From practical classroom accessories, to personalized planters, these are the best gifts to show your child’s teacher appreciation for all they do
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We think that teachers deserve more love than they typically get — they’ve taught our kids long division, broken up classroom arguments, and helped inspire us to achieve our wildest dreams (according to my 9th grade English teacher Mrs. Carney, she always knew I was going to be writer, so there!).
After you’ve scoured the shopping malls and online stores to find the perfect gift for your S.O., don’t forget to find a gift for your child’s teacher. They spend so much time time with your kids every day, and even getting them a little something can go a long way to show how much you appreciate all the work they do.
But what’s an appropriate gift that they’ll actually like and use? Well, we talked to a former 6th grade teacher from Long Island, Erica Hellman, and asked what teachers want the most. “Typically, besides gift cards (which are always wanted), we’d like something that we can actually utilize in the classroom.” Hellman says that supplies and decorations for the classroom can be a big out-of-pocket expense, so it’s always nice when a present is both thoughtful and practical. “Self-care items are also a great go-to.”
From practical classroom accessories, to personalized planters for their desk, these are best Valentine’s Day gifts for teachers, coaches, and principals alike. We chose a mixture of Hellman’s picks and also top-rated products from well-known brands. The best part? None of these gifts costs over $65 (although for any personalized items, you might want to factor in delivery pricing/time when you order).
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Amazon Gift Card
Image Credit: Amazon “You can’t go wrong with a gift card for Amazon or Starbucks,” Hellman says. “It might seem impersonal, but we really do appreciate it.” This one already comes in a floral bouquet-themed card with a ribbon, so all you have to do is sign your name to the card. There are no fees or expiration date, and you can choose from $15-$500 amounts.
Buy on Amazon for $15.00
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Homesick Book Club Candle
Image Credit: Homesick This Homesick candle will add some some ambiance to whatever read they’re currently engrossed in. The natural soy wax candle has notes of nutmeg, amber, and sandalwood that’ll fill the room as they turn the page. Homesick says its candles have a burn time of between 60 and 80 houses — and that’s been true in our experience.
While we’re recommending the Book Club candle for Valentine’s Day, Homesick has dozens of other options scents to choose from.
Buy on Amazon for $38.00
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Retro Wooden Antique Book Tissue Box Cover
Image Credit: Amazon “Please, for the love of god, get us tissues,” Hellman laughs. “The kids are always snotty this time of year. A nice decorative tissue box holder would be amazing.” This one is handmade and hand-painted, and looks like three antique books stacked together. We love the retro vibes, and it’d be perfect to put at the front of the classroom, or on a desk.
Buy on Amazon for $19.69
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Heart Snapshot Mix Photo Art
Image Credit: Minted Hellman says she always wished for more photo frames or framed art pieces to put around the classroom. “It’s a great way to personalize the classroom beyond posters or educational material”. We like this photo art from Minted with a heart-shaped collage that can be made from pics of students’ from the classroom or just of their favorite things.
Buy on Minted for $25+
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Headspace Subscription
Image Credit: Headspace Few gifts are better than peace of mind, and we all know how stressful leading a classroom can be. Headspace has done just that for thousands of users, helping people meditate, fall asleep, and manage anxiety. Their audio experiences are very well-produced and quick, offering an easy intro to meditation for anyone.
Buy on Headspace for $12.99+
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Stanley Quencher Tumbler
Image Credit: Amazon The world’s most popular tumbler is a no-brainer for any teacher or educator in your life. The stainless steel Stanley Quencher Tumbler can keep 40-ounce drinks cold for hours thanks to its double-walled vacuum insulation. It comes with a straw, but you can also easily seal its cover when you’re on the move to avoid spilling your drink all over your car.
Buy on Amazon for $45
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Yamakazi Home Desk Organizer
Image Credit: Amazon You can help your favorite teacher stay organized this Valentine’s Day with this ultramodern desk organizer. Inspired by “small-space living” in Japan, the organizer has multiple compartments and a wooden crossbar, so all their pens, rulers, scissors and more will stay upright and easily accessible.
Buy on Amazon for $35.00
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Homedics 4-in-1 UV-C Portable Air Purifier
Image Credit: Amazon “A solid air purifier would be a amazing for a full classroom, as long as it’s not big and bulky,” Hellman recommends. This desk-sized air purifier is one of the most advanced compact models we’ve seen — it uses both HEPA-type filtration and UV-C technology to reduce and capture 99.97% of airborne particles. The two whisper-quiet speed settings are also perfect for a classroom environment.
Buy on Amazon for $39.99
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INNERDIVA Pencil Dangle Earrings
Image Credit: Amazon If you know a teacher who loves to encorporate fun accessories into their classroom outfits or really gets dolls up for school spirit week, get them these quirky pencil-shaped hoop earrings. You don’t have to spend big bucks on jewelry for it to feel thoughtful, and these dangles with polished, little notebook papers are the perfect accessory for teachers.
Buy on Amazon for $13.99
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Be Rooted Glitter + Glitz Jumbo Floaty Pens
Image Credit: Amazon “Get your teachers some good-quality pens,” says Hellman. “I prefer to use pens in my classroom over pencils in general. One, because they have better designs, and two, because they kids can’t easily jab each other with pens.” We love this gorgeous set from Black-owned brand Be Rooted, and it comes with two ballpoint pens that each have a glittery gold decorative top.
Buy on Amazon for $16.99
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VAHDAM Blush Valentine’s Day Tea Gift Set
Image Credit: Amazon If the teacher in your life prefers their morning tea over hot java, then give them a cup of aah with this Valentine’s Day tea gift set. The “Blush” assortment comes with three unique loose-leaf tea blends: Sweet Himalayan Green Tea, Saffron Masala Chai Tea, and Earl Grey Spiced Masala Chai. Each are packed at the source in India and come in gift-worthy decorative gold tins.
Buy on Amazon for $17.99
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Homedics UV Clean Portable Sanitizer
Image Credit: Amazon “If I could get a giant, massive tub of hand sanitizer as a gift, I’d love that,” Hellman laughs. “But I feel like a phone or jewelry sanitizer would be the next best thing for their desk.” This Homedics device keeps essentials like phones, credit cards, keys and other high-touch items clean and sanitized at school with a powerful UV-C LED light. It also collapses flat for added convenience, so they can toss it in their bag and go.
Buy on Amazon for $14.49
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Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Slippers
Image Credit: Jessica Schramm As plenty of teachers can relate to, being up and about on your feet all day is no joke. Gift them these soft-as-a-cloud Turkish Cotton slipppers to slip into during a lunch break or after work, and they’re sure the thank you. The pair is soft and cushioned at the bottom, but also have ribbed rubber soles so they won’t slide around.
Buy on Parachute for $39
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Canopy Street Coffee Mug and Stemless Wine Cup Gift Set
Image Credit: Amazon This cheeky coffee mug and stemless wine cup set will help your giftee unwind, whether it’s right before the bell rings, or after classes are over and they’re home grading papers. While we love a good sentimental teacher mug, this one is guaranteed to get a laugh and some use.
Buy on Amazon for $15.99
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K. Carroll Accessories Harper Crossbody Bag
Image Credit: Amazon This trendy purse not only makes for a sweet Valentine’s Day gift for busy teachers, but it was featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things list. While they’ll love the little details like the chic vegan leather tassles or the practical RFID-protected built-in card slots, you’ll love that it’s under $30. The crossbody is available in multiple colorways, but we like the pink as a nod to the season.
Buy on Amazon for $26.00
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The Bouqs Flower Delivery
Image Credit: Bouqs Flowers are a tried and true gift, but, if you can’t drop them off yourself, you can always turn to The Bouqs. The straightforward service, seen on Shark Tank, helps make flower delivery easier, and the teacher in your life will love these delightful blooms — we suggest one of these affordable and freshly-cut bouquets under $50.
Buy on Bouqs for Under $50
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JLab Go Air Tones True Wireless Earbuds
Image Credit: Amazon For teachers that like to listen to music when they grade, or are always forgetting their headphones at home, these JLab buds are the perfect to gift. They feature a whopping eight hours of playtime in each earbud and 24 extra hours from the charging case (32 hours total). With just a few taps, they can also tailor the sound to their listening preference with three EQ presets: JLab Signature, Balanced and Bass Boost mode.
Buy on Amazon for $24.99
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VIVITEST Ceramic Aromatherapy Diffuser
Image Credit: Amazon Wiht this ceramic aromatherapy diffuser, the teacher in your life can help keep their classroom smelling fresh with different essential oils, or they can bring it home to create a calm ambience while they unwind after a long day of work. With whisper-quiet operation, this diffuser can last for 3-5 hours, and is designed with a waterless auto shut-off function.
Buy on Amazon for $26.08
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Doss Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Image Credit: Amazon If they’re the type of teacher that likes to play music during class to get their students motivated, gift them this wireless Bluetooth speaker from Doss. They can enjoy their tunes in 12W full-bodied stereo through dual high-performance drivers with a unique enhanced bass. A built-in rechargeable battery powers up to 20 hours of playtime, and they can keep the party going into their summer months off with IPX5 water-resistance.
Buy on Amazon for $27.99
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Grubhub Gift Card
Image Credit: Grubhub “When I get home, sometimes the last thing I want to think about is cooking dinner after a long day of classes,” says Hellman. If you want to ditch the box of drugstore chocolates this season, get them a gift card to Grubhub. They’ll be able to order whatever they want to their door, thanks to you.
Buy on Grubhub
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Leather Heart Bookmarks
Image Credit: Amazon These heart-shaped leather bookmarks will help your teacher keep their place more stylishly than a boring paper bookmark. They come in a pack of six, and each corner page marker is made of PU leather with fine, durable stitching so they’ll last for semester after semester.
Buy on Amazon for $9.99
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iWALK Portable Charger
Image Credit: Amazon The size of a tube of chapstick, this mini emergency portable charger can help keep their devices on full battery on the go. It’s lightweight and convenient enough to throw in their bag, put packs enough power to charge and iPhone 14 from 0% to 70% in a pinch.
Buy on Amazon for $25.99
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Thank You For Helping Me Grow Teacher Flower Pot
Image Credit: Amazon This adorable planter shows off your appreciation for all the ways that special teacher has helped them grow throughout the year. You can even personalize it with their name, or keep the rainbow pencil design as-is. Just add a succulent or mini plant of your choice, and you’re ready to gift.
Buy on Etsy for $17.95+
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TheraICE Cooling Gel Sleep Mask
Image Credit: Amazon Teaching can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful — and hours of staring at screens and papers can take their toll. Get them this TheraICE sleep mask that not only blocks out all the light so they can catch some much-needed Zzz’s, but is also made from cooling gel for maximum relief from eye strain.
Buy on Amazon for $24.95
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GENIANI Portable Cool Mist Humidifier
Image Credit: Amazon The winter months (or cranking school heating) can reek havoc on their skin, which is why your teacher will love this desktop humidifier. The ultra-quiet humidifier comes with two cooling mist options — continuous and intermittent — so they can get some much-needed moisture without a big, bulky machine.
Buy on Amazon for $26.97
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Burt’s Bees Classics Set
Image Credit: Amazon “Things like hand creams, or chapstick and lip balms, are something teachers really enjoy. It always felt like I was constantly running out throughout the year, and it’s an easy thing to gift anyways.” Teachers can pamper and soothe from head to toe with this Burt’s Bees giftable set of their best-sellers. This tin comes with Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, Hand Salve, Original Beeswax Lip Balm, Res-Q Ointment, Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream and Coconut Foot Cream.
Buy on Amazon for $24.54
