It’s back to school time, and with it comes both a lot of feelings and traditions. The end of summer can spark a mild depression in some and sheer excitement in others. Fall fashion, a break from the heat, soups instead of salads, and, of course, back to school.
Whether you are a parent of kids gearing up for grade school, or you are dusting off the books yourself, going back to school in September is a pretty big deal. And it’s especially a big deal for the teachers out there — those brave souls who are returning from two months off to guide the minds of students across the country. They deserve something a little extra special, don’t they?
To start the new semester on a sweet note (without breaking the bank), here are 10 back to school gift ideas that would be perfect for the teachers in your life.
Personalized Pencils
Teachers go through school supplies, just like kids do — and are always misplacing their pens or having their writing tools “borrowed” and never returned. Personalized pencils custom engraved with their names (or nicknames) are a great way to show your teacher that you care. And no one can steal a customized pencil and get away with it!
Desk Calendar
Calendars are a great gift for teachers to start the new year, and especially the kind where you get to tear off a new page every day. You can find some really creative ones out there that can enhance a teacher’s job — like a “word a day” calendar that the teacher can share with their students, or a calming “zen quotes” calendar that will help bring a sense of peace and calm to the classroom.
Personalized Chocolates
Ordering personalized chocolates for the teachers in your life is maybe the best way to say “thank you!” and “I appreciate everything you do!” Totally Chocolate fills all kinds of orders that are destined to be gifts for teachers, with custom engraved sayings or pictures on them. You can order a variety of high quality chocolates from dark chocolate to premium milk chocolate, and even customize the box or wrapping so that they have an extra reminder of how appreciated they are. What’s better than a delicious mid-day chocolate boost, and especially one that has your name engraved on it?
Cool Coffee Cup
To really show your teacher that you care about their well-being, a really nice, new coffee cup will really brighten their day and provide a perfect start to the year. Coffee mug choices are endless, and you can search for the perfect one or order a custom mug with fun photos or sayings on it. It’s great to put some thought into it because once someone has their perfect mug, they’re usually pretty attached to it.
Gift Cards
Ok, this seems a bit too easy, but some people (most people) really appreciate having the gift option of getting what they want, when they want it. Plus, you get to support a local business and the teachers get to save more of their paycheck while still getting a nice treat like a fancy coffee or savoury baked good along the way.
Foam Roller
Let’s face it, teaching is a stressful job. Giving your teacher a foam roller might seem a little odd but these things are life changing and life saving. It’s the perfect gift to help a teacher de-stress between classes, and it’s small enough that it can be tucked away under the desk when it’s not in use.
Stress Ball
Dealing with students all day every day takes a great deal of patience and grace, and it’s not easy to maintain that kind of calm. A stress ball is an absolute essential for teachers so that they can squeeze their stress out of the palm of their hand, rather than have it all bottled up inside.
Cool Sharpies
No teacher in the world wouldn’t appreciate a simple sampling of Sharpies, and these days they come in all kinds of cool colors. Keep it classic with black and blue and add in some nice pastels or bright neons. Sharpies are great because they come individually so that you can create the perfect pack of colors for your teacher, and you know that they are going to be appreciated and used!
Nice Lunch Bag
No one ever really knows what goes on in the teachers’ lounge, but you do know that the teachers deserve some alone time during the lunch break. And you can enhance their lunch experience by gifting them a cool, useful, re-usable lunch bag that will enjoy loading up each morning to get their day started off on the right foot.
Personalized Card with a Thoughtful Note
At the end of the day, most teachers just want to know that they are appreciated and that what they do is making a difference (ok, gift cards help, too). So, taking the time to make a personalized card, and to write a heartfelt note that conveys the message that you appreciate them will probably be the gift that they will remember years later.
We all know that teachers aren’t in it for the money (though the two-month summer vacation sounds pretty fantastic), and the amount of time, energy, and their own money that they spend to make learning fun and meaningful for their students is pretty astounding. There’s no need to go overboard with a back to school gift, but something to help teachers face the year ahead is always appreciated!
