Teacher Appreciation Week starts on May 6 in 2024, but there’s no need to confine your teacher appreciation gifts to just one week. We’ve rounded up some terrific items that teachers will really enjoy, from cute but practical to downright decadent and delicious. Plus, we surveyed 120 teachers from across the country to find out what they really want, and we’re sharing their tips and ideas with you here.
Cheryl M., a senior English teacher from New York, wants you to know one important thing: “Teachers are easy to please. Any gift matters to us. We love cards and pictures! It doesn’t have to be expensive!” With that in mind, here are some of the top gifts teachers say have made them feel appreciated throughout their careers.
#1 Teacher Appreciation Gift for 2024: Gift Cards
One of the most popular teacher appreciation gifts is also one of the easiest: gift cards! Teachers love getting to choose what they really want for themselves, from places like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and others.
Top 5 Teacher Gift Card Picks
We surveyed more than 350 teachers to find out what their most-wanted gift cards are. Here are their top five choices; see the full list of teacher gift card picks here.
Teacher Gift Card Holders
Some people worry that gift cards don’t feel “personal” enough. If that’s the case, you can always spring for a creative or personalized gift card holder. Here are some of our favorites.
Free Printable Gift Card Holders
Our free printable gift card holders are themed to match your cards! There are options for Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and any other gift card you choose.
Get it: Free Printable Gift Card Holders
Teacher Appreciation Week Gift Card Holder
This one is designed specifically for Teacher Appreciation Week. Buy this digital file once and you’ll have a printable you can use year after year.
Buy it: Teacher Appreciation Week Gift Card Holder at Etsy
Coffee-Themed Gift Card Holders
If you’re gifting a Starbucks or Dunkin’ card, these holders are absolutely perfect!
Buy it: Coffee-Themed Gift Card Holders at Amazon
Pencil Gift Card Holder
This affordable set nets you 24 of these pencil-shaped card holders. The front and back both have plenty of room to add a personalized note of thanks.
Buy it: Pencil Gift Card Holder at Amazon
Clipboard Gift Card Holder
This gift card holder is absolutely adorable, and it’s reusable too. Your teacher can use it to pass on the love, or tuck notes or pictures inside the slot.
Buy it: Clipboard Gift Card Holder at Etsy
Flower Gift Card Holders
These holders are so pretty, and the sentimental messages help you express your true appreciation.
Buy it: Flower Gift Card Holders at Amazon
Best Low-Cost Teacher Appreciation Gift: Thank-You Notes
When it comes right down to it, what teachers really want is to know all their hard work truly is making a difference. The best way to show that is to write them a thank-you note. Whether from a parent, child, administrator, or co-worker, a heart-felt letter detailing all the things that makes them unique is really one of the best gifts a teacher can get.
“Besides gift cards, one of the teacher gifts that made me feel most appreciated was handwritten thank-you notes or cards from students,” shares a math teacher from Texas. “The heartfelt words written by students convey deep appreciation and warmth, which makes me feel truly valued and encouraged.”
While a note is wonderful, you can make your note even more special using one of these ideas.
Personalized Thank-You Note
If you want to add a little something extra, you could buy one of these awesome greeting cards for teachers or use these printable thank-you cards for teachers to express your message.
Colorable Card
Kids can color this card any way they like. Then they (or you) can write a sincere note to their teacher inside.
Buy it: Colorable Teacher Thank-You Card at Etsy
The Teacher Appreciation Book
Help kids make a keepsake that teachers will treasure. Each page of this book offers prompts to inspire students to write their favorite memories and thoughtful words any teacher will love to hear.
Buy it: The Teacher Appreciation Book at Amazon
Punchbowl Digital Greeting Card
If you want to send something online but an email just doesn’t feel like enough, these digital greeting cards might fit the bill. They’re gorgeous and fully customizable, and you can even include a digital gift card if you like!
Buy it: Teacher Cards at Punchbowl
Treats: Teacher Appreciation Gifts To Eat or Drink
One of the best things about food and drink gifts is that teachers don’t need to find a place to display or store them … they can just enjoy them! Just be aware of any potential allergies or food preferences (not everyone drinks alcohol, for instance). Remember that candy and baked goods aren’t your only options; math teacher Emily Wilde’s favorite teacher gift of all time was “homemade bread and fresh eggs from a family’s chickens”!
Pro tip: Ask your child what their teacher’s favorite snacks or beverages are. They probably already know!
Have lunch or coffee delivered
Bring teachers lunch or a delicious pick-me-up drink on Teacher Appreciation Day. Just be sure to ask their preferences and take orders in advance, so you an accommodate food allergies, special diets, and other restrictions.
No time to do your own deliveries? That’s why Grubhub and DoorDash exist!
Godiva Truffles
You usually can’t go wrong with chocolate. But if you really want to make them feel special, splurge on a gourmet option like Godiva. “Quality over quantity!” advises one Utah English teacher.
Buy it: Godiva Chocolatier Patisserie Dessert Truffles at Amazon
Baked by Melissa Mini Cupcakes
Nothing says celebration like scrumptious cupcakes! You can bake them yourself, of course, but if you don’t have the time, try this selection of flavors like S’mores, Cake Batter Crumble, and Electric Tie-Dye. There are even gluten-free and vegan options. Check out their latest discount codes.
Buy it: Thank-You Cupcake Gift Box at Baked by Melissa
Seven Sisters Scones
Here’s another yummy snack option: tender scones. They come in sweet and savory, and you can customize the flavor selections too. Psst! Save 10% with code: SISTER.
Buy it: Sconie™ (Mini-Scone) Sampler at Seven Sisters Scones
Their Favorite Drink
This is an affordable but highly appreciated gift. Pair a case of their favorite potable with a thank-you note and your child’s teacher will treasure you forever. Not sure what their favorite beverage is? Ask your child what drink they see on their teacher’s desk after lunch … they’ll know.
Buy it: Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar at Target
Cravebox
One teacher says, “I know I’m not the only teacher who feels better having a stash of snacks in their cupboard. I like to know that I’ve got something there to offer a hungry student or grab if I forget my lunch.” Snacks will never not be appreciated, and this box offers an excellent variety.
Buy it: Cravebox at Amazon
Crumbl Cookies
California 5th grade teacher Nancy Cowan was once wowed by a gift of custom-decorated sugar cookies. Another great option is that iconic Crumbl Cookie pastel-pink box, full of the most decadent cookies around. No store near you? Crumbl Cookies ships nationwide!
Buy it: Crumbl Cookies at Crumbl
Edible Arrangement
Healthy snacks can be delicious (and beautiful) too! Edible Arrangements are always popular, and they offer lots of yummy treats that are good for you too.
Buy it: Thank You Delicious Fruit at Edible Arrangements
Teacher Keepsake Gifts
These teacher appreciation gifts help preserve the memories of a particular year, class, event, or student. Educators can display these in their classrooms for years to come!
Memento Video or Album
Elementary language arts teacher Kristi B. never felt more appreciated than when she received a video of each of her students sharing a special message just for her. A collaborative video or digital album is one of the sweetest, most personal teacher gifts you can give. But they can be really time-consuming to put together. That’s where Memento comes in. This online platform helps you easily assemble everything you need, then put it together into one super gift.
Buy it: Memento Video or Album
Raise Your Hand Word Art
Want a unique way to mark a memorable year? This art print turns student names into word clouds in the shape of raised hands. Clever!
Buy it: Teacher Appreciation Word Art at Etsy
Thumbprint Art
How cute is this idea? Each student contributes their thumbprint to make an uplifting keepsake for their teacher.
Buy it: Thumbprint Art at Etsy
Class Photo Frame
Featuring the names of all the students, this photo frame is a sweet way to display a class photo from a memorable year.
Buy it: Class Photo Frame at Etsy
Things My Students Said
Give teachers a place to record the hilarious, touching, and inspirational stuff that comes out of the mouths of their students. It’s something they’ll love looking back on again and again.
Buy it: Things My Students Said at Amazon
Practical Teacher Appreciation Gifts
Most teachers love fun office supplies, and they go through things like pens, pencils, and sticky notes like they’re water. They also appreciate items that can help them stay organized or communicate while showing off their teacher personality.
Personalized Whiteboard Set
Chalkboards are a thing of the past now, and whiteboards are where it’s at! This personalized whiteboard eraser packaged with a few new markers makes a really cool gift for any teacher.
Buy it: Personalized Whiteboard Set at Etsy
Label Maker
Part of a teacher’s job (and one many of them absolutely love!) includes organization. Label makers will definitely upgrade their organization systems. Think of the endless possibilities!
Buy it: Label Maker at Amazon
Sticky Note Holder
Help teachers keep those always-useful sticky notes close at hand with these adorable little personalized holders. Don’t forget to include a multipack of colorful notepads!
Buy it: Personalized Sticky Note Holder at Etsy
Custom Stamp
Teachers love stamps! Choose a new one for their supply, or go all out and buy them a personalized stamp like no one else’s. (Bonus idea: Add a rainbow stamp pad to make their stamps even cooler.)
Buy it: Personalized Teacher Stamps at Etsy
Personalized Pencils
We can’t even begin to count how many pencils teachers go through in a school year. Help them hang on to at least a few of them with a personalized pack that’s all their own.
Buy it: Personalized Pencils at Etsy
Fun Stickers
Kids and teachers share a love of stickers. One of our favorite sources for unique picks is Pipsticks, which even offers sticker subscription boxes!
Buy it: Thank-You Stickers at Pipsticks
Personalized Stationery
Even in this email age we’re living in, teachers still pen a lot of handwritten notes, so give them customized stationery that fits their personality. Montessori teacher Donna Paul remembers one particularly thoughtful gift: “I love cats and I also use sticky notes a lot so the best gift I ever received was a personalized sticky notepad with a cat on it!”
Buy it: Painted Book Spines at Minted
Phone/Tablet Stand
Practical and fun, this smart stand adjusts to hold phones or tablets upright so teachers can easily go hands-free. It comes in tons of hues too, so you can get one in your school colors or your teacher’s favorite shade.
Buy it: Honsky Thumbs-Up Phone Stand at Amazon
Custom Bookmark
These are perfect for your child’s favorite reading or language arts teacher. You can choose from a few different wording options, but this one’s our favorite.
Buy it: Personalized Teacher Bookmarks at Etsy
Personalized Notebook
Real Teacher Story: “A group of students gifted me a notebook this year. It meant so much to me that I wanted to use it for something special. I decided to write down funny moments that happen throughout the years and give it to them for a graduation gift.” This one is adorable, can be personalized, and is less than $15.
Buy it: Personalized Notebook at Etsy
Teacher Library Bookplates
Classroom libraries tend to include a lot of books teachers paid for with their own money. Help them ensure those books always come back home again with personalized bookplate stickers.
Buy it: Personalized Bookplates at Etsy
Wearable Teacher Appreciation Gifts: Apparel, Jewelry & Accessories
Give them a way to show off their teacher style with these wearable gifts. (If you’re worried about getting sizes right, opt for something like socks or jewelry rather than a T-shirt.)
Fun Socks
Wearable gifts can be a little tricky, but socks are pretty much one-size-fits-all. There are lots of fun novelty options out there that are great for teacher appreciation gifts. Even better? Pre-K teacher Christina H. once received custom socks with pictures of her and her students’ faces on them!
Buy it: Happypop 2-Pair Teacher Socks at Amazon
Teacher Hair Ties
Does your favorite teacher love to sport ponytails? Then these cute school-themed hair ties will make fabulous teacher appreciation gifts! They come in sets of three in a wide variety of patterns.
Buy it: Teacher Hair Ties at Etsy
Lanyard
Lots of teachers wear lanyards to hold their school IDs, keys, and all the other paraphernalia they need quick access to throughout the day. This is one of the best gifts for teachers because you can get a lanyard to match their personality. We’ve got a whole selection to choose from for teachers of any subject here.
Buy it: Math Lanyard at Amazon
Book Stack Earrings
These adorable statement earrings are perfect to dress up any outfit, even on jeans day! When it’s a messy bun day, your child’s teacher will feel more put together with these fun earrings.
Buy it: Book Stack Earrings at Amazon
Teacher Tie
For the teachers you know and love that have an impressive collection of quirky ties, buy them a new one to add to their collection.(Find more fun teacher ties here.)
Buy it: Math Tie at Amazon
More Popular Teacher Appreciation Gifts
Flowers
If you’ve got a garden, put together your own bouquet. Otherwise, brighten a teacher’s day with beautiful blooms from Bouqs. Choose from a variety of sizes and styles. These flowers are sourced directly from farmers who use sustainable growing practices like minimizing waste and recycling water.
Buy it: Farmer’s Choice Bouquet at Bouqs
Lovepop Bouquet
Want something that will last longer than cut flowers? Lovepop’s thank-you cards are all terrific, and their pop-up paper bouquets will last long after Teacher Appreciation Week is over. These are keepsakes they can display for ages.
Buy it: Sunflower Thank You Bundle at Lovepop
Succulent Planter
Give them an easy-care succulent in a personalized planter for a thoughtful gift that lasts. You can pick up a succulent at the grocery store or local nursery to pop into this cute little pot.
Buy it: Personalized Succulent Planter at Etsy
Bento Box
These are all the rage now, and perfect for packing healthy and delicious teacher lunches. Personalize yours by adding their name with permanent vinyl lettering, and fill it with delicious snacks and candy for a practical, delicious gift they’ll love.
Buy it: Bento Box at Amazon
Audible Membership
Give a lit-loving teacher plenty of audiobooks to enjoy during their much-deserved downtime. Audible gift memberships are available from one month to a year, so there are options for all price ranges.
Buy it: Audible Gift Membership at Amazon
Amazon Echo
There are a surprising number of games and activities you can do with Alexa in the classroom, not to mention cool ways to use voice search. Give teachers a chance to try it out with their own Amazon Echo.
Buy it: Amazon Echo (4th Generation) at Amazon
