15 of the Best Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

Once upon a time, I was a teacher! A high school special education inclusion teacher to be exact. Showing teachers how much we love them is important to me. And now that Maxwell and Mila are in preschool a few days a week, I want to share all the teacher appreciation week ideas!

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

I think teacher gifts are tricky especially if you don’t know the teachers very well. (I use this handy printable every year to solve that problem!) Clearly, you want to give them something they can actually use and enjoy. For the record, gift cards are always appreciated. Since we gave their teachers gift cards for Christmas, I wanted to do something different for teacher appreciation week. Here are 15 clever and useful ways to show teachers how much you love and appreciate them.

1. Teacher appreciation lottery tickets

Who doesn’t love the trill of a scratch off and potentially winning some bacon? Print out this free I won the lotto having you as my teacher card and a few scratch offs.

2. Candle and lighter

A candle and a lighter is a useful gift you know will get used. Here are 2 cute sayings for this teacher appreciation gift:

1. Thank you for being the light in the life of a child
2. Thank you for helping me shine

3. Notebook paper canvas bag

I made these cute tote bags with a ruler and blue and red permanent markers. (This is the best deal I’ve ever seen on a pack of 15 tote bags!) I filled the bags with a few of their teachers favorite things including, chocolate, snacks, classroom supplies, and bath products. I always print this “All About my Teacher” free printbale to make gift buying easier throughout the school year. You can always skip the tote bag and make a gift basket filled with small gifts and school supplies too.

4. Utensil holder

All you need to make this useful teacher gift is an empty tin can and all the writing utensils! Teachers love classroom supplies so stock your teacher up with pens, pencils, and dry erase markers!

5. Potted plant

Plants are always a good idea! Have the kids help paint the pots and plant succulents. Then add thus this cute “Thanks for helping us grow” free printable from Three Kids and a Fish.

Teacher Appreciation Ideas with Food

6. Teacher appreciation breakfast

Bagels are great for a teacher appreciation breakfast to set up in the teachers’ lounge. The principal and special areas teachers can enjoy this one too! Just print out this free “We are O so thankful for you” and bring bagels plus toppings.

7. Gummi Bears

I think it is safe to say that most people love gummi bears! This is a great gift to give all the special area teachers in your life. Grab the “I’m beary happy you’re my teacher” free printable below by entering your name and email. The free printable will be sent right to your inbox!

8. Chocolate chip cookies

My family is obsessed with these Tate’s chocolate chop cookies. You can buy them at most grocery stores in Austin, but you can also get these delicious chocolate chip cookies on Amazon. Just print out the free “Thanks for making me one smart cookie” bag topper and attach with a stapler!

9. Bouquet of Sunshine

This teacher appreciation gift tales a little more effort to pt together, but I love that you could add treats and gift cards to this bouquet of sunshine for a teacher that lights up lives!

Teacher appreciation gift card ideas

You can’t go wrong with gift cards for teacher appreciation week or end of the year gifts.

10. Mini Piñata

We filled a mini pinata with candy and added a Target gift card. To insert the gift card, cut 2 small slits in the hole of the pinata. The tag could say:

• You are a gold star teacher
• You deserve a million gold stars
• Thank you for making me shine

11. Mini piñatas

Jen sent me these ideas to give teachers gift cards and candy in mini piñatas. So cute!

• Rainbow- I’m so lucky you were my teacher this year
• Game controller- Thank you for helping me level up this year
• Castle- Thank you for being the best teacher in all the land

12. Tacos

Torchy’s is a big deal here in Austin, and gift cards are always a winner. Craft up a paper taco with a note that reads “Let’s taco ’bout how awesome you are!” and insert a taco/Tex Mex eatery gift card!

13. Pizza

Food is always a great gift idea, and who doesn’t love pizza? Grab a gift card to a local pizza joint and make a construction paper pizza card! The gift card is attached to the bottom of the yellow note inside of the card.

14. Ice cream

Ice cream makes everyone smile, right?! Grab this free printable ice cream gift card at Slinky and Moose and attach a gift card to a local ice cream shop to the back of the card.

15. Photo gift card holder

Use a picture of your kiddo to make a personalized gift card holder for that special teacher. Insert a gift card of your choice right into the kiddos hands, adorable! Find the full tutorial at It’s Always Autumn.

Baskets filled with goodies is always a fun way to do a gift from a whole class. A luncheon is always appreciated too. Add fun decorations or a red carpet into the teachers lounge so all of the school’s teachers know they are loved!

If you’re a teacher, I’d love to hear your take on the best gifts to give teachers for teacher appreciation week! Anything you’d rather not receive? I love showing our great teachers how much we love them! As a parent, do you have a go-to gift for teachers? I’d love to hear…