15 Back-to-School Teacher Gifts They'll Actually Use
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Every August, I find myself standing in the school supply aisle wondering the same thing: What do teachers actually want?
Our teachers spend all day helping our kids learn, grow, and, on occasion, remember where they left their lunchbox. So when back-to-school season rolls around, I love sending them into the year with a little something that feels thoughtful and useful.
The key word here is useful.
After talking to teacher friends and spending way too much time scrolling Amazon reviews, these are the gifts I'd be happiest to receive if I were spending my days wrangling a classroom full of eight-year-olds.
Flair Pens
If you've ever met a teacher, there's a good chance they're already carrying these. Colorful, reliable, and somehow just more fun than regular pens.
A Great Tumbler
Whether it's water, iced coffee, or whatever gets them through parent-teacher conferences, a good insulated tumbler is always appreciated.
Personalized Notepads
A small luxury that makes writing notes home feel a little more special.
Desktop Fan
Some classrooms are freezing. Some feel like a greenhouse by September. A small desk fan can be a lifesaver.
Hand Cream
Teachers wash and sanitize their hands approximately 4,000 times a day. A nice hand cream is one of those gifts that's both practical and a little indulgent.
Mini Desk Vacuum
This might be my favorite. It picks up pencil shavings, crumbs, glitter, and whatever mysterious debris accumulates in a classroom.
Electric Mug Warmer
For the teacher who reheats the same cup of coffee three times before noon.
Cute Lanyard
Functional, but still fun. Kind of the teacher equivalent of a good handbag.
Portable Phone Charger
Perfect for field trips, after-school events, and long days away from an outlet.
Dry Erase Markers
Not glamorous. Always appreciated.
A Teacher Emergency Kit
Fill a small pouch with lip balm, mints, hand lotion, stain remover wipes, tissues, and hair ties. It's one of those gifts that gets used all year long.
Reusable Iced Coffee Cup
For the teacher who arrives every morning with a coffee in hand and a smile that says they were grading papers until 10 p.m.
Classroom Supply Bundle
Sticky notes, pens, highlighters, and all the little things teachers somehow end up buying themselves.
Bookstore Gift Card
Teachers are constantly building classroom libraries. A bookstore gift card lets them choose exactly what they need.
An Amazon Gift Card
Not the most exciting gift on the list, but probably the one that gets used the fastest.
At the end of the day, I've learned that teacher gifts don't need to be elaborate. A small, thoughtful gesture goes a long way.
And if you're reading this while staring at a back-to-school supply list that's six pages long, consider this your permission slip to keep it simple. Your child's teacher will appreciate the kindness far more than the price tag :).