Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May, and after two years of lesson-altering and virtual learning, they deserve recognition now more than ever. While choosing gifts for teachers may be a little trickier than, say, gifts for a mom or spouse, we’ve got you covered. Below, find the some teacher appreciation gift ideas for educators of all kinds, from preschool teachers to college professors.
No matter what you decide to give your child’s—or your own—favorite teacher, the gesture will certainly be appreciated. After all, the best gifts for teachers are the ones from the heart.
When Is Teacher Appreciation Week 2022?
Teacher Appreciation Week is always the first full week of May. This year, it’s from Monday, May 2 to Friday, May 6.
What Can You Do For Teacher Appreciation Week?
Cards, notes or letters from you and/or your child are all wonderful way to express how much you appreciate the educators in your life. (If words aren’t your thing, the Knock Knock “Why You’re The Best Teacher Ever” fill-in-the-blank book, below, will help get you started.) Sharing baked goods is another sweet gesture (pun intended), whether homemade or bakery-bought. Of course, a thoughtful gift that makes their lives easier or encourages self-care is always a good idea.
Gift Ideas For Teacher Appreciation Week:
Stumped on what to give? From indulgent treats to cute classroom necessities to items that promote self-care, see our roundup of teacher gift ideas to spark some inspiration.
Self-Care That Smells Like Summertime
As evidenced by the name, Old Whaling Co.’s Seaweed and Sea Salt scent smells like a sea breeze (it’s also a personal favorite of one of our editors). Not only are the luscious handmade soap and rich body butter ideal for self-care, the coast-inspired fragrance is perfect for summer.
Bagless Teas That Brew In Seconds
Teachers and tea are a natural pairing, making this Tea Drops sampler a sweet token of appreciation. Tea Drops are made of organic ground teas that dissolve in water for easy bagless brewing. (As explained by the site, “like a bath bomb, except it’s tea!”). This sampler comes in a sleek wooden box that makes a great little trinket holder once the teas are gone.
A Chic Tea Kettle
An Under-$10 Book That’ll Make Them LOL
A Room Diffuser That’s Too Good To Keep In The Classroom
With one whiff of Brooklyn Candle Studio’s Love Potion Reed Diffuser, the lucky recipient will want to take it home. And that’s okay, because its dreamy scent will set the tone for their after-school oasis where they can kick up their feet and finally inhale.
A Pretty Plant
Studies have shown that plants help reduce stress and improve productivity, so some greenery could prove to be a useful gift. The Philodendron is a low-maintenance option that will help make the atmosphere in the classroom more pleasant, and you can have it delivered in your choice planter. The Grant, pictured, comes in a handful of trendy neutral colors.
A Gift That Does Good
A teacher’s needs for note-taking are virtually endless and this high-quality top-bound notebook—featuring a waterproof cotton book cloth cover—is the ideal tool for the job. It also stands for a cause: 100% of proceeds are being donated to World Central Kitchen, an organization that’s helping to feed Ukrainian families in need. For an extra personal touch, you can have this notebook monogrammed for $10 more.
A Heartfelt Candle
A Luxe Leather Clutch
Every teacher deserves a little luxury and this handcrafted leather envelop is an upgraded essential. Suitable for anything from stashing in a suitcase to completing a night-out ensemble, it’s extremely versatile. But here’s the best part: Parker Clay offers dignified employment for Ethiopians who would otherwise be at risk of turning to prostitution. Each purchase helps support their salaries.
A Foodie Lover’s Gift Basket
Gift baskets are always a great idea, especially when they involve food. The Here Here Market Female Founders Food Collection features unique picks from woman-owned businesses across the nation (which in turn helps support them). Speaking from experience, the Crunch Party snack mix is highly addicting, the Six-Ball Cake Sampler is a cake lover’s dream and the Everything Sauce is nearly life-changing.
Functional Decor
A Sleek Schoolbag
A Duo Of Pampering Essentials
In addition to offering sumptuous self-care products, Ornami’s packaging is undeniably fun. Grab the Bestie Combo for your favorite teacher who’ll enjoy exfoliating with the “No Scrubs” body scrub then slathering on some “Let That Mango” body butter after a long day at school.
A Desk Organizer That’s Pretty And Practical
A Mug That’s Almost As Smart As They Are
An At-Home Foot Massage
For Teachers With Refined Taste
A gift for spirit sippers, literature lovers or ideally both, these Classic Literature Rocks Glasses will be a guaranteed hit. Choose from designs that feature classics like Ulysses, The War Of The Worlds, Moby Dick and Don Quixote. Just note that each glass is sold separately.
Shopping for a history buff? These Constitution And Declaration Glasses may be a better fit.
An Ideal Gadget For Organization Fanatics
Featuring a graphic color display that enables you to easily scroll through 14 different fonts, 99 frames and 600 symbols, this device makes it easy to create professional-looking labels that will help you stay organized. And with additional details like a QWERTY-style keyboard, fast print speeds and an extensive selection of templates, you’ll want to label everything from the office supplies to storage boxes.
Light Therapy
Research has also shown that proper lighting can have a therapeutic effect on your mood. This Himalayan salt rock lamp may help teachers and students feel more at ease. In addition to good vibes, it emits a stream of negative ions to help purify the air.
A Meaningful Gift Card
A Sweet Treat They’ll Savor
In case you haven’t heard (or tasted), Levain cookies are the best. This 4-pack includes a quartet of fat, chewy cookies in chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter and oatmeal raisin varieties. They also arrive packaged and ready to gift.
A Meaningful Bangle
Known for designing jewelry inspired by meaningful moments, Alex and Ani’s Teacher Appreciation Bangle is a wonderful way to share the sentiment. It features a charm that reads “Teaching Is A Work Of Heart” and comes in both gold and silver finishes.
Express Gratitude In Your Own Words
Have a teacher in mind who’s really impacted your child’s life? Let your kiddo say it in their own words (with helpful prompts) with one of Knock Knock’s fan-favorite “fill in the love” books. This one is called “Why You’re The Best Teacher Ever,” but one warning: It may induce teacher tears.
For The Teacher That Causes “Treble”
Caffeinated Chocolate For A Convenient Jolt
For the teacher who runs on caffeine (who can blame them?), Pocket Lattes are a fun an unexpected gift. Each square has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, making them ideal for stashing in a pocket (get it?) for those times when guzzling more java just isn’t an option.
Tasty Bites That Are Allergy-Friendly
Just because the teacher in your life has an allergy, it doesn’t mean they can’t indulge. FOMO Baking Co.’s Cookie Bite Tasting Pack banishes FOMO (or fear of missing out) by offering scrumptious treats free of gluten, eggs, soy, dairy and nuts. If a 10-pack doesn’t seem like enough (it’s not), you can spring for a 25- or 50-pack instead.
CBD Bath Salts For A Relaxing Weekend Soak
Easing into a hot bath is relaxing, but CBD bath salts offer another level of zen. From a company founded “for women, by women,” Equilibria’s Relaxation Soak contains fragrant dried lavender, vanilla and full-spectrum CBD to ease the body and the mind after a long school week.
