Searching for a teacher appreciation gift? Wondering what to give your college teacher? Check out this list of teacher gifts for all grade levels!

(Quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Starting the Year Off Strong

The Courage to Teach : Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life.

Reading this book by Parker Palmer absolutely generated some excitement and eagerness for the upcoming school year! The last few chapters may be more reference material for certain interests, but the initial chapters left me feeling seen, heard, and far from alone in classroom struggles.

Dry Erase Markers You cannot go wrong with dry erase markers. Last year, I purchased packs of markers for door prizes for a professional development session. When I announced the prize of dry erase markers, teachers cheered.

Coffee. This Starbucks Starter Kit (or coffee choice of preference) will be a hit. I don’t know of any college campus where a Keurig isn’t handy either in personal offices or in shared break rooms. The first 2-weeks of class, our collective coffee consumption skyrockets!

Classroom supplies. The best gift you can give your teacher (especially those K-12) are those “wish list” items at the end of your supply list: pencils, tissues, Germ-X, and any other classic item will be appreciated and used. In fact, you could even consider a mid-year pick-me-up gift with the same items because they supply will be low (if not gone) by then.

Teacher Appreciation

Wise Owls. Looking for something unique, quirky, and a little “punny” – how about some cute owls for your wise teachers! This six-pack of owl pots will go a long way in spreading the appreciation (plants not included). SO CUTE!

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Enamel Pin. Cute and little, but packs a punch! Check out this cute lapel pin! Browse Amazon for pins for personality or subject matter matches for your favorite prof! I love little trinkets like this, I put them on my adventure backpack (because teaching is an adventure)!

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Homemade Goods & Handwritten Note. I highly support homemade snacks for teacher appreciation. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and even the classic apple all come with the experience of eating the delicious snack, but also the thought for the gift. Sometime we overthink gift giving and put too much financial strain on ourselves to make a splash. A meaningful note highlighting specific traits you appreciate in your teacher and how it impacted you… hard to beat.

End of the Year Thank You

The best “end of the year” thank you gift will come from the heart. The end of the year (or semester) can bring a lot of feelings of gratitude for the experience and uncertainty for the future. Celebrating your time together will be best decided by you! However, if you find yourself stuck in an idea rut, here are some ideas!

Gratitude Journal. School years can be exhausting, draining, and frustrating for your teachers. We can easily lose site of the goodness due to the pressures that come along with education. Gifting a gratitude journal with the 1st entry filled out with your specific gratitude towards your instructor will be a huge value for their ability to refuel for the next group of students.

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Herb Garden Kit. As stated earlier, you need to consider the gift recipient when selecting your teacher’s gift. That said, I love the idea of gifting summer experiences. Gardening gives your teacher an experience and provides herbs for their summer meals! This particular company provides several different kits! I love the routine of our summer garden!

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Personal Library Kit. I am flat in love with this gift! My favorite nook in our house would be our “library” – a built in bookshelf and hutch with over 300+ books. The blessing and downfall of the library, people want to borrow books and I never see them again. I don’t know many college professors or teachers who don’t enjoy reading. What a cute way to honor and love their collection!