The 10 Best Gifts For Teachers
This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in December of 2017. Teachers are invaluable members of the community whose work helps shape generations to come. Often their lives can be stressful and demanding, requiring that they work after hours to create lesson plans, grade assignments, and more. Giving your favorite educator a gift is an important way to thank them for all they do. This list includes some of the best options for showing your appreciation. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Burt's Bees Classics Gift Set
2. Post-it Super Sticky Notes
3. Kate Spade New York Canvas
Editor's Notes
April 06, 2020:
Showing your child's teachers just how much you appreciate them can be tough, since educators are individuals with unique tastes, interests, hobbies, and needs. That's why we've kept a wide range of gifts that has something for everyone, from the coffee fanatic to the artsy type. We ultimately opted to remove the Pursetti Tote Bag and the UrPower Essential Oil Diffuser, however, over concerns about their long-term durability. For a more robust bag, we selected instead the Kate Spade New York Canvas, offered in several fun prints from eye-catching to reserved. It'll hold a handful of books and last for the long haul thanks to strong, well-placed straps. We also added the Post-it Super Sticky Notes. True, it's not the most glamorous gift in the world, but it's a thoughtful option that can help teachers stay organized and on top of all the tasks they have to manage. The Contigo West Loop Travel Mug might help, too, since it lets educators stay caffeinated throughout the whole day.
If you think the teacher in your life needs some stress relief, there's Teacher Life: A Snarky Chalkboard Coloring Book. Note, though, that the sayings found in this adult coloring book are a little bit too sarcastic for some, so you'll want to save this for recipients with a big sense of humor. For artistic fun that's more open-ended, we've kept the Tombow Dual Brush Pens. Each set includes a blender pen, and they're acid-free and nontoxic, to boot.
Special Honors
Visa Gift Card It may not be the most personal option, but the Visa Gift Card allows the recipient to buy exactly what he or she needs, whether that's classroom supplies or something more fun, like a night out on the town. And because these can be purchased in a wide range of denominations, there's one to suit any budget. usa.visa.com
Lands' End Canvas Tote The Lands' End Canvas Tote boasts a classic, iconic design that never goes out of style. These bags are incredibly robust, making them an excellent help for toting heavy stacks of paper or grade books, and they can be monogrammed to make the gift just that much more personal. landsend.com
Oriental Trading Personalized Pencils Although more and more classrooms are going digital, many educators still rely on writing implements, like these Oriental Trading Personalized Pencils. You can have the teacher's name or a fun message printed on them, whether you choose a plain, solid color or an eye-catching design. orientaltrading.com
4. Contigo West Loop Travel Mug
5. Tombow Dual Brush Pens
6. Nutritional Facts Teaching Mug
7. Simple Modern Water Bottles
8. Art of Lunch Bag
9. Teacher Life: A Snarky Chalkboard Coloring Book
10. Elan Lesson Planner
Melissa Harr is a language-obsessed writer from Chicagoland who holds both a bachelor of arts and master of arts in English. Although she began as a TEFL teacher, earning several teaching certificates and working in both Russia and Vietnam, she moved into freelance writing to satisfy her passion for the written word. She has published full-length courses and books in the realm of arts & crafts and DIY; in fact, most of her non-working time is spent knitting, cleaning, or committing acts of home improvement. Along with an extensive knowledge of tools, home goods, and crafts and organizational supplies, she has ample experience (okay, an obsession) with travel gear, luggage, and the electronics that make modern life more convenient.