22 End of the Year Gift Ideas for Teachers

Oh crap, you forgot about an end-of-the-year gift didn’t you? It’s okay, we’ve got you covered with 22 End of the Year Gifts for the teacher in your life. Our incredible team at ETTC has put together 22 gift ideas that are totally Pinterest-worthy (not to toot our own horn). Keep reading for some inspiration on what to get that AMAZING teacher in your life! Let me add, if someone gifted me with #5, #11, #15, #19, I would have lost my cool, in the best way. (Maybe even cried a little too.)

Gift Idea 1- Themed basket

Is the teacher in your life an avid reader? Maybe they love the outdoors, camping, gardening, or traveling. Whatever their interest, take that and turn it into an ADORABLE-themed basket. Grab a Dollar Store or Target Dollar Spot basket/bin and fill it with items surrounding a theme. For example, a bookworm basket might have book highlighters, cute bookmarks (I love these SPACE-themed ones), and a gift card to a local bookstore.

2- Gift Card for Education to the Core

What do teachers do over the summer? Sure, most of us relax, binge-watch Netflix, or spend time on vacation with family. After about three weeks though, we start planning for next year.

Why not gift the educator in your life an ETTC or TpT gift card? This way they are able to buy up all the resources they want to help them start out the next school year! Sounds amazing to me!

3- Movie Night

Is your student’s teacher a  movie buff? You know, the teacher who constantly quotes movies or breaks into movie soundtracks all day. (Paige, I’m sorry for everything I put you through. ??) Want to treat them? Gift them a Fandango gift card, reusable popcorn tub, their favorite movie candy, or something with their favorite movie quote.

Gift Idea 4- Wine!

?? But really, if you know your student is why the teacher drinks or they enjoy a glass on the weekends, here’s what you can do:

-Grab a bottle of their favorite wine (I love a good Pinot Gris.)

-Pair it with a stemless wine glass. Funny quotes on them are a plus!

-Add in a wine stopper if they have self-control ?‍♀️

5- Date Night In (food gift card)

This year has been one for the books. We’re all getting creative when it comes to “date night.” Hosting a date night from home has become one way to keep that “spark.” Why not gift your teacher a “Date Night In?” Grab a gift card for Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, or a restaurant they love that has takeout. Pair it with cute paper plates, napkins, and even cutlery. (Who wants dishes on date night??) It’s a gift they’re sure to appreciate!

6- Teacher Tools

Is your teacher team Flair Pen or team Inkjoy? If you don’t know, find out. ? I promise, most educators prefer one or the other.?‍♀️ Either way, why not gift your teacher a FRESH set of their favorite teacher tools! Most of us are running low by the end of the year so this is an excellent option! 

Gift Idea 7- Coffee! (not a mug)

Yes, I mean it. (Unless it is handpicked from a student). We are gifted SO MANY mugs each year that our significant others are getting frustrated at the lack of cabinet space. The problem isn’t all of the mugs, it’s that we literally cannot separate ourselves from them (since they were a student gift) and therefore they take up a lot of space in our cupboards. Instead, why not gift us our favorite coffee or creamer in the case of my best friend Paige!! She keeps a container of Coldstone Creamery Creamer in her class fridge at all times! K-Cups, ground coffee, creamer, we would LOVE it! 

8- Shopping Trip

Say it with me….TARGET SHOPPING TRIP! Sounds wonderful right? To educators, those three words are like honey to a bee! We LOVE shopping at Target and don’t get me started on the Dollar Spot! We might say we are going to relax over Summer break but let’s be real… We’ll be at Target at least once a week waiting for them to restock the Dollar Section of school supplies! A small gift card to Target is another fabulous gift idea for teachers!

9- Favorite Candy/Drink

Simple, yet sweet. (Pun intended.) Find out your student’s teacher’s favorite candy/drink and gift it to them! For me, it would be Coke Zero and Peanut M&Ms. Yumm! Want to ask in a creative way? Use this FREE favorites list from TpT!

Gift Idea 10- Handmade Card

Nothing beats a handmade card from our students. It’s things like this that light our teacher fire and give us the strength to get through another day! Have your student write/create a homemade card for their teacher. It will surely make their heart melt! 

 11- New Book for the Class Library

Books on books on books. I have an obsession, as do most teachers! Most teachers have a class library so why not gift them a new book for their library or a gift card to a local bookstore? Let the student pick it out and write a little note to the teacher on the inside cover, cue waterworks! 

12- Anything Rae Dunn

Okay, let’s get serious for a moment. Does the teacher you’re gifting love Rae Dunn? Like, is obsessed? If you answered yes, then holy cow this one’s for you. Stop by TJMaxx, Homegoods, or Publix even (this is news to me) and find an office accessory, mug (yes, this is an exception), or anything with a teacher reference! Your Rae Dunn obsessed teacher will flip for it! I promise! 

Gift Idea 13- Massage Gift Certificate

When I surveyed teachers, 20% mentioned a massage gift card. That’s big. While I’ve never had a massage, I’ve ALWAYS wanted one. Do some research and find a local place to grab a gift certificate for the educator in your life. 

14- Flowers

Tulips. Roses. Daisies. Flowers are timeless and no matter if it’s a weed picked from a child or a bouquet from our significant other, we enjoy flowers! The beauty in them is a reminder to find the beauty in every circumstance. 

15- Trip Down Memory Lane

Got a bunch of memories from the year? Write them down in a small journal or notepad. After years of teaching, a lot of memories are lost or forgotten among the craziness. Having a small notepad or journal of your favorite memories from the school year is priceless! 

Gift Idea 16- Teacher Hoodie

I love supporting small businesses. There are a lot of businesses out there (Etsy) that specialize in teacher goods. A teacher hoodie is a good option for any educator. I personally own two teacher hoodies and wear them all the time. Whether I’m going to the store or lounging at the house, I’m probably wearing one of my hoodies. 

17- Beach Towel

It’s almost SUMMER! Does your teacher have plans to go to the BEACH? If so, check Target, Old Navy, Walmart, anywhere that sells beach towels and pick one up! Make sure it is HUGE! Beach towels need to be big, more room for activities! 

18- Teacher Headband 

To quote If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, “if your teacher starts her day with her hair down, chances are, she’ll end it in a ponytail.” Wait, that’s not right. Either way, there are MANY days when a headband would have been the perfect accessory to help me finish the school day strong. The Happy Headband Co has incredible prints and an ENTIRE section dedicated to teacher prints!

Gift Idea 19- Sign for the Classroom

Hop on over to Simply Stained Shop and check out her AMAZING collection of signs. Got an idea for a quote that your teacher will LOVE? Great! She also does custom orders! Teachers love anything with a quote (as long as it will make us laugh or is heartfelt). I’m linking one of her best sellers for teachers and one of my personal FAVES! 

20- Lipstick Littles T-shirt

Teaching is a walk in the park…Jurassic Park. Sound true? Then visit Lipstick Littles and check out her Jurassic Park shirt for teachers! Not into dinosaurs? That’s okay, she has a wide selection of shirts that range from Magic School Bus, AC/DC (or ABCD), superheroes, and more!

21- Car Coasters or Mug Warmer

One year I had a student who recognized my love for the Tennessee Titans. As part of my end-of-the-year gift, he brought me a set of car coasters with my team’s logo on them! It was the neatest gift and to this day, they’re the only ones I use. Why car coasters? Well, they add a bit of flair to my car and help keep moisture from accumulating down in the cupholder. How about a mug warmer? I’m prone to leaving my coffee sitting around and the next thing I know…it’s cold. A mug warmer would fix that problem and I’d always know where my mug was located! (I lost my cup all the time when teaching. My students and I would play, “Who spies Mrs. Wagoner’s coffee?”

22- Callie Danielle Shop

Small business owner Callie Danielle creates one-of-a-kind tees, mugs, tumblers, pens, etc. Her “love for” tees are ADORABLE! I encourage you to check her out at the link above or on her Instagram @shop.callie.danielle. (She also has a planner coming soon to Target!)

Teachers don’t expect anything but definitely appreciate the gesture. We love what we do. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be in this profession. Teaching is a work of HEART! So be sure to show your teacher some love this year! 

Written by Heather Wagoner

At Education to the Core, we exist to help our teachers build a stronger classroom as they connect with our community to find trusted, state-of-the-art resources designed by teachers for teachers. We aspire to be the world’s leading & most trusted community for educational resources for teachers. We improve the lives of every teacher and learner with the most comprehensive, reliable, and inclusive educational resources.

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