Holiday Gifts for Teachers

Educators are working harder than ever to provide high-quality education to students, and brand-new challenges crop up daily.

When it comes to showing teachers appreciation for all that they do, a personal gift is often appreciated. However, sometimes they really just want tools for their classrooms.

Teachers spent an average of $745 on supplies during the 2019–2020 school year, according to an adoptaclassroom.org survey, much of which was out of their own pockets. Nearly half of all teachers said their spending has increased since distance learning began.

So if you are thinking about gifts, skip the coffee mug and consider these items instead:

Clean and safe

From hand sanitizer to spare masks to disinfecting wipes, some essentials needed for keeping a classroom hygienic are in short supply these days. These basics may not be glamorous, but they will help keep teachers and their students happy and healthy.

Classroom basics

Teachers can always use pens and pencils, multi-colored duct tape for marking out spaces, Velcro and museum putty for sticking items like posters to walls, a large whiteboard and low-odor markers, a timer, accordion folders and other storage items such as colorful storage tubs and bins.

Projection, please

The latest models of projectors offer features that far exceed their predecessors of even just a few years ago. Classroom projectors and their wireless features allow educators to efficiently project their own display or select a student’s device to facilitate safe and socially distanced moderation and discussion.

Listen up!

These days, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones with a high-quality microphone can help ensure that a teacher’s words are heard loud and clear and that nothing distracts them while conducting class over video chat.

Presents that count

Math teachers can always use a spare calculator for their car, home or school classroom. Math educators can also gift themselves new tools by visiting this site for free support, software and math lessons for K–12.

Smart art items

Teachers can use children’s art books, including “how to draw” guides, colored posters, label makers, glue sticks, storage boxes, aprons, multi-colored construction paper, oil pastels, colored pencils, charcoal pencils and watercolors.

Who doesn’t like these?

If you’d rather give a more personal present, teachers love gift cards. You can tailor one to their general interests, as in a local bookstore gift card for English teachers or a gift card to use at a local hardware store for a woodworking instructor.

Of course, all teachers eat, so consider a gift card or certificate for a popular local restaurant. And you can always choose cards for websites such as Amazon, Etsy and Target.