The gift may have been in my possession for less than 24 hours before I regifted it.
I felt kind of bad. It was a lovely gift from a wonderful student. But honestly, I just didn’t need it.
Teachers greatly appreciate each gift for its thoughtfulness, but honestly, they really don’t want or need any more coffee mugs, teacher-themed knick knacks or home decor that’s not quite their style.
And while the thought really does count, the gifts themselves end up being stuffed in a closet until the guilt of throwing them out has passed.
Or they are promptly regifted – an attempt to make the put them to use somehow.
So if you want to get a teacher something they will genuinely love, use, and appreciate, here’s a few things that will truly make their day.
Best Group Gifts:
*Membership to the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club ($120): I don’t know how much you realize this, but most teachers are pretty overwhelmed. They have so much to do and so little time to do it, and many of them spend hours of their own time working on school instead of being with their families. But this amazing program is helping teachers learning how to finally find that all-important balance between school and family – all while becoming even more effective as a teacher in the process. It’s seriously amazing, and is the answer so many teachers are looking for. You can find out more & purchase a gift certificate at www.give40hourteacher.com
*Cool tech for the classroom – The Amazon Echo ($179) would make an awesome gift for home or classroom use. And for classrooms that already have a sound system, the Echo Dot is super affordable at around $50. You might also check to see if the teacher would like a Kindle Fire or other device to use in the classroom.
Best Gifts for Any Price Range:
*Gift cards seriously are the most amazing gift to receive as a teacher. They allow the teacher to choose something they genuinely want or to enjoy some “me” time. Here’s a few ideas but the possibilities are endless:
- Amazon
- Target
- Teachers pay Teachers or local teacher store
- Restaurant
- Spa or massage
- Starbucks or McCafe
*If you think a gift card is too expensive, please allow me to lobby for the $5 Starbucks or McCafe gift card. This simple & inexpensive gift is always awesome because you’re essentially giving an awesome beverage at a time they want it most. And even those of us who don’t love coffee can grab a delicious smoothie, Frappuccino, or pastry.
Best FREE Gift (Teachers seriously want this the most)
*Heartfelt Notes/Cards: If you want to give a teacher something they will truly cherish, write them a heartfelt note telling them you appreciate what they do – or have their students (voluntarily) write one. Seriously, this will mean more to them than anything you could ever buy.
There it is – a short but powerful list that will ensure your teacher not only appreciates but actually loves their gift.
p.s. If you’re a teacher buying for a fellow teacher or intern – or looking for gifts to add to your own Christmas list – a great teaching book can be awesome.
Some of my top recommendations are Create Your Dream Classroom (my book – written for Christian teachers), Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teach Every Day no Matter What, and Hacking Engagement (Full disclosure: I haven’t read Hacking Engagement yet so I can’t vouch for every word, but it looks amazing.)
Help out fellow teachers & parents by sharing this short but powerful list on Facebook or Pinterest!
*Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission from any purchases at no cost to you. Thank you for helping to support Teach 4 the Heart in this small way. If for any reason this makes you uncomfortable, you can simply search for the items yourself on Google. No hard feelings 🙂
Thank you.