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Teachers are as different as the kids in their classrooms, so the gifts you give them should reflect that. Need some ideas?
Etsy has been a “go to” resource for me over the years. Here are some thought starters:
Pencil sets for every personality
These fun pencil sets by Newton and the Apple are sure to bring smiles over and over again. There are grammar sets, math sets, science sets and more. Just pick the one that best reflects the teacher you’re buying them for (or should I say “for which you’re buying them”). 🙂
Here are all of the pencil sets that this Etsy shop offers.
Presents for punny teachers
You also can use a teacher’s personality or favorite things as inspiration for a grading stamp. The four pictured above are by A Small World Called K. Shop owner Jean has dozens of cute designs.
The “Dog-gone good work” stamp in the very first image on this webpage is by Freshline. My kids’ kindergarten teacher has a pug that she talks about often, so I asked Colleen, the owner of this Etsy shop, to use a pug image instead of a dachshund. She was happy to do so and the final product was adorable. I paired the stamp with a Starbucks gift card and Mrs. R loved it.
As a bonus, my child was excited to start seeing graded papers with that pug stamp on them. 🙂
Spoons with smile-worthy messages
Hand-stamped spoons are a fun gift, too. It’s something they’ll always have – and use! Etsy seller Stamped Frosting makes three of the ones pictured above (#1, #2 and #4).
The Rustic Stamp makes the “stay awesome” spoon in picture 3.
Teachers who love Harry Potter
If your child’s teacher is a Harry Potter fan, you could have a lot of fun with that gift. There are tons of options and some of them are even specifically for teachers. Here are the Etsy shops where you can find the items above:
- Hedwig the owl magnetic bookmark. Its designer makes other Harry Potter bookmarks, too.
- I teach muggles t-shirts by the Crafty Walkers Shop. They have many other designs, too, for Potter Heads.
- I teach muggles mug. The Etsy shop, Only Cute Mugs, also has several other Harry Potter designs.
- Downloadable, printable “Have a magical Christmas” card. Slip a gift card in there with a nice note and you have a great gift.
Want more ideas? See my Harry Potter gifts article.
I also have two Pinterest boards that may inspire you! One is a Harry Potter Pinterest board for anyone and everyone who is a Potterhead. The other is a Harry Potter for Teachers board that has all sorts of fun decor and activities for the classroom.
Teachers who love Star Wars
There also are some great options for teachers who love Star Wars. Here’s where you can find the ones pictured above:
- Star Wars pencil pack for writers, which has fun sayings like, “Write or write not. There is no try.” Perfect for writing teachers. 🙂
- “Look like a princess; teach like a Jedi” shirt. It’s available in 11 colors.
- A 3D-printed Yoda-using-The-Force book holder.
- A hand-painted tissue box cover by an ah-mazingly talented artist. You can choose four images total; one for each side. See the artist’s product listing on Etsy for details.
Star Wars fans also will like these:
- “Teach it I shall; learn it you will” shirt
- “The Force is strong with this class” shirt
- “May the 4th grade be with you” shirt
- “Come to the Math Side” t-shirt
As with Harry Potter, I also have two Pinterest boards dedicated to Star Wars. One is a general Star Wars Pinterest board. The other is a Star Wars for Teachers board containing ideas for the classroom. You can find ideas there, too!
The best way to give gift cards
If you prefer to give a gift card, these downloadable printables by Papermaid Studio are super cute. The Etsy shop has dozens upon dozens of options for giving a coffee shop gift card, restaurant gift card, Target gift card, crafting-related gift card (Hobby Lobby, Michael’s or JoAnn’s), or something more generic, like a Visa or Mastercard gift card.
She also has designs for bus drivers, art teachers and other school employees you many want to thank.
I’ve purchased several of these designs, so I can attest to their quality and the shop owner’s responsiveness.
No guessing necessary
If you aren’t sure what to get, see if your child’s school has a Favorite Things binder that contains lists for each of the teachers. If so, it’s probably in the school’s front office.
These lists can be really helpful because teachers are just as different as the kids in their classrooms. In addition to writing what they do like, on some of our teachers’ favorite things lists, I’ve seen them write that they don’t collect anything, they don’t wear perfume, and they don’t like Starbucks. Needless to say, this information was very helpful.
All the best as you determine what to get your child’s teacher. 🙂
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