Teachers are the backbone of society. They play a major role in shaping the next generation. If you are a mother of a child with a learning or behavioral difficulty you are likely even more thankful for your child’s teacher. In most modern classrooms teachers will not only have your child, but up to 8 or 12 kids with special needs in a classroom of 24. That is why in my opinion teachers deserve the best gifts for the holidays.
Every year we make caramel popcorn, cookies and something from our home for teachers for the holidays. Over the years my kids have made their teachers hand painted mugs, frames and all the traditionally cute homemade teacher gifts. This year I got to thinking. How many mugs has that second grade teacher gotten over the years of teaching 20-30 kids a year? We still will make something homemade like cookies, but sometimes teachers have to deal with my kids behaviors and problems and they require a bit more of a thank you!
Here are the best teacher gift ideas for the holiday season, the end of year or anytime you just want to say thank you and you are appreciated.
1) Something for the home
Male or female, every teacher has to live somewhere. A great gift is something they can have in their home and look at every day and be reminded what an exceptional teacher they are. If it’s something practical that they can actually use, even better.
One teacher gift that will make any teacher feel appreciated is a personalized cutting board. This or many other great ideas can be found on websites suggesting gifts for bridal parties at weddings or hostess gifts. The great thing is that they are set up for ordering in smaller quantities. There are so many options of personalized gifts, wine glasses, coasters, copper mugs and more.
These cutting boards are around $25 but if you are ordering for a few teachers (or as hostess gifts) it’s free shipping in North America for orders over $99. They only require a 2 week shipping time, but get your order in soon before there are holiday delays.
2) Electronics
Teachers spend all day in a classroom. When they are off running to monitor a lunchtime or after school activity, they don’t always have time to charge their phone. Portable chargers are always something they can use. You can pick up a generic charger at Wal-mart ranging from $7 to $20 or more.
Once you have your charger all you need to do is find a friend who is really into scrapbooking and has a cricut to cut out the letters. If not, you can always print them on a sticker label at Staples, hand draw them, or print them on paper and attach with decoupage glue.
3) Something made locally
When most kids start school it’s also a time for parents, especially moms, to re-enter the workforce. Many moms want to have the flexibility to be there for their kids, so they begin a business out of their home. If you ask around you will find a few moms who make exceptionally sourced products in a variety of options and prices. The best thing is that you are getting something great as a gift and supporting a local businesswoman.
Here are a few that I found locally in the Laval/Montreal area:
Bath Bombs: Going all natural is the way to go and what better way to help teachers relax than with bath bombs. Adelina of BubbleShop.ca offers a wide variety of soaps, creams, deodorant, bath bombs and more without harmful toxins and with natural locally sources products. She always a has a great line of holiday items and gift baskets customized to fit any budget.
Tote Bags: Whether from their car to the class or from one class to another, teachers area always carrying things. Why not let them carry it in style? 4-5 -Zero is a company created by 2 moms who were tired of looking for personalized gifts so they started their own company! These cute totes will make any teacher feel like a rockstar and not break the bank at $20 each. They only take 1-2 weeks depending if you choose a current design (1 week) or something newly created takes around 2 weeks. They can also create a few t-shirts, oven mitts or anything you may want to treat your teacher. The best thing… there is no order minimum, so you can order one or 100 of anything!
Door mats: Mom of 2, Paulina of VSQ Creations, can whip up a doormat for you that will make any teacher smile. They are a bit pricier at $50, but they are durable. She requires a 2 week timeline for delivery, so make sure you order in time. It’s also a great gift for hostesses or for yourself too.
4) Help them stay organized
This next gift idea is locally sourced, personalized and will help teachers stay organized. 4-5 -Zero is the brainchild of Rosalie and Marissa. These moms found they could never find the right gift, so they decided to start their own company for personalized gifts. From t-shirts to totes, cake toppers and more they can help create whatever personalized item you need.
Once great gift idea they have is a catch-all jewelry/key holder. These personalized ceramic holders are great for men, women, young or old. Teachers can use them in their home or in their classroom and the font can be made any color.
A deal at only $15 each, these take about a week for delivery, so place your order now! Like the cutting boards, these are also great as hostess gifts or any reason really.
5) Gift cards
Teachers spend so much of their own money and time to do their job of teaching. It’s nice when you can give back to them a bit. Gift cards allow teachers to buy what they need or more importantly what they like! My favorite gift cards are for our local liquor store (SAQ), Staples for supplies, Indigo so they can buy a book THEY may want to read. Coffee places like Tim Hortons or Starucks are a great way to buy them a coffee or lunch.
Do you have any teacher gift ideas? Let us know below.
