Archive for the ‘Gifts by Type’ Category
May 6th, 2010
Best Teacher Gift Ideas
Looking for the perfect gift idea for a teacher who has gone above and beyond the call of duty? Perhaps a thank you gift to express your appreciation, or a gift for a new teacher to make their transition into that difficult new job just a little bit easier.
Let me Teach You to Find the Perfect Teacher Gift!
First, let me say thank you for having the consideration and thoughtfulness to care enough about choosing a great gift for a teacher that you’re even spending time researching it online. As a former teacher myself, I can tell you that teachers love thoughtful gifts, and in general we are a profession that truly desires feeling appreciated and respected. So, THANK YOU!!
Before I get into listing some of my favorite gift ideas (and the teacher gifts that have most thrilled my colleagues in the past), just a few brief recommendations on how to choose that ideal present:
- The best gift ideas for teacher will depend upon the teacher’s personalities and interests. Not every teacher loves apples, or yellow school buses, or crafts. Maybe they’re really into sailing, or travel, or home decor.
- Don’t hesitate to get something practical. Remember that most teachers don’t earn a lot of money, so a gift that’s a bit practical, like gift cards, craft goodies, or office supplies is often VERY welcome — maybe even moreso than the more typical gift items.
Gifts for Teachers
Book: I Remember My Teacher
This is the kind of gift that can make nearly any educator feel pretty darn good about their choice of profession — and who couldn’t use days like that from time to time. The premise is as simple as it is effective: author David Shribman interviewed 365 people of all ages and backgrounds to find out about the role that teachers played in their lives. The story that emerges is as surprising as it is heartwarming, and one of the best books to paint a picture of the broad and lasting impact teachers have in our society.A Trip to the Spa
A visit to a day spa is a luxury that few teachers can afford on their meager salaries. But how many teachers would enjoy it? Ummm, pretty much every teacher I know would love that kind of relaxation!
Book: Give Your Teacher This Note
Everyone knows that teachers love notes, right? Well, even if your teacher doesn’t, he or she is bound to appreciate the humor and inspiration in this great book.
The Teacher’s Bracelet
For the person who appreciates jewelery, this charming silver and crystal bracelet is a beautiful reminder of the tenets of the teaching profession.Custom Gift Card
Gift cards and gift certificates are almost always the most-wished for gift among teachers, and they are especially practical when you don’t know them very well. But how do you make a gift card a bit more personal and unique? Finally, someone came up with a solution: GiftCards.com lets you customize gift cards with a picture of your child or a thank you note, making this gift both personal and useful!
First Year Teacher’s Survival Guide
I remember being absolutely terrified the first time I had to stand in front of a class of rowdy 11-year olds, and take the responsibility for their future development into my own hands. Maybe if I had this book back then, it would have felt at least a little bit easier?
Book: New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons
The New Yorker is beloved among teachers as it is among most intellectuals, and their famous political cartoons have a pedigree that goes back nearly a century. Now the New Yorker has produced an entire book of political cartoons focused on the life of teachers, making for a perfect gift for a teacher with a good sense of humor. Try this one for your art teacher, literature teacher, philosophy teacher, or any other intellectual teacher, or anyone with a good appreciation for finely-tuned wit!
Book: The Creative Teacher
These are the kinds of lessons that any new teacher can put to use– a gift that’s both appreciated and beneficial for her students!
Gingerbread Cookie-scented Bath and Body Kit
Like a relaxing day at the spa, but in one low-priced gift basket!Gift Cards for Less than Face Value!
Want to get a gift card but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Now it’s possible to buy gift cards for less than their face value! Don’t worry– the recipient doesn’t need to know that you got a great deal!
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Book: 101 Answers for New Teachers
Everything a new teacher needs.
Personalized Christmas Gifts for Teachers
In an ideal world, we would probably all make most of the gifts we give each holiday season. Applying our considerable craft talents, we would carve a beautiful wooden hiking staff, knit a delightfully soft wool scarf, and fill a handcrafted basket with freshly-baked cookies. Personalized gifts like these are guaranteed to be unique, and demonstrate caring and thoughtfulness in a way that no amount of money could ever match.
But in the real world, most of us are far too busy to make craft gifts for even a small number of the people on our gift list. Enter personalized gifts from sites like PersonalizationMall.com, GiftsForYouNow.com, and even Amazon: they allow the busy person to give a gift with that extra personal touch that is bound to make it memorable, but without having to spend two weeks crafting it yourself. Consider these gift ideas a shortcut to making something yourself — and chances are, the end result will be much more practical too!
My Favorite Teacher Picture Frame
Any teacher is guaranteed to love this picture frame which can be personalized with the teacher’s name, school, and grade. Include a photo of the whole class as a memorable teacher gift from the entire classroom, or frame a photo of your student with one of the projects they made during the year. You can also have your child make a special thank you drawing and frame that.
This delighftul cookie jar can be filled with treats for an extra special thank you (just make sure you know your District’s rules regarding baked goods; some schools don’t allow them!). Once those are gone the teacher can use it to hold crafts or school supplies. But the best part is the option to personalize it with your own photo – what a great way for the teacher to remember her class for years to come!
This cool wooden kaleidoscope would make a fun gift for an art teacher or science teacher, or really anyone who appreciates the classic fun and beauty of a well-made kaleidoscope. It can be engraved with an inspiring message, or simply a note of appreciation.
Both kids and adults will love this wooden puzzle, which can stand up to the abuse of younger students while still challenging older grades. Engraving adds a classy touch that lets you tell your favorite teacher how much you appreciate them!
Everyone can use more pens, and really any sort of pen can be a simple can’t miss gift. But for an extra special thank you– say, as a gift for a favorite professor, or the teacher who put in so many hours of personal tutoring, few gifts are classier than an elegant engraved pen like this one from Executive Essentials.
One of the coolest personalized gifts I received was a collection of MP3s from a student musician. It was clear that he had picked out each of the songs because they were deeply meaningful to him, and I was touched to be able to share in his discoveries. Apparently iTunes lets you gift a collection of MP3s, sending a link via email so that the recipient can download each of the selected songs straight to their iTunes free of charge. Very practical and enjoyable yet still personal gift.
I’ve written this elsewhere, but many parents still don’t believe me
Suppose you’ve waited until absolutely the last second, but still want to do a thoughtful and caring gift for a teacher? When it’s too late to go to the store, and too late even for overnight shipping, you can still give a last minute gift using electronic delivery of a personalized thank you card. I like the ones from American Greetings, which you can get for free with this 7-day trial.
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