Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

2021 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teachers You Adore

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The links in this best gifts for teachers post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. 

Believe me when I say nothing about teaching this year is easy. While students and teachers are glad to be back together and learning in person, this year been relentless.

Before vaccines were approved for all ages, there was a constant worry about kids contracting COVID. We’re well into the second quarter and the efforts to teach kids how do in-person school are ongoing. Add on top the required paperwork, professional development to renew our teaching certificates, etc. and teachers are physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I know from experience!

Best Gifts for Teachers You Adore

This holiday season teachers need to feel appreciated. It was hard to feel loved when teaching virtually so now is the time to let your favorite teachers know you and your kids care about them and appreciate everything they’re doing in the classroom. Send a handwritten note with or without a thoughtful gift and trust me when I say it will go a long way.

If you’re not sure what to get and your child has no idea what their teacher(s) will like, I’m here to help! Here are the best holiday gifts for teachers. This list is based on things I love and know any teacher would appreciate.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Leticia Barr (she/her) (@techsavvymama)

 

So if you love this post, please share it! Forward it to a friend, post it on a PTA Facebook page, and share it on social media. Teachers everywhere thank you! On behalf of all teachers, thank you being thoughtful! We appreciate you helping us feel loved and special during an incredibly difficult year.

Puffer Hug ($49.99)

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Leticia Barr (she/her) (@techsavvymama)

Every teacher could use a hug so why not wrap them in one each and every day thanks to the Puffer Hug! Last fall Gigi Seasons sent me a Puffer Hug and I immediately fell in love with it and gifted one to my mom and a couple of my best friends! This cozy wrap features deep outer pockets, designed to feel like a warm hug from your favorite person. This stylish, gender-neutral scarf can be worn around your neck or folded over and draped down your chest.

The Puffer Hug has so many features that tops my list of Best Gifts for Teachers. Deep fleece lined pockets are perfect for keeping a favorite teacher’s hands warm during recess duty, holding classroom keys, or keeping a phone safe during a lunchtime walk. Puffer Hug comes in black, gray with yellow fleece, and red with gray fleece. When you give a Puffer Hug, Gigi Seasons donates 15% from all full price orders to help fund critical capital projects at two schools in Northern Kenya so you can feel even better about your Puffer Hug purchase! Read more about their social good efforts through Gigi Cares.

Gifts from Ooh What’s This (starting at $10)

Ooh What's This Gift Set for Teachers

The cellophane wrapped packaged pictured above had just arrived in the mail. I set it on the kitchen counter to unbox it as my teen daughter came home from school. “Ooh what’s this?” she asked, stopping in her tracks. I loved her reaction because she had no idea the package had been sent by Vyvyan Doan, founder of Ooh What’s This!

Ooh What's This Gift Set for Teachers

Vyvyan reached out to me via email to share that Ooh What’s This supports People of Color (POC) creators and designers. Her mission is to bring more exposure for original product creations from talented designers from all around the world. Products offered by her company are made by creators from throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. When you shop the site, you’re supporting creators of color who are pursuing non-traditional career paths. Ooh What’s This! has so many products that would make best gifts for teachers Here’s a look at the selection Vyvyan sent me.

Constellation Face Mask ($15.45)

Since I have to wear a mask whenever I’m at school, the Constellation Face Mask is perfect for me to wear in my classroom. Made by a small business in Portland, Oregon, the adjustable mask is made of soft fabric, features a replaceable nosewire, and pocket for filters. The navy mask with glow in the dark constellations is easy to match any outfit and is incredibly comfortable so this mask has already made it into the rotation of favorites.

Vietnamese Coffee Ca Phe Sua Da Candle ($18) 

I rely on coffee to get me going in the morning but stick with my single cup. The strong aroma of Vietnamese coffee, sweetness of the condensed milk, and smoky chicory brings me back to our family’s trip to Vietnam and the fabulous ca phe sua da we enjoyed throughout the country. While I can’t burn this in my classroom at school, lighting it when I get home instantly revitalizes me after a long hard day without the late afternoon caffeine hit.

Lavendula Hand Sanitizer ($10)

According to my middle schoolers, I’m the only teacher they have that hands out hand sanitizer at the door. I am diligent about keeping my hands clean inside and outside of school and really love the Lavendula Hand Sanitizer. This compact package is small enough to slip into a pocket or evening bag yet the all-natural hydrating hand sanitizer inside smells amazing and works to keep hands germ-free. But sorry kids, this hand sanitizer is for me!

Personalized Name Labels from Mabel’s Labels

Personalized name labels help ensure that my students distinguish between general classroom supplies and the things that are mine and need to be returned to my desk. They also help make sure classroom materials that wander off to another room in the school are returned to you! Mabel’s Labels allows you to customize text and choose between different icons and fonts. I personally can’t live without the Personalized Hexagon Stickers and Small Rectangle Labels!

Mason-re Silicone Koozies for Mason Jars (from $4)

Teachers who bring their own lunches and beverages often pack them in reusable containers, so I was thrilled to learn about Mason-re. Mason-re makes silicone koozie for the mason jar that allow you to drink hot or cold beverages from your mason jar. They can also be used to carry homemade lunch to and from school such as salad or overnight oats. The silicone koozies protect the jar from breakage and can be dishwashed, microwaved, and contain no plastic. They’re available in lots of fun colors, with or without mason jars, and you can add a drinking lid for your teacher to be able to sip from it.

Tranquility Foolproof Blending Sampler Set ($19) from Demeter Fragrance

Teachers can still smell even from behind their masks and this fragrance set reminds us to relax, kick back, and slow down even on the most hectic days. The set includes Lavender, Jasmine, Lemon Meringue, Mandarin Orange, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Gin & Tonic, Chamomile Tea. All fragrances can be worn alone or blended in any combination or proportion to create a unique and individual scent.

CocoBaba Self Care Products (individually $24.99 – $29.99 or available as a bundle for $67.99)

Every teacher could use a little pampering and CocoBaba’s trio makes the perfect gift! Their Coconut Oil Scrub, Coconut Butter Mousse, and Coconut Body Oil are formulated with luxurious ingredients like coconut, jojoba, and chia oils along with appleseed and coffee extract for smooth, glowing skin that looks and feels amazing. The Coconut Butter Mousse helps to provide a little luxury during the day and works to combat the effects of endless hand washing and application of hand sanitizer. The Coconut Oil Scrub and Coconut Body Oils provide a wonderful at-home spa experience.

Help Fund a Donor’s Choose Classroom Project

While not a gift for your teacher, donating funds to your teacher’s DonorsChoose.org project is always appreciated since it’s money they don’t have to personally spend. Helping to fund a Donor’s Choose project is a gift you can feel good about giving because it’s something your child (and others after them) can enjoy using in the classroom for the rest of the year and years to follow. To find out if your teacher has a project, visit the DonorsChoose.org site and use the search boxes to type in your teacher’s and name of your school along with your zip code.

Uber Eats/DoorDash/GrubHub Gift Card

For most teachers, lunch time is never glamorous. I spend my 30 minutes of lunch helping students and getting ready for my afternoon classes. My colleagues often make copies, grade work, try to return phone calls, or use their lunch time to complete paperwork. Treat your teacher to lunch with a gift certificate to a favorite local restaurant or a gift card to Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, Domino’s, etc. Gift cards make my list of best gifts for teachers because they can help satisfy a mid-day craving for lunch. Not having to think about dinner can also be a great pick me up on a hard day or a long day with staff meetings or parent-teacher conferences that keep teachers at school later than usual.

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

2021 Holiday Gift Guides

2021 Gift Guides

AGE APPROPRIATE GIFT GUIDES

SPECIALTY GIFT GUIDES:

In case you wanted to start making your shopping lists now, here’s a look at last year’s gift guides that are full of great ideas:

Samples were received to facilitate this post and affiliate links are included. No compensation was received for this post or hosting this giveaway and all opinions are my own. Images courtesy of the companies featured.