I love teacher gift ideas. I won’t lie. It consumes quite a bit of my time around back to school, holidays, Teacher Appreciation Day, and end of the school year. Since I am both a teacher and a parent, I am conscious of both sides of the gift giving process. My goal when choosing teacher gifts are to think of small items that are cost efficient, practical, thoughtful, simple, useful, and I like the gifts to be attractive.

Here is what works:

• a thoughtful aspect– there is a personal touch to the gift like a handwritten note (and a handwritten note of thanks is always enough!)
• a useful aspect– the gift can be used in the teacher’s daily life
• generic– if you do not know the teacher personally, stick with items that most people like (do not get too specific like Red Hot candies because you think your child had a “red hot” year)

Here is what does NOT work:

• cute for cute’s sake– a gift that has great packaging but has no purpose
• teacher stereotypes– things that fall in the apple or school supply motif arena

Below are links to 10 ideas that have a range of cost and crafty levels. All have been tested and received well by teachers, coaches, school support staff, helpful neighbors, party hosts, friends… Click on the name or image to learn how to make the gift.

1. Teacher Emergency Kit  (I have a few versions of the kit. Click HERE, HERE, or HERE to see different options.)
2. Teacher Lunch (You could also make a bento style lunch like THIS ONE.)
3. Freezable Meal 
4. Mason Jar Soup Mixes 
5. Flavored Sugar or Dip Mixes 
6. Manicure Kit 
7. Lottery Tickets (To see a different type of scrapbook paper envelope, CLICK HERE.)
8. Ribbon Bookmarks 
9. Insulated Drink Cups 
10. Monogrammed Umbrellas 

I have lots of posts with teacher appreciation gift suggestions. Search Teacher Gifts in the search box on my blog, click on the Teacher Gifts link in the side margin of the blog, or click on the Sirsees tab near my blog header.