Holiday gifts for teachers are a challenge. If your child has many teachers, it’s difficult to find a personalized gift for each that is both affordable and valued. For me, as a teacher, I am always happy with a gift certificate that works anywhere but there are time-proven gifts that don’t sound sounds like “money”.
Most popular gifts
When I chat with teacher friends, here are the most popular gifts they’ve gotten over the years. Many are free and others allow you to spend only what you can afford while still giving a gift the teacher will love.
Compliments to the Administration
Happy parents often forget to share their joy with the teachers’ administrators. Too often, Principals hear from parents only when they’re angry about the teacher or some class activity. Providing unsolicited good news about the teacher’s effectiveness is a wonderful treat for both the teacher and the school’s administrators.
A Thank You Letter
Handwrite a note to the teacher telling them how much you and your child appreciate what they do. There’s little more valuable to a teacher than the acknowledgment from stakeholders that their efforts are appreciated.
Tech Help
While some teachers are comfortable with a computer, many aren’t. If you know your way around a computer, iPad, or Chromebook, offer to help your favorite teacher with either training, debugging, or problem-solving. This can be in person, through a remote connection, or virtually with a program like Google Meet or Zoom.
Gift Cards
While this feels impersonal, it is a great gift. Let teachers use them on whatever they need most, often something you wouldn’t have thought of. Gift cards can be used in the physical store or online, as a general card like an American Express or MasterCard Gift Card, available for use wherever that card is taken, or store-specific like a movie theatre or Amazon. Gift Cards are one of my favorite gifts because I enjoy them for month’s afterward.
A Gift from Teacher Wish List
It’s popular for teachers to have an online wish list of teaching materials they need. You may remember these from Scholastic books or back-to-school supplies. They’ve grown up and now cover all kinds of teaching and classroom resources. Take the time to find out if your teacher is registered online with an organization. Or, help them do this.
Training
Give the gift of knowledge. Offer to teach someone how to use one of those fascinating hi-tech devices that populate every Christmas tree. It could be your mother, grandfather, or future friends at a rest home. Find out what gift they got and don’t know how to use and set it up for them, teach it, demo it, and stick around until they’re comfortable. Warning: That could take a few visits. That’s part of the gift. Your time. Their peace of mind. Cost: $0
World Peace
I have no idea how to give this. I’d start with Baby Steps:
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- take deep breaths instead of blowing up the next time you get angry. One less confrontation in your day and that of Whoever Caused It. A little more peace. Cost: $0
- give a friend–or a stranger–something they need that you don’t. How do you know what that is? Listen. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Ask. Cost: $0
- be kind when you can. Be kind when it’s difficult. Be kind when it seems impossible. That doesn’t me be a doormat. You understand the difference. Cost: $0
Most Unpopular Gifts
Wondering what to avoid? This list curated from online “worst teacher gift” sites rarely changes over the years. It’s worth noting I have received all of these and actually liked them, so take this list with a grain of salt:
- candles (teachers got their fill of these their first few years teaching)
- mugs (like candles, teachers have plenty of these)
- I Love Teacher stuff (they already have as much as they can ever use)
- homemade food (lots of people worry about how well these are made. Me, I’ve actually gotten food poisoning from homemade food)
- things shaped like apples
- intimate gifts (teachers just don’t know you well enough for this)
- jewelry (what’s beautiful to you might not be to the teacher)
- cheap stuff — these are gifts that are poorly-made and will not last. Better to spend the same amount of money on a well-made lesser-priced gift.
Remember: You don’t have to give gifts. Often, a heartfelt greeting or holiday card is as meaningful as a bar of expensive soap or a holiday ornament for the tree. One of my favorite gifts was a framed Thank You to me from a student. I displayed that for years, until I retired and now it has a place of honor in my home office.
Whatever you give, make it from your heart, with your love, and carrying a personal meaning.
Want more ideas for holiday gifts? Check these articles out:
Best Gifts for Teachers--from We Are Teachers
48 Best Teacher Gifts--from Good Housekeeping
2023 85 Best Gifts for Teachers--from Forbes
22 Christmas Gifts for Teachers--from Woman’s Day
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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
I wish more parents could see this post. The most meaningful and treasured for me was when the parent took the time to write a personal thank you note about how happy their child was in my classroom.
Me too, and tell my Admin that they appreciated my efforts.