Teachers of all kinds make a huge difference in our children’s lives. They help to form their minds, hearts, character, and inspire them to be their best selves every day. Teachers also ensure every student is looked after and cared for. That’s why it’s so important to show heartfelt gratitude by saying thank you for all that teachers do. Express your gratitude and say thank you to the incredible educators in your life with personalized teacher gifts that show your appreciation.
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Every May, we get a full week to celebrate the incredible school teachers in our lives for all of their hard work and the impact they make on our lives. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12, 2023. Use this week to showcase the appreciation you have for the teachers in your life. Whether your child is making their favorite teacher a desk organizer, custom coffee mug, keychain, or a photo Christmas ornament, they’ll cherish their unique gift as a special keepsake for years to come. From Teacher Appreciation Week gifts and back to school gifts to end of the year gifts, holiday gifts, and gifts you give just because, Shutterfly has everything you need to thank the teacher in your life. Check out our list of 20 teacher appreciation gift ideas for your favorite educators.
1. Custom Mugs
Custom coffee mugs are great gift ideas for your teachers. Whether they use them as desk accessories to hold pens and pencils or sip from it every morning to get their day going — mugs make great teacher keepsakes they will cherish for years to come. Teacher mugs can be customized to suit their style and personality. Add a photo or their favorite quote to make a perfect gift for her or him. From traditional mugs to travel mugs to color-changing style and more, you can create the best gift for the special teacher in your life.
2. Christmas Ornaments
A Christmas ornament makes a wonderful personalized teacher gift for the holidays. This year, design a one-of-a-kind ornament as a Christmas gift for your favorite teacher. Add a photo of the whole class, or perhaps you want to gift them an ornament with a picture of their own family or pet. Personalized Christmas ornaments make incredibly special teacher keepsakes that they’ll hold on to for years to come.
3. Custom Tote Bags
Don’t know what to give a teacher who has everything? Why not give them a personalized bag to put it all in? Customize a cotton tote bag or canvas tote for your teachers to put all of their school supplies — from pens and pencils to books and laptops. Place a quote and phrase on the front for extra meaning and have your teacher walk into the classroom in style. These Teacher Appreciation Week gifts are super practical and will get tons of use.
4. Teacher Appreciation Cards
Express your genuine appreciation in a handwritten note from your child, especially during the holiday season or Teacher Appreciation Week. After all, the best teacher appreciation gifts come from the hearts of their very favorite students. Create a personalized holiday card, thank you card, or any other customized stationary that you’ll be able to use for all of your teachers any time of the year. Find inspiration on what to say in your note in our guide, How to Write a Thank You Note to Teachers.
5. Magnets
Custom magnets are a great way to help brighten up your teacher’s classroom. Perfect as gifts for teachers, Shutterfly’s personalized magnets can stick to so many different surfaces that you know your friends and family will be able to find a place for your design. It’s easy to make a custom magnet showcasing your teacher’s favorite memories from the school year. More exciting than a picture or print, photo magnets let you show off photos, quotes, artwork, and much more.
6. Quote Wall Art
Design custom wall art for the classroom or teacher’s lounge. Incorporate an uplifting phrase or quote to put a smile on their face, no matter the day. Get inspired for with our list of quotes for wall art. Whether you’re creating custom canvas prints, photo tiles, framed prints, or another unique wall art style — your teacher will appreciate the thought and effort you put into your one-of-a-kind design.
7. Notebooks & Notepads
Upgrade your teacher’s desk with a custom notebook or notepad. Our selection of notepads and notebooks can be used for everyday notes or as a journal — and your teacher will love using it daily because it was made by you. From photo collages and monograms to watercolor styles, there’s a custom notebook or notepad design for everyone. When designing your teacher’s personalized stationery, simply upload your favorite images into the easy-to-use templates so your front cover is instantly recognizable. Utilize the design assistant to modify your notebook or notepad’s with custom design elements, messaging, and other options to make it truly unique.
8. Travel Drinkware
Shutterfly’s custom water bottles and travel tumblers are as stylish as they are helpful. Give photo water bottles or tumblers as unique gifts your teacher can take with them to work, the gym, airport, and anywhere else. With a personalized travel tumbler or water bottle, your teacher can stay hydrated throughout the day, plus they’re eco-friendly. It’s easy to customize drinkware with Shutterfly that can wonderfully showcase your teacher’s favorite photos and memories to take with them everywhere they go.
9. Custom Keychains
Deck out your teacher’s keys with a personalized keychain that suits your style. With Shutterfly, you can easily create customized keychains to match your personal style or gift photo keychains to your family and friends. Photo keychains make it easy for your recipient to keep track of their keys while showing off their unique sense of style. Perfect for the holidays, back to school, Teacher Appreciation Week, or their birthday — custom keychains will make your teacher smile as soon as they open this unique keepsake.
10. Post-It Notes
Give the perfect gift to some of the busiest people in your life with custom Post-it Notes for teachers. Anyone can enjoy our selection of personalized Post-it Notes with cute designs and enough space for a name or short amount of text. Your teacher can use the custom sticky notes at work or at home to keep track of grocery lists and more. Whether you’re looking for a personalized teacher gift or a better way to stay organized, custom Post-it Notes are a great option.
11. Personalized Candles
A decorative custom candle is a great way to help your favorite teacher decompress. Teachers will appreciate the creativity that went into making these keepsake candles. Shutterfly’s personalized candles offer a unique gift for nearly every occasion. Light up any room at home while sharing special memories and love to those who are miles away.
12. Photo Books
There’s nothing more sentimental than a photo album filled with your teacher’s favorite photos from the school year. Make a custom photo book as a personalized thank you teacher gift that the whole class will love to look through. Design it with photos from previous years or a collection of the students in their class from this school year. You can even have all of the other students in the class sign the book and write a personalized message to make the best teacher appreciation gift they’ll never forget.
13. Pen & Pencil Holders
Help your teacher keep clutter off their desk with personalized pen and pencil holders from Shutterfly. Pen and pencil desk organizers are a great way for your teacher to keep their writing tools organized in a visually appealing way, helping their desk remain clutter-free. With custom pen holders and pencil holders from Shutterfly, your teacher can keep their space clean while also decorating with a custom desk accessory. You can even customize each one with their favorite photos or their monogram to make your personalized Teacher Appreciation Week gift even more unique.
14. Custom Jewelry
Spread the love by creating custom jewelry. This way your teachers can wear them close to their hearts. Jewelry is a timeless, eye-catching accessory, from everyday wear to formal occasions. From necklaces, lockets, bracelets, charms and everything in between, high-quality jewelry is a beautiful way to give the gift of personalized elegance.
15. Festive Custom Socks
Roll a pair of socks into a small box for a present that will warm the hearts of your teachers. Choose fun, colorful designs with stripes, polka dots, or pictures of their pet for your teacher to show off. Custom socks make fun gifts for any teacher in your life and they’ll be sure to receive plenty of compliments on them in the hallways and wherever they go.
16. Monthly Planners
Teachers, of course, do lots of writing, so paper desk products are a great place to start with your gift giving. We offer a huge assortment of office accessories that will help teachers stay organized and on-track. You can select monthly planners for your kids’ teachers and personalize them with a photo of the whole class, the school, plus their name, monogram, or initials.
17. Desktop Plaques
Framed photos make for a heartfelt and meaningful gift for teachers. By selecting a special photo that captures a memorable moment or expresses gratitude, a desktop photo plaque serves as a lasting reminder of the impact a teacher has had on their students’ lives. It’s a thoughtful gesture that shows appreciation and can be proudly displayed in the classroom, serving as a source of inspiration and motivation for years to come.
18. Desk Caddies
Another office organization essential teachers love to receive is our neat-and-tidy desk caddies. With one large space and two small ones, our high-quality pressed fiber wood caddies keep stationery, school supplies, and paperwork organized nicely. You can add photos, sentiments, and other personalization options to make the teacher feel appreciated.
19. Custom Mouse Pads
Mouse pads are a practical and thoughtful gift for teachers that can enhance their workspace. With various designs and customization options available, you can choose a custom mouse pad that reflects their personality or features an inspiring quote. Not only do mouse pads provide a smooth surface for precise mouse movements, but they also add a touch of personalization to the teacher’s desk, making it a functional and stylish addition to their classroom or home office.
20. Shutterfly Gift Cards
Give your teacher the perfect gift with a Shutterfly gift card. A Shutterfly gift card is one of the best presents you can buy for a special teacher in your life, especially if they are difficult to purchase for themselves. This way, they can use a gift card to buy something they genuinely want or need without you having to guess. In addition, if you send a gift card online with Shutterfly, you’re allowing your teacher to buy anything from our online store, from photo books to wall art, prints to calendars, and home decor.
Final Thoughts on Teacher Appreciation Gifts
Showing gratitude for teachers is essential, especially when they help your child become both smarter and kinder. Brighten your teacher’s day with a personalized gift they can use in the classroom. From Christmas gifts for teachers and presents for the end of the year, you’ll find a range of incredible options for the leaders in your life. Gifting these gifts to your teacher will make them happy and feel appreciated by their students.
Additional Teacher Gift Resources:
- Customize Teacher Gifts
- Shop Personalized Gifts
- Browse Thank You Gifts
