What Your Teacher Actually Wants: Holiday Gift Guide

It can be hard to find the perfect gift for the teacher in your life. To most it may seem like everything’s already been done. A mug with an apple on it is a heartfelt idea, but your child’s teacher likely has a cabinet full of them. 

You may be wondering “What’s a useful gift?” or “How can I show my appreciation?” 

When you’re unsure what to get, it’s hard to know what to do. 

The good news is, there actually are things that teachers really do want but people outside of teaching may not think of.  

In this post, I’ll define what your teacher wants and provide 3 ideas for you to take from to put together the perfect gift. I hope that this will give you a roadmap so you can get started with gift ideas and giving the special teacher in your life what they actually want.

What is the perfect gift for your teacher?

WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR A PERFECT GIFT?

• A gift that is practical yet thoughtful
• A gift that will make your teacher feel seen and appreciated
• A gift that will improve your teachers personal or professional life

In other words:

There are three components to coming up with the perfect gift for your teacher. You’ll just need to decide what type of gift you’ll want to give your teacher.

The added benefit is that you have plenty of options to choose from, it’s just coming up with something that will be personal to your teacher!

Personalized Appreciation

A key way to make the teacher in your life feel appreciated and seen is to look for a personalized gift. Think of something that reflects your teacher’s personality or taste. This will make them feel seen and known, plus it will not just be something they put up on a shelf and don’t really think about past that. 

This is a crucial component because personalizing gifts adds a meaningful touch. When it comes down to it, your teacher and you have a connection that goes beyond the academic setting. You all (and your child) are growing together. Personalization acknowledges that.

Many people who do not know what teachers want start out on the right track but then get stuck because they don’t realize the impact of personalization. 

Then they wind up presenting a gift that means well, but lacks meaning.  

The key to creating a personalized gift is to consider their unique preferences, needs and interests. Or even think about  your relationship or your child's relationship with the teacher and memories you all have shared. 

To get started, note down any hints or cues about their likes and dislikes, perhaps in casual conversations or by observing their classroom decor, and use this information to choose a gift that resonates with their personality. You can also just ask your teacher what would support them and make their life better, too! 

Practical Classroom Enhancements 

Practical classroom enhancements involve strategically incorporating items and tools that improve the functionality and atmosphere of the teaching space. This could be organizational tools, decorations, or even supplies. Teachers want to create an environment that enhances both their workspace and the students’ learning atmosphere - anything that helps with this, they would appreciate.

Some examples of things I love in my classroom are: 

• Popular picture books for read-alouds (my favorite are titles from Mo Willems, Aaron Blabey, and Jory John)
• Mr. Sketch markers for creating anchor charts and posters with students
• Dry erase pocket sleeves for activities and lessons
• Dry erase markers and erasers (we can never get enough of these!)
• Hands-on learning materials
• Stuffed animals for students to read with

Another really great idea to gift your teacher is a giftcard to target or michaels or a store like that in your area. Teachers are always going to 

Another really great gift for your teacher is a gift card to Micheals or Target, or another store like that in your area. Teachers are always going to these types of stores to replenish supplies so this would be a great practical gift to give. 

If you’ve spent days thinking about your teacher’s gift but something still feels off – this is an easy way to be thoughtful and practical. 

What can you do?

A really useful tool for finding a practical gift is giving one that keeps on giving. This can come in the form of classroom tools (here is my board of my favorite classroom tools from Amazon) or education tools for the teacher themselves! My bestselling Heart-Centered Toolkits are an excellent gift to give your teacher if you want to give them a practical toolkit they can use for years to come! Click here to snag it while you can.

Still unsure what is best? Take a visit to their classroom or even ask them for a list of things they need. This might feel like it’s taking the surprise out of the gift, but trust me, they will be so glad you thought about blessing them with gifts that will enhance their job and their life.

P.S. If you don’t have time to personally connect, my Shopping Guide will be helpful for you. It was created for teachers and can give you a peek into the needs of teachers who are actively working to grow alongside their students and provide engaging learning experiences. 

Time and Relaxation 

Last but certainly not least is finding ways to implement time and relaxation into your gift. This is something teachers will love you for. These gifts focus on providing the teacher with self-care, acknowledging the demands of their profession and expressing gratitude for their hard work.

Here’s where you’ll really start to give a gift that says  “thank you” to the teacher in your life’s year-long hard work.

Some examples of you personally stepping in to support them could be:

• Volunteering to come in and help with the class 
• Offering to come along on the next field trip
• Asking how you can come in to help next semester 

If you don’t want to donate your time, that is a-okay! Think  about things the teacher in your life would feel relaxed by. A perfect go-to, depending on the person, would be a gift card to get a massage, to get their nails done, or even to a spa for the day. Depending on how much you want to spend, giving them an experience to feel pampered and relaxed is always a great idea. 

Here is a guide to finding more ideas to gift your teacher relaxation and time:

• Start by understanding the teacher’s interests. Ask things like “how do they spend their free time?”, “what could make their life better?”, “what hobbies do they have?”. These are all questions that could help you find something that could be relaxing and thoughtful to them. 
• Then select a thoughtful relaxing gift: based on their preferences, choose a relaxation gift that aligns with their taste, such as a spa voucher, a cozy blanket, or a relaxing scented candle. Or even if they’ve recently picked up a hobby like knitting or pickleball, get them something that goes along with that.
• Then, in order to personalize the experience and add even more thought, just add a handwritten note expressing your gratitude or a small detail that connects the gift to your child’s experience in the classroom.

Once you’re done,  you’ll be well on your way to presenting a thoughtful and personalized gift that promotes the teacher’s well-being and shows your appreciation. 

Putting it All Together for the Perfect Gift

There you have it! 3 ideas for the perfect gift for the special teacher in your life…and something that they actually want!

What’s next? Download The Active Educator Shopping Guide

If you need help getting started, my Shopping Guide will help teachers find the best resources to fit the needs of their students. Pull from this guide for even more specific gift ideas for teachers. This helps teachers manage their classroom with proven methods and EASE! These are digital resources that teachers can use with their students to provide engaging learning experiences!

Click here to download [The Active Educator Shopping Guide] now >>