I’d love a $200 Cricut machine, but who ON EARTH is spending $200 on TEACHER GIFTS? I know I’m not the only one who isn’t because I have many students that I teach and…still no Cricut. Good news though! I have never expected any gift from a student, much less an extravagant one! So, breathe that sigh of relief and let me give you a few ideas for teacher gifts that are thoughtful, solid, and won’t break the bank!
10 Best Gifts for Teachers
Okay, this was the one thing on the USA Today list that was actually practical and would be loved by most teachers! Teachers spend a lot of time planning lessons…and basically, because they receive salaried pay, the amount of effort that goes into planning lessons also affects how much they are paid to do so.
Teachers Pay Teachers is a website on which teachers share lesson plans for other teachers to purchase. Because there are lesson plans beginning as low as $1, this is a great gift for any budget because even a $5 gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers can give a teacher a night off to spend with family. It would be cute with a little card saying something like, “For your next, ‘I don’t have time to plan’ emergency!”
There are so many cute teaching t-shirts available online right now! Etsy has so many to choose from, and even Amazon has some cute ones. If your school has casual Fridays, or if it is fully online right now, how fun to wear a teacher t-shirt to Zoom classes!
Our school has Mascot Fridays—so giving your child’s teacher either a new school mascot shirt, or a gift card to the place that prints them, is also a great idea! When you wear your school mascot to work every Friday, a new option to add to the mix is awesome! And the bonus is that every time your child’s teacher wears that shirt, your child will get to feel the joy of giving that gift all over again!
- Classroom Supplies—
Most teachers spend a lot of money out of their own pockets buying school supplies for their classrooms. By the time Christmas rolls around, some of those supplies are already dwindling and the thought of having to pay full price for office supplies is not exciting!
Ask your child’s teacher what things he or she may need for the classroom. Teachers love to get new books for their classroom bookshelves, new pencils, rulers, etc. that students sometimes borrow and either break, or never return.
Sometimes, teachers even make a “classroom wish list.” If you don’t see one posted, ask your child’s teacher if he or she has one. It’s a win-win. The teacher gets to spend her money on something other than school supplies, and your child benefits from getting to use the supplies you buy!
- Handmade Christmas Décor—
Basic, store-bought Christmas items are a little cliché for teachers sometimes and chances are, your child’s teacher probably already has a few teacher-themed ornaments. But if you love to give hand-made Christmas gifts, then Christmas décor is usually a pretty safe bet.
One year, one of my students’ moms made giant snowflakes out of scrap wood for all of her children’s teachers and they were amazing! I still have it and every time I put it out for Christmas, I think of those boys.
If your child wants to help, teachers love a hand-made gift from one of their students. You can elevate a simple drawing by having your child put it on a canvas. Another sweet, homemade gift idea is to buy tiny canvases and magnets, and have your child write a message or draw on it. Then, your child’s teacher can display your child’s gift on her file cabinet. If you need more ideas, here are some gifts kids can make.
One student gave me a snowman made from Polymer clay that he made himself and it is so cute! He is now in college, but I still have that snowman he gave me when he was eight.
Maybe you don’t have time for any of that. Don’t worry! One of my favorite gifts is just a hand-written note from a student! Sometimes, keeping it simple is the absolute best!
- Beef Jerky—
This one is great for male teachers. We have given this to my sons’ male teachers and coaches with a card that says, “Thanks for not being jerky” and they all have gotten a kick out of it. Plus, teachers, male or female, love to have a snack that keeps well in their desks!
If you can, get some “top of the line” beef jerky (sometimes butcher shops have THE BEST JERKY!) that your child’s teacher probably won’t just buy for himself, making it an extra special treat!
- Gourmet Spices/Grilling Rubs—
Most men use the grill from time to time, even if it’s just out of necessity. Giving your child’s teacher some gourmet spices or grilling rubs is always a safe bet because it’s consumable. If you feel like elevating the gift, just a bit, you can add a barbecue sauce and a pair of tongs to give a “grilling basket.”
My sons have, from time to time, also chosen items like a sampler pack of hot sauces for their male teachers too. There’s just something manly about being able to handle the ghost pepper marinade…or something like that. (It makes no sense to me, but whatever!)
Also, if you’re visiting one of your favorite restaurants, you can ask if you can purchase some of their sauces to add to a basket and it makes a great addition. I had no idea you could do that, but my friend put together a “Texas Roadhouse” barbecue gift set one year for one of her kids’ teachers and…well, there were no complaints!
- Posters for the Classroom—
Most teachers like to freshen up their classroom over Christmas break. How great would it be to take the guesswork out of that by giving your child’s teacher some new classroom posters?
It’s a great gift because it’s usable and it fits every budget. You can get some great classroom posters in sets from Oriental Trading Company (free shipping right now on any order!), or you can splurge by spending your budget on one bigger poster from a craft store, and I have even seen classroom posters at the Dollar Store.
Have your child choose some for her classroom. It’s a great gift because every time your child sees the posters he gave to his teacher, he gets to feel like he contributed something great!
- Practical, Usable Items—
Teachers like items that are practical and usable from their students. In fact, this is a great time to get your husband—gifters of all things practical–involved in gift-giving because while that top-of-the-line ice scraper/brush may not be the gift you were hoping to receive from your husband for Christmas, your child’s teacher may love it!
Think of things you wouldn’t buy for yourself. A new cozy blanket that isn’t necessarily needed will be appreciated; or a small tool set that your child’s teacher could have in case the cupboard door falls off the hinge, or the classroom bookshelf is in need of repair.
- Fundraiser Items—
I love to buy teacher gifts from fundraisers. I have purchased dance-themed pasta for our daughters’ dance teacher; jerky sticks, or cheese spreads for others; soup mixes, nuts, etc.
You can use those fundraisers to kill two birds with one stone. Buy a teacher a raffle ticket; or a box of thin mints. Whenever those fundraisers come around, be mindful of teacher gifts!
- Carwash Tokens—
Because everyone could use a carwash. Enough said.
Gifts to Skip this Year (and Every Year):
- Coffee Mugs—
I beg of you, I don’t care how cute it is, please do not buy your child’s teacher a coffee mug! There are only so many ways to say, “World’s Best Teacher” on a mug and only so many mugs a cabinet can hold! If you want to give your teacher a coffee gift, skip the mug and go for the gift card!
Of course, it’s the thought that counts, but that only adds to the reason that teachers don’t want a mug! Teachers don’t want to get rid of something that a special student gave to them, but there are only so many mugs we can use in a lifetime!
Please believe me! Your child’s teacher does not want another mug, unless he or she has specifically put that on a wishlist!
- Apple/A+/Giant Pencil Themed Paraphernalia—
Like mugs, teachers get apple-themed, A+-themed, or Giant Pencil-Themed items all the time. If two students get her something with these themes for both Christmas and end-of-the-year gifts, that adds up quickly!
Again, teachers don’t like to throw gifts from their students, but Tacky Teacher Paraphernalia gets out of hand quickly!
I don’t know why companies think these themed items are so great! Teachers stare at pencils, notebook paper, and rulers all day, every day. We don’t want to come home to pictures on the walls that say, “A+ Teacher” on a blackboard with an apple border. We just…don’t.
- Alcohol—
There has been a trend on Pinterest in recent years to give a child’s teacher a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer with a snarky card that says something like, “I know my kid. He makes me want to drink too.” Please do not resort to this gift for your teacher!
- Schools have a ZERO-tolerance policy for alcohol on school property. Getting that gift to your child’s teacher will be difficult.
- Please do not assume that teachers need to drink to get through life. Most teachers LOVE what they do! They LOVE their students! That’s why we do what we do! I do not consume alcohol…ever. So, maybe some teachers do, but let that be their choice and don’t force it on them…no matter how clever or funny you think the gift would be.
- That’s a pretty cheap laugh at your child’s expense. While some teachers may find it humorous, most would probably not find it as funny as you think. Because again, a good teacher loves kids…and does not laugh at them or make jokes about them.
Final Thoughts on Best Gifts for Teachers
Please, please, if there’s one thing I want you to know, it’s that teachers do NOT expect gifts! And we don’t favor the students who give us gifts more than the ones who don’t. Gifts are lovely. They are kind gestures that make us feel extra appreciated, but there are many ways to make us feel appreciated. If you don’t want to give your child’s teacher a gift, or you’d love to, but don’t have the budget, but you appreciate that teacher, take time to tell your child’s teacher that you appreciate her. Write a note, send an e-mail, or just tell her in person, “Thank you for everything you do!” It will go just as far as giving her a gift!
