are you feeling overwhelmed with all of your end of the school year commitments? every year this time arrives and every year i am scrambling and forgetting things on all fronts. i am never ready. and then i remember teacher’s gifts and my heart starts racing and my mind goes blank.

it’s not that i don’t think my kiddos’ teachers deserve a gift. on the contrary, i should probably send a gift every single day. it’s just that teacher’s gifts happen to coincide with the busiest times on our calendar…christmas and the start of summer. i am sure you can relate. and every year, after this time passes, i swear i will start earlier on this next year.

i never do.

this year is no different. my cousin even texted last week, asking for teacher gift ideas. since i am a teacher, i get this question often {and should be better at this!}. i am actually going to give the same gifts we gave last year since we have new teachers. {click here for that cute and EASY idea.} but i wouldn’t mind some new ideas. so i did some research and put together some of my favorite teacher gift suggestions to share.

let me start by gently explaining what teachers do not need. and i say this with the most grace possible, because teachers are selfless by nature and would accept any token of gratitude with love. but if you think about yourself, you probably prefer gifts that have nothing to do with your job, because you already do it all day. most likely your teachers feel the same way. that means teachers do not need:

things to take care of {like plants}. unless you know he/she is an avid gardener, teachers usually do not need more plants. plants for the classroom have to be remembered over breaks and holidays and that is just hard. and transporting plants home is also hard.
candles. i know. this is kind of my go-to gift. and it’s not the worst teacher gift but teachers get a lot of candles.
anything with apples. let’s be honest. i don’t know anyone who decorates with apples in their home. and if you’ve been to your child’s classroom, you know there is enough stuff in there as it is. no more apples needed, no matter how cute they look on etsy.
photos of your kids. your kiddos’ teachers love them. really, they do. but they do not need extra pictures of them. again, they have enough stuff for their classroom and probably won’t hang something with your child’s picture on it at home.
kids’ artwork. when my kids bring home artwork there are always mixed feelings. on the one hand i love it. but beyond a week, i am not always quite sure what to do with it. teachers feel the same way. that kind of thing just piles up. {for a good way to organize kid’s school papers and artwork at home, click here.}
food {homemade or otherwise}. a lot of thought and time goes into a baked good. and teachers know and genuinely appreciate this. admittedly i am a germaphobe, and the thought of multiple kid hands mixing and sneezing makes me second guess eating a homemade cookie, no matter how delicious it might look. plus christmas and the start of summer are already laden with food.
things for their classroom. imagine 24 kids in your family room. every day for seven hours. and then imagine all of their stuff. and your stuff. teachers really just don’t need more stuff for their classrooms, even if it is decor. if they send home requests, those things are better donated and not given as gifts.
mugs. again, kind of a go-to gift. unless you find a mug with a phrase {not a picture} that perfectly depicts your child’s teacher or something he/she always says, your teacher probably has enough mugs.

on to the good stuff…we all know teachers salaries do not leave much room for treating themselves. they already spend countless dollars on classroom needs, forgoing things for themselves. the best gifts for teachers give them a chance to treat themselves to a favorite.

learn all of your teacher’s favorites with the cute, thoughtful printable! grab one for yourself in the resource library and take the guesswork out of all your gift giving this year! and if it’s already crunch time, save the printable for next year, and rest assured your teacher will LOVE the gift suggestions below!

one thing about teacher’s gifts that i totally understand is working with a budget. when you have multiple teachers, gifts can add up. all of the above gifts are practical, appropriate for teachers of all ages, and most importantly…inexpensive.

{1} vera bradley retractable lanyard :: when i taught, i had keys and a badge to keep track of. i assume this is true for most teachers. at just $14, this is a versatile gift any teacher would love. it comes in many patterns. you can get it online here or look for a vera bradley distributor near you. i typically buy this brand at the vera bradley store, but it is also carried near me at occasionally yours.

{2} vera bradley lanyard :: this is a different take on the lanyard, without the id case. at just $12, it is very reasonable for any teacher and could be paired with #6. you can get it online here, or at a vera bradley distributor near you.

{3} and {4} spring infinity scarves :: these are both available at target. the gray lace one is available online here and in stores for just $9.99. the pink floral one is available here and in stores for just $14.99. i’m afraid if i buy these to hold for next year’s teachers i’ll wear them myself!

{5} summery dishtowels :: a very practical gift, these are sure to brighten your teacher’s kitchen for the summer. dishtowels are something i rarely buy but often need and there are so many cute, fun patterns out there. these are available here and at target in a four-pack for just $3.79!!!!

{6} clip on lip gloss :: i am a sucker for lip gloss. and chapstick. and i know others share in this weird obsession. the problem? i often lose them, forever, or just in my purse. now, i have to say, the shiny lips keychain on this particular gloss is not my favorite. but i love the neutral color and i think the lips are removable. this would go great with #1 or #2, or as a stand alone gift for your teacher to keep handy at school. sometimes when you’re covered in glue, glitter, and expo marker, a LITTLE lip gloss goes a long way. this is available here on amazon and you might be able to find others at victoria’s secret. {*affiliate link used}

{7} angel wings bracelet :: available here and at target, this bracelet is $19.99. i think the angel theme is universally liked and fitting for a teacher. and of course, it’s aqua.

{8} beach/pool towel :: can you believe this is a towel? it’s so cute! i thought it was a blanket but then realized it is a beach/pool towel. how fancy would you feel at the pool with this? it is a LITTLE more expensive than the other gifts, at $33.99, but i had to put it on the list because it is just so adorable. it is available here and at target.

if you like to get crafty and you’d prefer to get a gift card, these were all cute options i found today as i browsed pinterest. they are also all very doable. when it comes to gift cards, the value is not in the value. i repeat. the amount you put on the card does not matter. $5 to starbucks or $15 to get your teacher in the door for a mani/pedi means the world. trust me.

{1} thanks a latte :: idea found here at just add confetti. the best part is she provides a FREE printable!

{2} thanks for keeping me on target :: there are a few versions of this to buy at etsy and you could also recreate this in a word document to print from your computer.

{3} mani thanks :: idea found here at lollyjane.

{4} you’re the balm :: idea found on pinterest via brickyardbuffalo. the chapstick could always be substituted with a neutral lipgloss or even a pack of lipgloss if you wanted to get a LITTLE fancier.

if you’re not so crafty and just prefer a gift card, there is no shame in that! truly. some suggestions might be your teacher’s college bookstore {especially great for a male teacher}, nordstrom {includes nordstrom rack}, homegoods, charming charlie, movie tickets, hobby lobby, amazon, and of course coffee.

let me reiterate. your child’s teacher will be immensely grateful for any thank you gift you give. these suggestions are easy and inexpensive, and also go above and beyond the ordinary. as a former teacher, i {and all of my teacher friends} would still be using any of the gifts outlined above. so make a list of your teachers and start checking off your list, one gift at a time.

deep breaths. you got this mama!

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