Teacher’s Appreciation Week is coming up.
The week of May 1st.
Before you dive into the rest of THIS post, just read this post and this post. Then, I want you to think about the teachers in your life. Whether that be YOUR teacher, your child’s teacher, or your college roommate that became a teacher.
Now that you’ve been reminded of how wonderful teachers are – and you can see all the million things they juggle each day – you may want to consider getting them something special to let them know just how much they are appreciated.
I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve found online or things that I personally own (and LOVE!) and listed them below. (Note: Some of the links are affiliate links. They do not inflate the cost of products offered. They reflect the current sale price. However, I do earn a very small commission based on anything you purchase through the affiliate link. And I appreciate the support so very much!)
1) #TeacherLife Coloring Book
Click to buy on Amazon!
From personal experience, I’ve gotta say that, when paired with a glass of wine, coloring can be rather therapeutic. This coloring book – in particular – resonates with my insides. Mainly because whoever the heck created this coloring book truly knows what it’s like to be a teacher. (e.g. “Baked goods in the staff room. Treat yo’ self.” or “3 out of 2 people have trouble with fractions.”)
2) Bath Bomb Kit
Click to buy on Amazon!
There is no greater place to be at the end of a long, drawn out day than the bathtub. (With a glass of wine. <— Do you sense the trend here?). Fizzy bath bombs are all the rage right now. And they’re made with essential oils. Can you get anything more perfect than that?
3) Teacher Tote Bag
Click to buy on Amazon!
If you aren’t walking into school with 3-4 bags draped over your shoulder, are you really even a teacher?! Teachers carry their supplies to and from school daily. They take paperwork home to work on. They’ve got grading to do and lesson plans to write. It’s important that they have a large, sturdy bag to fit everything in. This one is pretty flippin’ cute. Or this one. If you want to get it personalized!
4) A Yeti tumbler
Click to buy on Amazon!
I don’t know a single teacher that finishes their cup of coffee before 8AM. We have every intention to drink our coffee. Heck, it’s why we put it in our coffee tumbler. But something (or someone!) demands our attention and our coffee gets put on the backburner. (But not even that because that would imply that it’s still getting some heat. No. Our coffee gets cold. Because we put it down somewhere and forget about it’s existence until the kids are temporarily in another place). The Yeti tumbler would be a perfect gift for a teacher. Because it keeps your coffee warm for HOURS. Once upon a time, I didn’t get back to my coffee until 12PM. But I was using a Yeti tumbler. And it was still warm and delicious. The end.
6) Decorative Wine Glass
Click to buy on Amazon!
I just feel like if you need to ask why, you’re probably not even friends with a teacher. You know?
7) Canvas Lunch Bag
Click to buy on Amazon!
Teachers don’t have an hour lunch to go off campus and “grab lunch” with the co-workers. They also don’t have the privilege of getting a free lunch as part of their benefits package. Most teachers I know spend Sunday night prepping their food for the week, separating their food out in individual tupperwares, and throwing tupperwares from their fridge into a plastic bag each morning so that they can find a small, teeny, itty-bitty, crevice in the staff fridge to fit their lumpy plastic bag in. Do them a favor. Buy them a lunch bag.
8) Teacher Mug
Click to buy on Amazon!
We can never have enough mugs. My drawer at work was always full of them. Because there’s never enough time in the day to wash the damn thing. So, you’ve gotta have back-ups on the off chance that you’re in desperate need of caffeine but can’t find a clean mug. (Although, if I’m going to be honest here, I’ll have it be known that I’ve been so desperate for coffee that I once made a bowl of coffee before. When I couldn’t find a mug).
9) Sippy Cup for Water
Click to buy on Amazon!
A teacher’s gotta stay hydrated. Especially after all the wine and coffee he/she drinks.
10) School supplies. Fidgets and sensory tools for the classroom. Or books about education to help them grow professionally.
Because, at the end of the day, what teachers love most is their children. The teachers I know end up spending a fortune – out of their own paycheck – to buy supplies for their classroom. Most teachers I know spend their free time reading up on how to become a stronger educator. So, you can contribute to the thing they love the most. Their children.
But, if nothing else, just let them know how special they are. Let them know that their sacrifices don’t go unnoticed. That they are appreciated. That they deserve a break. Tell your teachers that they’ve made a difference in your life. Tell them that they are the reason you accomplished something. THAT’S what’s going to stick with them in the long run.
Questions of the Day:
- What would you add to this list?
- Do you have any teachers in your life that you are going to appreciate the heck out of?
Great ideas. Basically, if a mom would like, so would a teacher. Seriously though, Target, wine, chocolate all things moms and teachers love. 😉
We were actually just discussing teacher appreciation week and needed some ideas for gifts. How ironic! Lol. Thanks for sharing.
Briana recently posted…Improve Your Quality of Life Through Art
Such cute and useful gift ideas that teachers will appreciate!
Super thoughtful gifts. I will keep these in mind once I have kids and they attend school!
Sarah Jean Althouse recently posted…How to Use Epsom Salts to Purify & Add Volume to Your Hair
The lunch bag has got to be my favorite! I want one for myself that says “You can’t scare me, I am a mom!” haha! 🙂
Amanda recently posted…7 Green Smoothie Recipes That Will Curb Anyones Sweet Tooth
Thank you for the list! I mostly give my daughter’s teacher gift cards in case she already has enough cups and bags. Or chocolate, ha.
Amber Myers recently posted…Hey, It’s Okay
Great list! As a teacher, a heartfelt thank you note is always a treasured gift. For something tangible, gift cards, especially to Walmart, Amazon, or teacher supply stores, are wonderful. I love that coloring book, too!
These are great gift ideas for teachers. I work at an elementary school and gifting them gift cards to educational stores or dollar tree/lakeshore learning helps them buy the items they need for their classrooms to help our children.
These are great ideas. Such useful things that anyone would be happy to receive. We all use these items. 🙂
Thank you for these ideas. I was thinking of what to get Jake’s teachers and his para next week for his final week of school there before he moves to a different school. Great ideas.
These are all great ideas. I especially love the wine glass! I used to give my teachers cups filled with candy (:
Thanks for the reminder that Teacher appreciation week is coming up. My boys all have wonderful teachers, so I def need to get them something. I love that bag, and the coloring book looks awesome. I have a Yeti myself, and it is my absolute favorite thing. I’m drinking out of it right now.
I’m so glad that I stumbled on this post. I had no idea Teacher Appreciation Week was coming up. Great ideas here – I’ll have to choose something for my sons teacher.
Great ideas. I always make my teacher appreciation for my sons teachers. This year we’re giving them potted plants and I’m going to write “thanks for helping me grow” on them.
Teacher appreciation is next month at my daughter’s school. She has the best kindergarten teacher! The kids are all making things for her — teachers are amazing!!
Corey | The Nostalgia Diaries recently posted…16 Songs About Spring
I’m a teacher and my favorite gifts are probably gift cards:) PLEASE don’t send those fidget toys to school…they are such a distraction…they can stay home
Thanks for sharing this list, especially coming from a teacher. I love how all of the gifts are pretty much gender neutral. The only thing I would add is gift cards to their favorite store.
Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com recently posted…Spring Break: Niagara Falls Canada
I love the sound of teacher appreciation day! It’s not something that is celebrated over here (it’s school holidays at the moment!) but I really think it should be 🙂
Dominique recently posted…Do You Feel Guilty About Drinking Alcohol Before You Knew You Were Pregnant
These are great ideas. Teachers do deserve to be showered with praise and lots and lots of gifts. I always loved bringing in gifts for my teachers when I was younger. 🙂
-lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…My Favorite Things Giveaway Hop – Sign Up Here
This is a great list! My daughter just started daycare, so its not something that I ever had to think about before.
Thanks for letting me know this day was coming up! I love the list and think I have to get the coloring book and the yeti tumbler for my son’s teacher/adviser. We always give Amazon gift cards it’s the closest thing to cash you can give and Lord knows teachers spend enough of their own money on supplies for the classroom! Great post!
I love the range of gift ideas here! They’re perfect for end of the year teacher gifts, too.
Rose recently posted…My First Month with Braces as an Adult
What a fun round up! As a teacher, I would appreciate any of these great and thoughtful gifts!
the best i ever got was a $30 pedicure because “I was on my feet all day” i know that not all kids/families can afford that for their teacher but OMG that was so thoughtful!
i feel like you can never go wrong with office supplies or candles either!
justine recently posted…Birth is Birth
I love the bag and the mug. I guess now is the time to get the items for teachers week… Instead of waiting till the last minute like I always do…
We reposted onto our company Facebook page @ Innovative Supplies great blog post!
I love all of these ideas. I don’t have any kiddos to give gifts to teachers, but have a lot of teacher friends. I know they would love that wine glass!
Those are some amazing ideas dear, love them. Some I can use to gift few loved ones I know 🙂
Thanks for sharing and helping me save time in gift picking 😀
Sushmita recently posted…Why I Blog: Me Time
Teacher appreciation week was my favorite time of the year not because of the gifts but because kids would take time out to actually show their appreciation which we don’t get much of as teachers- especially Middle School teachers. I still have all my gifts with me and the ones that mean the most are the ones that were made with love.
Yeti’s are the best! I use mine all the time and agree that it would be a great gift for Teacher Appreciation week.
This is so great for the parents and students looking for gifs to get the teacher in their lives. When I taught, I got chocolates so often that I got sick of getting them. I had to hand them away. Definitely a great idea of things to give.
David Elliott recently posted…The L.A. Zoo – A Destination, Not A Layover
I love these ideas…especially about the bath bombs. If I was still in school I know my teachers would have loved this! But now I shall buy some for myself!
Lakisha recently posted…You Don’t Know Crap About Being Happy!
These look to be the perfect ideas for gifting to teachers 🙂