21+ Best Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week (2024)

If you’re wondering how best to express your appreciation to teachers during teacher appreciation week, look no further – we have the best ideas on the internet.

We’ve compiled a list of heartwarming themes, thoughtful gifts, and creative ideas to make this Teacher Appreciation Week truly special.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the incredible impact teachers have on our society. From imparting knowledge to shaping young minds, educators play a pivotal role in molding the future generation.

Teacher Appreciation Week, typically celebrated in May, is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and show our gratitude for these unsung heroes.

Understanding Teacher Appreciation Week:

First established in 1984 by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and National Education Association (NEA), Teacher Appreciation Week is a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of educators across the nation.

During this week, schools, students, and communities come together to honor teachers for their unwavering commitment to shaping minds and fostering a love for learning.

Heartfelt Gifts Teachers Love:

When it comes to showing appreciation, thoughtful gifts can make a significant impact. Here are some beloved gift ideas that teachers often cherish:

1. Personalized Items: Anything with a personal touch can warm a teacher’s heart. Consider custom-made mugs, tote bags, or desk accessories with their name or a meaningful message.

Need some ideas? Try one of these!

Personalized Notepad

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Your teacher can write notes all day long with this personalized notepad – a perfect idea for teacher appreciation week. Include a set of her favorite pens to really show how much you care.

Clipboard for Teacher Appreciation Week

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This clipboard is the perfect idea for any teacher in your life. She is sure to cherish it always.

Include a package of permanent markers – and you have one of the best gift ideas for teacher appreciation week!

Personalized Gift Card Holder

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Can’t quite decide on the perfect personalized teacher gift? These personalized gift card holders are the perfect choice for any teacher in your life.

All About My Teacher Board

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These custom teacher boards were just too cute not to include. Your little one can color and draw their favorite things with colored pencils to make this even more special

2. DIY Gifts Straight from the Heart: There’s something truly special about handmade gifts—they carry with them a personal touch and a whole lot of love. If you’re looking to add an extra dose of thoughtfulness to your Teacher Appreciation Week celebrations, consider these DIY gift ideas:

Painted Mason Jars

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@plaidcrafts

Paint mason jars for a truly easy DIY teacher appreciation gift. You can fill the jars with flowers, pens, markers, or even candy!

Gift Basket

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You can’t go wrong with a teacher appreciation gift like this one. Fill a fun basket full of her favorite things, for a unique and easy DIY gift.

Colorful Post it Bundle

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For a unique and easy teacher appreciation gift idea, try this easy post it bundle! Just grab some post its, wrap in ribbon and decorate how you’d like. This DIY gift is perfect for anyone.

Super Teacher

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Do you think your teacher is just “super”? Try one of these easy DIY super teacher chocolate bar ideas. Easy for your little one to participate in, and sure to bring a smile to your teachers face.

You’ve Blown My Mind

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What could be easier than a mason jar full of bubble gum? Perfect for any teacher on your list this teacher appreciation week.

3. Classroom Supplies: Teachers often dip into their own pockets to supply their classrooms. Help lighten the load by gifting items such as markers, notepads, colorful pens, or educational games.

Kleenex

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Teachers could always use more Kleenex, and by adding this fun tag – you make the gift even more special.

Flair Pens

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Trust me, all teachers love flair pens. And gifting a pack of them for teacher appreciation week would be the best idea… EVER.

Add in this cute printable gift tag and you have the perfect gift idea!

Classroom Supply Cake

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Looking for a way to add some pizazz to your classroom supply gift? Making a classroom supply cake is the perfect answer.

Basket of Supplies

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Another fun way to gift school supplies is a cute basket – try this fun personal gift tag to go along with it!

4. Gift Cards: Versatile and practical, gift cards allow teachers to treat themselves to a meal, coffee, or shopping spree. Bookstores, office supply stores, and local restaurants are excellent choices.

Plain gift cards are fine, but if you want some fun gifting ideas… we have a few!

Thank you for Being Amazing: Amazon Gift Card

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Thanks a Latte

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An Apple for My Teacher

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Restaurant Gift Card Holder

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Original Ideas to Celebrate:

Looking for unique ways to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week? Here are some creative and memorable ideas:

1. Time Capsule: Create a time capsule with contributions from students and staff. Include drawings, letters, and mementos that reflect the current school year. Seal it to be opened in a future Teacher Appreciation Week.

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2. Virtual Class Reunion: Reach out to former students and invite them to join a virtual class reunion. Let them share stories of how their teacher made a difference in their lives.

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@georgeschool

3. Gratitude Video: Collaborate with students to create a video montage of heartfelt messages and thanks. Include clips of students sharing their favorite memories or lessons learned.

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4. “Teacher of the Day” Awards: Designate a day for each teacher to be celebrated as the “Teacher of the Day.” Create personalized certificates, decorate their classroom door, and shower them with praise throughout the day.

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Themes that Inspire Appreciation:

1. Travel – This is a fun theme and will have the teachers anticipating what each day will bring! Each day of the week brings a new “inflight” surprise to the teachers.

I can’t think of a better way to show you care than to give them first-class treatment!

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2. Survivor Theme – This theme will be appreciated by teachers everywhere at the end of the school year!

With ideas like smoothie bars, tropical foods, and flip flop gifts – what’s not to love?

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3. Superhero: Without a doubt, teaching is a superpower!Treat the teachers in your school to a fun-filled week of superhero-themed gifts, snacks, and surprises!

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4. Camping: The camping theme is a fun and unique idea for celebrating teacher appreciation week. And one your teachers will be talking about for years to come.

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5. Harry Potter: Using a Harry Potter theme for Teacher Appreciation week is a magical idea!

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Teacher Appreciation Week serves as a reminder of the profound impact educators have on our lives. Whether through heartfelt gifts, creative celebrations, or simple acts of gratitude, we can make this week truly special for the educational heroes who inspire us.

Let’s come together to honor their dedication, resilience, and passion for shaping the future. To all the teachers: Thank you for lighting the path to knowledge and igniting the flames of curiosity within us all.

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21+ Best Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my teacher appreciation week special? ›

Public tributes through PTA
  1. Host a special breakfast or lunch for your school's teachers and staff. ...
  2. Create a giant teacher thank-you card for display in the school community. ...
  3. Start a “teacher feature” on a school or library bulletin board. ...
  4. Plant trees or flowers in public areas or on school grounds in honor of teachers.

What do teachers like to get for Teacher Appreciation Week? ›

Teachers really appreciate gift cards (along with handwritten notes). No surprise here. Think Amazon, Costco, Target or Staples. These allow teachers to buy what they want for their classroom or for personal use.

What do teachers really want as a gift? ›

Save the apples for your own lunch and surprise your teacher with one of these thoughtful gifts instead.
  • The pencil sharpener that all the teachers are talking about. ...
  • Everyone loves a good book. ...
  • Personalized pencils. ...
  • Gift cards. ...
  • Their go-to grading tool, but better. ...
  • A bottle of nice wine. ...
  • A new lanyard. ...
  • School supplies.

How do you honor teachers during teacher appreciation week? ›

Other great ideas to honor your teacher's work include gift cards, donations, baked goods, decorating their classroom door or teachers lounge, volunteer in a classroom, or use the official hashtag #ThankATeacher.”

What are healthy snacks for Teacher Appreciation Week? ›

Say thank you by putting out trail mix for a healthy snack for your staff. Another option is to put out all of the fixings in individual containers and let your staff put together their version of a perfect trail mix. Great options are a variety of nuts, pretzels, raisins, dried fruits and chocolate.

How do you show appreciation to school staff? ›

Taking the time to arrange a fun surprise, like leaving a small treat on a teacher's desk, setting up a day of free chair massages or a visit from a local food truck during lunchtime, or even just jumping on the announcements one morning to remind the whole school how much you appreciate that hard work you see every ...

What is a good gift card amount for a teacher? ›

Most teacher gift cards fall between $10 and $30, but there is no required amount for a gift card — we're sure they would appreciate any and every amount you want to give! There's no pressure for an amount. Choose an amount based on your budget.

What's in a teacher survival kit? ›

Dry eraser board, pencils, scissors, bandages, Glade air freshener (class rooms get stinky after recess/pe) hand sanitizer, wet ones, pencil box, sticky notes, more pad, pens, ruler, glass with lid (fill with drink packets), Kleenex, readers, motivational stickers for kids, and paper clips.

How much to spend on a teacher gift? ›

Don't spend too much

A safe bet would be to keep your gift under $20, and public opinion is right around that same number. "A good rule of thumb is to spend around $20-$30," Lauren Grace, a high school math teacher by day and crafter at night wrote on her company blog, a business that sells accessories for teachers.

What is the greatest gift to a teacher? ›

  • We Are Teachers. Personalized Thank-You Note. ...
  • We Are Teachers. Top 5 Teacher Gift Card Picks. ...
  • We Are Teachers. Free Printable Gift Card Holders. ...
  • Etsy. Teacher Appreciation Week Gift Card Holder. ...
  • Amazon. Coffee-Themed Gift Card Holders. ...
  • Amazon. Pencil Gift Card Holder. ...
  • Etsy. Clipboard Gift Card Holder. ...
  • Amazon. Floral Gift Card Holders.
Apr 17, 2024

Is $50 too much for a teacher gift? ›

Our etiquette expert would like to remind parents, “You don't have to spend a lot of money, and sometimes, a handwritten note from the heart is the best gesture of appreciation.” That said, Schweitzer says that, depending on the school policy, $50 may be appropriate (and she prefers a pooled gift) if your child has the ...

Do teachers like cash gifts? ›

And more than any physical gift, teachers appreciate your support. Whew. OK. That being said, if you're insistent about giving gifts to the teachers you care about this holiday season, there is one gift I can guarantee every teacher is happy to receive and will definitely put to good use: cash.

Do you give gifts to teachers on Teacher Appreciation Week? ›

Gift cards are always a nice gesture because they allow teachers to spend the money the way they would like. I love receiving gift cards from Amazon, Costco, Target, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Etsy, etc. Letting your child's teacher know they are appreciated by gifting them a fun shopping trip is a kind way to say thanks.

How do you say thank you for Teacher Appreciation Week? ›

We are so thankful for everything that you're doing in the classroom and in the schools that you work in. Everything that you do for kids is so meaningful and powerful. And we're so appreciative that you put your heart and soul into teaching. Your kids are super lucky to have you and so are we!

What do you say to show appreciation to a teacher? ›

Short Thank You Notes for Teachers
  • “Thank you for inspiring me every day.”
  • “Your patience and dedication have changed my life.”
  • “Grateful for all the lessons, both big and small.”
  • “You've made a difference in my life. ...
  • “Thanks for lighting the path to knowledge.”
  • “Your guidance has shaped my future.
Oct 30, 2023

Do teachers like gift cards? ›

l asked educators about their holiday wishes. Gift cards and school supplies topped the list, along with handwritten notes and other simple acts of appreciation.

What does a teacher need for their classroom? ›

Check out these 17 classroom must-haves, and before you know it, your classroom will be ready to welcome your students!
  • Antibacterial wipes. Your classroom won't be a blank slate for long. ...
  • Tissues. ...
  • Hand sanitizer. ...
  • Shower board. ...
  • Whiteboard markers. ...
  • Pens and pencils. ...
  • Colored duct tape. ...
  • Storage bins, shelves, and tubs.
Jul 28, 2016

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