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Smart ideas from actual teachers.
by Natalie Brown, Brittany Gibson, Clara McMahon
We asked the BuzzFeed Community teachers about the best gift they'd ever been given. Here are some of their answers!
1. A mason jar filled with enough of their favorite gum to last them a couple of months.
I love Mason jars, and I always chew gum after lunch so my breath doesn't stink. This one kid got me a Mason jar full of gum. Best thing ever!
—saraht4afb7266a
See how one mom styled jars of gum on Three Different Directions.
Get a bulk six-pack of Extra gum on Amazon for $7.15, or do a search for "bulk gum" to find the brand and flavor you're looking for.
2. A set of holiday dish towels (or lemon-print dishtowels, depending on the season!) and fancy dish soap that they normally wouldn't buy for themselves.
Amazon
One student gave me a set of cute Christmas dish towels and a nice smelling bottle of organic dish soap. Sweet little things to make washing the dishes feel fancy.
—katieh4d1c3422c
Get them on Amazon: the holiday towel set for $17.40+ (available in nine designs), the lemon towel set for $14.99 (if you like that aesthetic, they have a pineapple set, too), and a three-pack of Mrs. Meyers lavender-scented dish soap for $11.55.
3. Personalized pencils that have a better chance of actually being returned when students borrow one.
Roost Paperie / Etsy
My mother and I are both teachers and our biggest pet peeve are students who ask to borrow a pencil, never give it back, and have the nerve to ask for another one the next day. So, for my birthday she ordered me 1,000 pencils with the words "Please Return to Ms. --" on the sides. Literally the best thing ever, and it works too!
—laurentees
Get a set of 12 personalized pencils from Roost Paperie on Etsy for $15(available in 24 colors).
Here are some other easy personalized gift ideas!
4. A bottle of not crazy expensive but still good wine they can take home and enjoy...
thekimsixfix.com, @fridgetofork / instagram.com, Argaux
Wine!
—mdesrochers22
Wine. The best gift when dealing with kids.
—katiem4ac920ef2
Print out this free wine tag on The Kim Six Fix. And I personally love and recommend a bottle of Apothic Red (or any of their other blends) — most people I've served it to have liked it, and it's been $15 or less anywhere I've bought it!
Or if you want to gift red *and* white, Argaux's sauvignon blanc is organic and ~delish~ for $17 (plus you'll get brownie points if they like golf!).
5. ...or something a little harder that'll help them really relax! Like a bucket of co*cktail mixes with alcohol, a decorated bottle of tequila, or even just a liquor store gift card.
buzzfeed.com, buzzfeed.com
Just in case my kid is the reason they need a drink... —jenniferwillprechtw
A parent gave me a bottle of tequila that said "We know our son is the reason you drink, so here's a bottle on us." Most teachers get wine but her claim was that since I taught her son, wine wasn't strong enough...her son wasn't even bad!
—sarap24
After a particularly rough year with young Robert, his parents got me a gift card to the liquor store. Best. Gift. Ever.
—amyc4e28f1246
6. A big Thirty-One bag with room for carrying everything home at the end of the day...and back into school the next morning.
@thirtyone / instagram.com
A Thirty-One bag with an owl embroidered on it with the saying, "This teacher gives a hoot!". It was from a parent of a child who had a long way to go that year and it meant a lot that she thought I made a difference with her daughter.
—shumienny13
A student gave me a nice big Thirty-One teacher bag. I use it to haul everything back and forth from school. Best teacher gift ever!
—maddya42f9b05bf
Get a similar customizable tote from Thirty-One for $82 (available in three colors/patterns).
7. Or, a no-brand personalized tote bag that works just as well!
STRGembroidery / Etsy
A personalized tote bag perfect for carrying around all my marking, snacks, and notebooks!! —helens4ee29ad84
Get this personalized bag from STRGembroidery on Etsy for $28.99(available in four colors with eight designs).
8. A basic toolkit to help them with little fixes around the classroom or at home.
Amazon, amazon.com
I got a pink toolbox filled with tools my first year teaching. The student told me it was a tradition in his family to have your own tool kit — I never felt more special!
—anitaf4a73e31c3
The pictured 39-piece toolkit comes with a tape measure, claw hammer, slip joint pliers, bit driver, bit connector, pair of scissors, snap-off utility knife, four screwdriver (Phillips and slotted), eight hex keys, and 20 screwdriver bits (Phillips, slotted, and torx star).
Get it on Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors, or check out a similar set in pink for $21.99).
9. A personal laminator and laminating sheets, so they can display more student work and make nicer bulletin boards with less effort.
10. Disinfecting wipes to keep the classroom clean, fresh-smelling, and semi-sanitized.
Amazon
Clorox wipes, Clorox wipes, Clorox wipes.
—nicoled4dcb77ee3
Get a pack of 80 Lysol wipes from Amazon for $4.13.
11. Something meaningful that a student saved up for and bought themselves, like an iced coffee tumbler.
buzzfeed.com, Totally Teacher / Etsy
I work in a special education classroom for fourth and fifth graders with emotional disabilities. I had this student for two years and he had grown so much. At the end of the second year, he saved up and bought me this cup because I always drink iced coffee so I wouldn't forget him...as if I ever could. —adecarlidurkan
The most meaningful gift ever was a boy who went to the dollar store to buy me something with his own money, and he bought me a stuffed troll. It is my most cherished gift.
—chelsead483eed1ba
Get a customizable iced coffee tumbler from Totally Teacher on Etsy for $19.95.
12. A custom recipe box packed with each student's favorite recipe.
Custom Craft UA/Etsy
My favorite gift I have received so far is a recipe box filled with my students favorite recipes. I love the thought-out gifts!
—kellycannoncan
Get this custom recipe box from Custom Craft UA on Etsy for $19.59+ (available in 10 engraving styles).
13. A personalized crayon wreath that they can hang up in their classroom.
Crafty Crystal Shop / Etsy
A wreath made of crayons hot glued to a flat circular base, with a little chalkboard in the middle of the wreath with my name written on it and hanging from black and white abc ribbon. It's my most prized classroom possession!
—nicole512
Get this customizable wreath from CraftyCrystalShop on Etsy for $40+ (available with personalization for an additional $3).
14. Monogrammed toiletry/pencil bags and scarves they can use in their everyday life.
Things Remembered
One year for Christmas, a parent made all of the preschool teachers a monogrammed makeup bag and monogrammed scarves. They're super cute, and I was so excited over them!
—jessiep4a178bc93
Get monogrammed toiletry bags from Things Remembered for $12 (available in eight colors), and monogrammed scarves for $19.
15. A coffee mug or travel cup that's tailored to their interests.
Kate Spade, Little Maple Shop / Etsy
Very quickly the kids learned about my Starbucks and pug obsession. One of my favorite students bought me a coffee mug that says "starpugs" coffee with a pug in place of the Starbucks logo. I use it every day at school!
—amandal4dfaa155b
A mom was volunteering at a weekend school event that I was sponsoring when she noticed the $1 plastic cup from which I was drinking. Monday morning, her child finds me and hands me a Kate Spade bag. In it was a beautiful Kate Spade tumbler. So thoughtful and beautiful.
—andreas420ccdd32
Get the StarPugs mug from Little Maple Shop on Etsy for $14.99+, and the "Joy" tumbler from Kate Spade for $13 (originally $18).
16. A nicer lanyard than the one the school issues for holding all of their most important items through the day.
bythegraces / Etsy
A gorgeous lanyard to hold my ID, classroom key, and whistle. My ($5 cheap one) broke while teaching and my student went home and told her mom. —c4b3e062fb
Get this custom lanyard from bythegraces on Etsy for $21.21+.
17. A brand-new office chair in their very favorite color that'll bring them joy every time they sit down to grade papers or answer emails.
My favorite color is pink, it makes me happy. This fact is no secret to any of my students. Two years ago my honors English 10 class got together and surprised me with a beautiful pink desk chair. I cried, I was so surprised! I love that chair, the color is perfect and it is so comfortable! —grace28
Get this pink office chair on Amazon for $72.98+(available in four colors).
Or check out our picks for the best desk chairs you can get onlinefor more styles.
18. Gift cards to Starbucks, so they can treat themselves to their favorite drinks and pastries.
Starbucks / instagram.com
Starbucks gift cards for any occasion and homemade snacks — like trail mix with a Chinese twist and Jamaican sponge cake!
—sarahh4d9866e4f
Starbucks gift cards every time!
—kimberleyb3
Starbucks card!!!! Always the best gift.
—ericp4168934cb
Get them in whatever denomination works for you at your local Starbucks, or from their website.
19. Or gift cards to the local movie theater, so they can check out the latest buzz-worthy flick.
Movie theatre giftcards are my favorite gifts I've gotten. My husband and I rarely have to pay for movie tickets since I've become a teacher. So we always feel like we can splurge on popcorn and sodas!
—katelynr4084b455d
While the cute box and candy are totally optional, you can get the printable for it on Tatertots & Jello. They may also like one of the amazing gift sets we rounded up too.
20. OR gift cards for a massage, a fancy car wash, or a nail salon — enough to cover the full cost of at least one service, of course.
Marccophoto / Getty Images, Katarzynabialasiewicz / Getty Images
The best gift I've ever gotten as a teacher was a massage gift certificate. Working with kindergarteners had you all over the classroom. I am constantly sitting, standing and lifting things. The massage was much appreciated and easily my favorite gift.
—lenaporter
A $75 gift certificate to the nail salon I frequent.
—elises4632f51e4
A gift certificate for a swanky car wash (this was AWESOME).
—katiem4fe5ab089
21. ORRR just straight-up money they can spend however they want.
I taught first grade in a private school. The pay was very low. On the last day of school the parents of one of my students gave me a check for $100 thanking me for teaching their son. I was floored and so needed it.
—cgb
My mom taught elementary school for 35 years. Every Valentine's Day we would get more chocolate than we could eat, which was nice, but she also got a ton of coffee mugs. She also got so many apple/chalkboard Christmas ornaments that we could have filled two 7.5 foot trees. The best gift she got was a money tree from the whole class with $1 and $5 bills tied on.
—samantham42611b482
The cute chocolate box money is from Life as a Mom.
22. You could even coordinate with other parents in the class to get everyone to chip in on a pricier gift certificate.
Alaska Airlines / giphy.com
I teach high school band. Fun, but many hours and weekends are spent at work with the kids (this last week was "light", and it was 70 hours.) At the end of the year one year, the booster moms chipped in and got me a gift certificate for a weekend stay in a hotel at the beach. Gorgeous room and view, and utterly relaxing. Bless them!
—kristenp45bc24ecd
23. A custom-made gift that they can hang up in their classroom for years to come.
buzzfeed.com
Two in particular stand out. The first was from a student who I became close to during his sophom*ore year, although I didn't teach him until his senior year. On his last day, he gave me a plaque thanking me. This was early in my teaching career, and still means the world to me. The second came from about a dozen of my students from last year, most of whom were graduating. They pooled their money together and secretly bought me a Playstation 4! I was completely shocked by their grand gift. They went above and beyond! —thurmanfc
As a Geography teacher I talked a lot about different cultures and the places I've traveled. One of my students, whose father is a welder, made me a metal globe of the earth. It was flat, to hang on the wall as a decoration. I was astounded at how much work and effort went into it. —kenzhunter
Get a custom plaque made from Graphics2Art on Etsy for $17.95+(available in seven sizes).
24. Notes and letters that are heartfelt and sincere, and that remind teachers how important they are when they have a hard week (or month, or year).
CBS / giphy.com
Believe it or not, my favorite gifts are handwritten letters and personal drawings. "Stuff" gets used, lost, or broken. Letters and drawings go right into my memories binder, which I love looking through on rough days. ♥️
—lanni
Best gift I ever got was the letter I got from a student on his graduation day. He explained that he never would have made it so far without me, I'm the reason he didn't drop out, and the reason he graduated. He told me I changed his life. Most amazing gift ever.
—schulzemary214
Mine was a handmade Christmas card from a student during my first year of teaching. I speak French and would teach words and phrases to the kids at the end of the day. It turns out this kid went home and begged his dad to use his high school French to help him write my card in French. It was so thoughtful and cute. I still have it!
—sarahm49e4a46cd
I work in a low-income area, so I don't receive gifts from my students, so I was especially thankful when I received a hand-written note from a student around the holidays. The note was written on a ripped piece of loose leaf paper, and his parents didn't speak/write in English, so I knew the note came directly from the student himself. So meaningful. 😊
—ashleighb4bdc4ffe0
25. Or jar (or notebook) full of notes from the whole class.
I work in South Los Angeles so my students and their families really can't afford to get me gifts. That doesn't bother me though because I have gotten some of the best notes in the world. Last year, one of my students made a book and had the rest of the class write me goodbye notes. It made me cry.
—whitneynicolew2
Last year I got a Mason jar full of feelings my kids had about me. They ranged from how "fluffy I was" to how they'd become great readers ready for 2nd grade. Needless to say everyone of them warmed every inch of my heart!
—wadeinthewhiskey
One year, the parents of my PreK class created a photo book for me. Each student had their own page with photos and a note from their parents or caregivers about what the year meant to them and how I helped their child and family grow. It still sits in my office as a principal now and when I have a really rough day, it's there to remind me of why I work with young children and their families.
—christinas4c20f1b6d
26. A gift basket made up of all of that teacher's favorite things.
I had a student ask me a question everyday about myself — favorite color, food etc. Little did I know he was recording the answers! At the end of the year put 20 of my favorite things from my answers in a giant gift basket. It was so incredibly sweet and something I will remember forever!
—michellee41c913d37
It's not exactly the same concept, but get a free printable tag and a list of everything in this Back-to-School teacher gift basket from A Pumpkin And A Princess. Too bad you weren't graded on gifts because these school supplies get an A+ in style.
27. Or a gift basket made up of just useful, nice things to have, even if you don't know much about your kid's teacher at all.
buzzfeed.com
One of my 3rd grade boys got to pick out the gifts his mom gave me for Christmas. I still use the oven mitt, I ain't mad. —simil
You can get similar things on Amazon: a custom teacher-appreciation potholder that says "Thank you for making me one smart cookie!" for $12.99, two pounds of dark chocolate covered espresso beans for $22.99(originally $24.99), some leggings for $9.99+ (available in sizes XS-XXL and 37 colors/patterns), and a Mrs. Meyers Clean Day soy candle tin for $4.49 (available in five scents).
28. Thoughtful, homemade gifts that that tie directly to something they love, whether it's a fandom or their subject matter.
buzzfeed.com, buzzfeed.com
I'm a Latin teacher. One of my students was heavily into nail art and made me a set of Latin class themed fake nails. Love them because they are unique and remind me of that lovely student. —cproc18
I have two favorites: a stool all my students signed and I use as my "teacher's chair" everyday, and a ceramic coffee mug a student decorated for me. Thoughtful, homemade gifts are my favorite, especially from kindergarteners. —kayf3
29. Something meaningful *from* their favorite fandom, whether it's a personalized piece of art...
buzzfeed.com
I'm a huge Doctor Who fan. My extra credit questions are based around the show and its history, so my students know this. My first year at my new school wrapped up. I shared all the good, bad, and ugly about my own life with these kids because we were so similar. On the last day a student gave me a hand drawn and inked cartoon of myself as the 10th doctor. It is currently framed and part of a collection of things I call "Reasons Not to Quit". —chriss4e40d9c56
...or a really cool piece of merch, like Harry Potter's wand.
Amazon
I teach fifth grade, and one year I introduced a student to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. He gave me a very fancy replica of Harry Potter's wand for Christmas. It was the best present I've ever gotten. I still keep it in my classroom and use it as a pointer from time to time.
—megano4e6ce9bcc
Get Harry's light-up wand from Amazon for $35(originally $49.99).
Editor's Note: BuzzFeed does not support discriminatory or hateful speech in any form. We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and all fans who found a home in the Harry Potter series and will work to provide a safe space for fans. If you, like us, feel impassioned about trans rights, learn more or donate here.
30. A surprise pizza (or other food) delivery they can enjoy during their lunch break.
@dominos / instagram.com
For teacher appreciation week, my second grade student and his mom had a large pepperoni pizza from Dominos delivered during my lunch time. Pizza is my favorite food of all time. Best gift ever!!
—astewa3
31. Tickets to see their favorite music artist — split between members of the class, of course.
buzzfeed.com
In the spring, my students gave me tickets to see Ed Sheeran, at the Boston Garden. I had tried to get tickets and I had constantly been listening to Divide. I'd eventually found out they got them from a secondary agency and had divided (see what I just did) the cost. I think what surprised me most was that they could keep a secret!
—heidic4aee90d87
32. A gaming console (maybe split between a few parents to save some $$$) to *really* show your appreciation and give them a reason to sit down and relax once in a while.
Amazon
Several years ago I was teaching 3rd grade and always used a Wii as an example for math problems. So for an end-of-the-year gift, the parents all got together and bought me one!
—sarahe30
Get it from Amazon for $299.99.
33. A box (or a bouquet, if you will) of instant coffee to help them quickly refuel themselves throughout the day.
buzzfeed.com
34. A planter decorated with some hand-painted designs because teachers help children grow, and this is a fun and meaningful way to show how much you appreciate that.
buzzfeed.com
I am a preschool teacher. I had a difficult time choosing my favorite. But for our preschooler’s graduation last year, one of the families gave each of us a painted flower pot with a flower that read “Thanks for helping me grow” and the student wrote her name on the side. It was very sweet! Sadly, it's now broken thanks to a squirrel. But I loved it very much! –sarinamayw
Get a set of four clay planter pots from Amazon for $29.99and a set of acrylic, ceramic-friendly paints from Amazon for $19.99.
