Here are the 4 BEST teacher appreciation gifts you could want!! I asked all my teacher friends (and even some teacher strangers online and they all weighed on the 4 gifts that teachers ACTUALLY want (told by teachers!).
Teacher gifts! I’ve said it once, and I will probably say it about 200 more times. It takes a special person to be a teacher! So when teacher appreciation week comes around, I like to shower those teachers with some amazing teacher gifts.
When I went in on Christmas to pick up my daughter from school, I saw about 15 bath and body works soaps and lotions on the teachers’ desk! And I thought, surely there has to be a better gift! (Not throwing any shade on lotion and soaps! I love them! But one from each student is a bit excessive!) So I asked all the teachers I know (and some I didn’t know…thanks Facebook!) and I’ve got the top 4 gifts that teachers ACTUALLY want!
These teachers were all so darn sweet, and they told me that they are grateful for anything and everything. Here is what they said they get a lot of:
Teacher gifts that are overdone
- soaps
- lotions
- chapsticks
- hot cocoa/coffee mugs
- socks
- apple-themed decor
These are not necessarily bad things, but remember all things in moderation!
4 of the BEST teacher appreciation gifts
#1 Personalized teacher gifts
One teacher said the sweetest thing: “We spend lots of time getting to know the kids in our class…so it’s fun when they get to know us as well”
These getting to know you surveys are awesome! Give one to your teacher and you have gifts that will last you all year long!!!
Getting to know you surveys
Favorite things survey: a girl and a glue gun
Teacher Questionnaire: Eighteen 25
Getting to know you: I should be mopping the floor
After you have a fun survey you can buy them gift cards to places they love to shop, buy them their favorite treats, surprise them with their favorite drinks, all such fun teacher gift ideas! Super thoughtful!
This pop printable goes great with any kind of soda!!
and luckily you can get on Pinterest and probably find printables that go with anything and everything!
One teacher said that a mom found out that she was saving for a bosch mixer, so she got all the parents together and they all chipped in to get her one! How sweet and thoughtful is that teacher gift!!
Moral: Get to know your teachers! I drill my son and I know his teacher loves coke (cause she always has it on her desk.) Usually, teachers have decorations of things they like (Harry Potter, Animals, Plants, Etc!)
#2 School supplies as gifts
Most teachers buy supplies out of their pocket. I know we have school lists of supplies to get at the beginning of the year, but think about how much use they get! Dry erase makers look nice for about 3 days in my house!!! So supplies are a great teacher gift idea! Luckily, the internet stepped up. There are so many great teacher appreciation gifts here, folks!
One teacher specifically mentioned SHARPIES in all the fun colors! Here are other fun supplies they loved getting:
The best School Supplies to buy for Teachers:
- sharpies
- dry erase markers
- highlighters
- reams of paper
- Clorox wipes
- post-it notes
- Glue Sticks
- Teacher stickers
Luckily there are all sorts of cute printables to go with each of these supplies!
Dry Erase markers: Pinterest
Future is sharp printable: A little Tipsy
Clorox Printables: A girl and a glue gun
We went through these Clorox wipes like kids and candy in my daughter’s kindergarten classroom!!!
Highlighter for a BRIGHT year printable: Tomkat Studio
You bring color to my life: Father’s workshop blog
Free Teacher printable for a ream of paper: Lolly jane
Dry Erase Printables: The happy Scraps
Post-it Note printables: The Happy Scraps
Markers: Adventures in Mommy-hood
glue sticks printable: g*rated
The highlight of my year: Love the day
Mason Jar craft: Pink When
Teacher School supply Essential Gift: Hi Sugar Plum
Sticker printables: Sweet Rose Studios
Clipboard: A girl and a glue gun
If you need help…walk down the aisle of Staples…I could drop $300 on paperclips and post-it notes alone!
#3 Teacher appreciation gifts: Gift cards!
Teachers are people too. They shop at target, eat out, go to the movies, and download dumb games on their iPhones. So give them a gift card!!! Gift cards are easy teacher gifts! (Lots of teachers said gift cards to Walmart or other stores and then they could buy school supplies they need!)
Gift cards = great teacher gifts!
Once again…thanks to Pinterest, whatever place you want to get a gift card to, there will probably be a printable for it!
Caffeine/Starbucks/Drink stop Gift card: A girl and a glue gun
Target Gift Card: Landee See Landee Do
Pizza Gift card: You have been framed
Pencil Holder gift card: a girl and a glue gun
Movie gift card: Skip to my Lou
Frozen yogurt Gift Card: Girl Loves Glam
Generic Gift card: Chickabug
App Store gift card: My sister’s suitcase
Ice Cream printable: I heart naptime
Cute appreciation gift card printable: A girl and a glue gun
App Store gift card: LandeeLu
Redbox Movie printable: The Crafting Chicks
#4 Thank you notes for teachers
Bless those teachers’ hearts~Almost every single one of them said a simple thank you note would be awesome! Nothing is cuter than seeing a 1st grader write a thank you note! I remember my daughter wrote one year, “Thanks you for lerned me this yer.”
I have some fun coloring thank you notes here:
and an honorary mention:
Have them fill out the survey in #1 and find their favorite treat!
but chocolate was mentioned quite a few times!!! One teacher said her favorite teacher gift was a specialty caramel apple.
(I will mention that one teacher says she doesn’t eat homemade treats!)
Other great teacher appreciation ideas
Now, I’m not saying you aren’t allowed to get your teacher this “tote ally ” cute bag.
or this fun bag makes a great teacher’s gift 
Amazing sign for their classroom.
Something totally fun for their classroom door
How about a keychain
Teach Cut file would be darling on a shirt or bag
A custom STAMP is such a cool gift!
They love stuff like that! Here are some others that were mentioned as great teacher gifts:
Lanyards or keyfobs, books for the classroom, amazon gift cards.
I will end with this from a wise teacher
“Best gifts are those that show an understanding of teachers as people and the demands of our jobs”
Jessica says
This is seriously the best list I’ve ever seen for teacher appreciation gifts!! Ever since my son started school I’ve struggled to come up with something more meaningful than just a gift card, hopefully something my son can participate in making. Thank you for including the “getting to know you” printable. I will definitely be using that this week!
Janna says
How about a beach towel, sun screen and a gift card to a book store.
Kimbo says
great idea!
Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts says
great post!!!
Rachel says
As a teacher, it’s nice to see this list. Honestly I’m amazed to get any gift at all. As a professional, you don’t expect to get gifts for doing your job, but teaching is a special calling so it is wonderful to be appreciated. The thought and care put into this list is so awesome! Thank you!
Tainttellin says
Gift cards are always the preference. You can almost be guaranteed the teacher will spend it on the class one way or the other!!!
Jennifer says
Things my teaching partner or I received that are always a big fat no:
Lingerie
Clearance gravy boats
Way expired lotions
Empty gift cards
Dead plants
Rose art brand supplies
A handmade card or wildflower would’ve been preferred.
HK says
Last year I got my girl’s teachers a mason jar with the new lids that have the straws. I got the bags of mini Nabisco chocolate chip cookies and Oreo cookies. I put a handwritten note on it that said “If you give a teacher a cookie, she’s going to want a glass of milk!” They loved it and one teacher even asked for the milk!
Jayne Kay says
My favorite all time gift was a contribution made in my name to a charity that supplies livestock to families in impoverished countries. I got a little wooden carved chicken and a family somewhere in the world received a real chicken! Loved it!
Kimbo says
Cool!
Stacy says
After 11 years of teaching I have three favorite gifts:
1. A little basket with all the ingredients to make fresh guacamole. Attached was a picture of the student and the phrase “Holy Guacamole you are a great teacher!” and on the back was the recipe. It has been on my fridge for years and is my go-to everytime I make guac.
2. A great end-of-the-year gift was a huge beach towel with a penguin on it (which the kids learned was my favorite!) and stuffed inside the rolled up towel was a penguin water bottle, and a $10 gift card to a book store for a new “beach read.”
3. A parent learned that my husband has Parkinsons Disease so he can’t use his hands well. She got me an automatic wine bottle opener with a note attached saying, “Now your hubby can always be ready for celebrations.” It wasn’t the gift as much as the fact she learned something personal about me!
Great ideas on this page!!!! Thank you!!