Gift Ideas for Teachers

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This is the first year I’ve had a child in school and therefore the first year in awhile that I’ve given any thought to year-end gifts for teachers. My mom was a preschool teacher though, and I think I learned a fair amount from her about the gifts that are most appreciated and those that just get an A for effort.

If you know your child’s teacher really well, you might be able to get something he or she will truly love. If you don’t know the teacher very well, you can try looking at a Facebook page to see his or her interests, but take care not to go TOO personal if you try this. You don’t want to let on that you’ve cyber-stalked them! And if Facebook doesn’t give you any clues, Pinterest exists and is overflowing with ideas. But…

Here’s the thing. You can find sooooo many gift ideas on Pinterest, but many of them require a level of craftiness that I don’t have. And if they don’t require craftiness, they often require a printer to print out some cute, punny gift tag. Well, I lost my printer installation disc about seven years ago, so nah.

So if you can’t get a super personal gift AND internet reconnaissance doesn’t work AND you’re not crafty, I can help. These gifts have general appeal.

Personalized Notebooks

I am planning to get personalized notebooks for my daughter’s teachers. May Designs offers so many options for personalizing notebooks, planners, tumblers and more. I know from my teacher friends that they spend a lot of time over the summer planning for the upcoming school year. I can’t help but think it’d be more fun to do in a cute notebook! Add a Le Pen 18 Color Pen Set to up the fun factor!

Magnolia Table

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Joanna Gaines? I’ve never watched an episode of Fixer Upper but I am kind of fixated on Chip and Jo. And every time I’ve walked past the Magnolia Table cookbook at Target, I’ve considered buying it. I have a whole stack of cookbooks here that I rarely open but I feel that Magnolia Table calling to me. Banking on that universal appeal, this cookbook could be a sweet gift. If you wrap it in paper, consider tying Hearth & Hand measuring spoons to the ribbon around it and top with a bow.

Personal Care

Self/personal care is all over the place, and there are so many elevated options now for gifting. Don’t get me wrong – I love me some Bath & Body Works from time to time. But what about something a little more luxe? I know that I love asking for these kind of things for gifts because typically won’t splurge on them for myself. I can’t promise that your child’s teacher is the same way, but given that teachers are chronically underpaid, it seems like there’s a probability that a special soap or bath bomb would be appreciated.

For the Coffee Lovers

Do all teachers drink coffee? All of my teachers did growing up. A cute mug with a bag of coffee (Starbucks or maybe a local blend?) would go over well.





Extra Tips and Ideas

I know that both of my daughter’s teacher live within a few miles of the school; in fact, we regularly pass one teacher’s house on our family walks! Since we’re all in the area, I might add a gift certificate to a local, independent shop or restaurant to their gifts. We have a few boutiques that sell cute wares, a soft serve ice cream window that’s impossible not to love, and a handful of restaurants that are local favorites.

Another fun idea is to check out Amazon’s Explore page. I’m not sure how to describe this other than a random mishmash of adorable stuff that I never knew I needed until I saw it. I’ve found a handful of gifts through this page that would’ve have crossed my mind as options previously.

My general MO with this kind of gift – for someone you care about but don’t know that well – is to land somewhere between totally generic and totally over the top. I know from time to time, my mom regifted some of the items from her students because no one actually needs 9 lilac-scented Yankee candles. I try to get something that will be special enough that the teacher wants to keep it, but still generic enough that if she or he doesn’t want to or can’t, it can easily be regifted it to someone else who would appreciate it.

Finally, always add a card from your child. Whether the teacher keeps it or not is up to them, but everyone likes hearing that they’ve made an impact. You can buy one or handwrite it, but it’s worth the effort either way. I don’t know a single teacher who’s in their job for the end of year gifts, but I’d bet the vast majority are touched by a kind word from a student, even if they’ve been in the classroom for 30 years.