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Teacher Appreciation Week is typically celebrated the first week in May, so be prepared with these practical teacher appreciation ideas from students.
Our teachers do so much for our children, so teacher appreciation is a great way to thank them and serve them for all the hours and energy they put into helping our kids have a good and successful year.
As a former middle school teacher, I can tell you that it is so nice to receive ANYTHING from your students, at all. I remember how thoughtful it was when students would give me a candy cane, or a pen they had made into a flower out of duct tape, especially because I knew they had multiple teachers, and therefore didn’t need to get me anything at all. I felt loved and valued, when students and/or parents, would show me any appreciation at all.
This quote says it perfectly, “Teaching is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission,” -Dr. Ralph Tyler. Although our teachers are being paid for a job, what a great service they are still performing, as they teach with compassion and enlighten our youth. Let’s show our teacher’s how much we appreciate them.
This is a blog post on teacher appreciation ideas from students.
1. Free Homemade Gift
A card, or drawing from your child would be great. If you have rice/wheat/beans at home and some fabric, you could sew together a microwaveable heating pad. One year my daughter got out the craft bin and glued a bunch of things together to make a snow globe. Her teacher loved it.
2. Giftcards
If you want to get your teacher something special, that they will really use, and really want, the safest thing to get is a gift card. Here are some of our favorite gift card ideas: a local ice cream shop, local drink shop, local cookie shop, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Target, Amazon, Walmart, local movie theater, or anywhere you know that your teacher likes to shop. We once lived in a city that had a juice/smoothie shop called “Roxberry.” It was fun to make a cute saying out of the name and give a $5 gift card to each of my kids’ teachers, “Your class ROX-BERRY much!” Be creative. Check out our free printables to go along with your gift cards.
3. Classroom Supplies
Many districts are having budget cuts, and more and more teachers are using their own money to purchase things like classroom supplies. Therefore, classroom supplies would be some great teacher appreciation ideas. Some excellent ideas for classroom supplies include whiteboard markers, sharpies, pencils, gluesticks, crayons, markers, scissors, or colored pencils.
4. Wall-mounted Whiteboard Marker Holder
Your teacher will love having an organized place to keep her whiteboard markers, and even better, if they are teaching little ones, they can mount this up high, out of reach of little hands. 
5. Paper Cutter
Teachers are constantly cutting out things for their classroom, so a portable paper cutter would really make their jobs so much easier. I would have loved to have one of these in my classroom.
6. Label Maker
Another thing I would have loved to have is a label maker. There are so many closets and bins full of things in a classroom, that being able to label them quickly would really make things easier for a teacher. Grab one for yourself while you’re at it!
7. Star Sticky Notes
As a teacher, I had sticky notes everywhere! Your teacher would love having some cute shapes ones, or lined sticky notes, to help with reminders and notes to students or parents.
8. Lanyard for Keys/Badge
Most teachers are required to wear a badge at all times, so a cute lanyard would be a fun way for any teacher to sport their badge and keep their classroom keys on them at all times.
9. Rolling Utility Cart
Teachers love to be organized, and this rolling utility cart is a great way to help them keep things accessible and mobile.
10. Magnetic Sentence Strips
These magnetic sentence strips would be fun for students to practice spelling, or math, or really any subject. They could write their answers on the strip, and then hang them on the whiteboard.
11. Desk Organizers
These desk organizers look nice, and will help your teacher stay more organized. There are so many in this pack that you could split them up between your kid’s teachers, and maybe even keep a few for yourself.
12. Teacher Socks
These socks are adorable, and would make an adorable gift for any teacher. Help keep their feet warm and stylish with this classroom inspired pair.
13. Teacher Shirt
These are some fun shirt ideas for teachers, depending on which subject and/or grade level they teach.
14. Best Teacher Book
This is such a cute book, where your child could write in the book, or you could even have the entire classroom write in the book, to show your teacher that they are loved by the students.
15. Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
This desktop vacuum cleaner has great reviews and would have come in so handy as a classroom teacher! Kids are great at making messes, and this vacuum will help the classroom stay clean.
16. Clorox Wipes
Clorox wipes are a must have for every classroom! Your teacher will thank you for these wipes, to not only clean up after an art project, but to also help keep the spreading of germs down.
17. Hand Sanitizer
It’s no joke that teaching is one of the germiest jobs! Help your teacher stay healthy with some hand sanitizer for themselves and for the classroom. If you have multiple teachers, get a four pack, and split it up between them.
18. Teacher Magnets
These teacher magnets are adorable, and the teacher could use them to stick assignments, notes, or decor to their desk, or around the classroom.
19. Telescopic Pointer
My daughter’s teacher loves using her pointer, so the kids know exactly where she is pointing to on the whiteboard, without having to stand in the way.
20. Cute plant
Classroom decor is always fun and these cute little plants would make a great addition to your teacher’s desk or classroom.
21. Name Sign
These name signs are adorable, and something your teacher is sure to keep around forever.
22. Personalized Pencil Holder
Does your teacher have a hard time finding a pen or pencil to write with? This pencil holder is not only adorable, but also functional, to help your teacher stay organized.
23. Personalized Stapler
As a teacher, you can never have too many staplers, and this personalized stapler would be so cute on a teacher’s desk.
24. Reward System Punch Card
These reward system punch cards are adorable and can be used in so many ways. Your teacher could use them for behavioral issues, attendance issues, bathroom passes, positive reinforcement, and so many other ways. It even comes with a hole punch. This is a great way to help keep kids on task as they work towards a goal.
25. “Things my Student Said” Quote Book
Looking back, I wish I would have kept some sort of journal of my days as a teacher. This quote book would be hilarious for any elementary teacher to keep track of all of the cute and funny things their students say, but I would have loved it as a middle school teacher as well. Another option would be this Middle School Teacher Journal.
26. Bulk Bracelets or Pencil Pouches
Get these 12 apple bracelets, or eight teacher survival kit pouches for your teachers. Need even more bulk items? Get 24 Teacher survival kit pouches that also comes with 12 teacher bracelets. Wow, these are all such excellent prices, and you can divide it amongst your children’s teachers, and maybe even save some for your teachers next year! Go ahead and fill those pouches with chocolate. Your teachers will thank you.
27. Substitute Teacher Notepad
What a great way for your teacher to stay organized, and get valuable feedback when a substitute comes into the classroom.
28. Stanley Quencher
This is a very popular water bottle in Utah and sells out quickly every time new colors are launched. The Stanley Quencher would be a great teacher appreciation idea from students. The Stanley Quencher fits a ton of liquid, 40oz, and still fits in your car’s cup holder. It also has a straw, is dishwasher safe, and has a handle, making it easier to hold. It is made from stainless steel and double-wall vacuum insulated, so it keeps your drinks cold or hot for a long time.
29. Favorite Book or Appropriate Age Level Book for the Classroom
If you click on this link to the adorable “Whatever After” Series, then along the top menu select, “Children’s books” and then you can select the age level to find age appropriate books for your child’s classroom.
30. Cute Keychain
This is a great deal to get five keychains, which is convenient if you have multiple children, or if your kids are in middle school or high school, and have multiple teachers. If you don’t have multiple teachers, then you can always save some for another year.
31. A Letter From your Teacher: On the Last Day of School Book
Teachers rave about these books. They are best for (kindergarten-4th grade). The teacher reads this book to their students on the last day of school, to really show the students how much they care about them. Maybe grab a box of kleenex for your teacher as well, because they will need it after reading this book. Also, check out these other books in the series: Our Class is a Family and A Letter from your Teacher: On the first day of school.
These are all practical teacher appreciation ideas from students that your teachers will love. Our teachers serve our children every single day, so let’s give them something to show them that they are appreciated. Let’s serve!
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[…] their favorite drink or candy bar, or getting them some classroom supplies. Check out our post HERE on teacher appreciation […]