Back to School Gift Ideas for Teachers
It’s no secret that teaching is an important, but often thankless job. In fact, teachers earn an average of 21.4% less than their college-educated peers. (Reference 1) Despite this, teachers work 12 to 16 hour days and act as crucial role models for our children in their most formative years. (Reference 2)
The bottom line is simple: teachers deserve our gratitude! And what better way to show our appreciation than with a thoughtful gift?
You don’t need a special occasion to express your thanks to the teachers in your life. But the beginning and end of the school year, the winter holidays, and Teacher Appreciation Week are all ideal times to show your favorite teachers that you care.
By the way, these gifts work just as well for bus drivers, crossing guards, custodians, cafeteria workers, and everyone else who makes a difference in your child’s life!
5 Superb Gift Ideas for Teachers
1) School Supplies
According to the National Education Association, the average school teacher in the United States spends $479 of their personal money on classroom supplies every year. (Reference 3) So why not show your kids’ teachers you care with the practical gift of school supplies?
This could be a small gift like hand sanitizer, glue sticks, or a gift card to your local crafts or office supply store. It could also be a larger present, like a gift basket filled with colorful composition notebooks. Even a pack of multicolored dry erase markers or sharpies can make a great gift for your child’s teacher.
School supplies make an especially great gift at the start of the school year when teachers are looking to stock up for the months ahead.
2) Baked Goods and Desserts
I don’t remember much about the second grade, but I do remember that my teacher loved chocolate. So when teacher appreciation week rolled around and one of my classmates presented her with a gigantic chocolate bunny, she was ecstatic.
If you know your child’s teacher has a sweet tooth, consider showing your appreciation for their hard work with a candy bar or a box of chocolates.
You might also consider embracing your inner pastry chef and baking apple muffins or cinnamon apple pie bread as a twist on the classic gift of an apple for the teacher. Whatever you choose, be sure to disclose the ingredients of your creation in case the recipient of your gift has any dietary restrictions.
3) A Handmade Card
There is no gift more special or heartfelt than a homemade card. And it’s super simple! With some construction paper, glue sticks, and creativity, you and your child can make a unique gift their teacher will be sure to appreciate. Whenever I make cards, I like to use stamps and glitter, but crayons and colored pencils work just as well with less mess.
Be sure to include a personalized note in your card to let your child’s teacher know just how much you appreciate their hard work and the important role they play in your child’s life.
4) A Comfy T-Shirt
Who doesn’t love a comfy t-shirt? I know I do. My favorite part of every day is coming home after work and changing out of my stuffy office clothes and into a soft and welcoming t-shirt. Considering how hard teachers work, I bet they love that feeling, too.
There are loads of teacher-themed shirts out there to choose from, each one with a cuter design and cheesier slogan than the next. But I’m partial to Teacher Power’s “Teaching is a Work of Heart” tee, which comes in the most flattering shades of red and blue.
5) A Teacher Power Energy Drink Sampler Pack
Still looking for the perfect gift for your child’s teacher? Get them the Original Teacher Power Sampler Pack! For just $1.50, you can give your kid’s teacher the opportunity to try out each of Teacher Power’s four delicious energy drink flavors: Black Cherry, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, and our newest flavor, Raspberry! Each flavor packs loads of energy
If you want to add a special touch to your gift, put the sampler in a cute gift bag or mason jar, tie it up with a colorful ribbon, and seal the deal with one of our free printable tags. (Click here for even more free tags!)
Teacher Power Powers Teachers
Teacher Power is a company dedicated to helping teachers be the best they can be. Founded with the mission of providing a healthy, flavorful, and cost-effective alternative to coffee and soda, Teacher Power has developed an energy drink in four unique flavors. Teacher Power is quickly becoming the beverage of choice for educators across the nation. Click here to see more from our blog and click here to explore our collection of Teacher Power products.
By: Meg Bywater
The content of Teacher Power’s website is for information only, not advice or guarantee of outcome. Information is gathered and shared from reputable sources; however, Teacher Power is not responsible for errors or omissions in reporting or explanation. No individuals, including those taking Teacher Power products, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnosis or self-treat any health-related condition. Teacher Power gives no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness or applicability of the content.
Sources:
1. Allegretto, Sylvia and Mishel, Lawrence. “The Teacher Weekly Wage Penalty Hit 21.4%, A Record High.” Economic Policy Institute. 2019. https://www.epi.org/publication/the-teacher-weekly-wage-penalty-hit-21-4-percent-in-2018-a-record-high-trends-in-the-teacher-wage-and-compensation-penalties-through-2018
2. Murray, Corey. “How Many Hours do Educators Actually Work?” Ed Tech. 2013. https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/08/how-many-hours-do-educators-actually-work
3. Akhtar, Allana. “Teachers in the US are spending $500 of their own money on school supplies like crayons and chalk, and now they're turning to a viral hashtag to ask strangers for help.” Insider. 2019. https://www.businessinsider.com/gofundme-clearthelists-campaign-helps-teachers-pay-for-school-supplies-2019-8