21 Christmas Gift Ideas For Teachers

It's only a couple days before children are home for the holidays as Winter Break begins. It also means there's only a couple days left to give your son or daughter's teacher a holiday gift. Gifts of creativity always go a long way toward showing educators that you're thinking of them, but if you're planning on purchasing a gift, there are many options that are a good fit.

The experts at Meijer worked with Patch.com to come up with a list of popular gift ideas. According to the store's gift buyers, most elementary school teachers prefer items that keep their classrooms running. Although many teachers still prefer gift cards overall, try these suggestions if you are looking for ideas in the category of usefulness and creativity:

Classroom Games. Winter in the Midwest means many days of indoor recess. And there are days when a teacher needs to fill the last 10 minutes of a busy day. According to the Meijer gift buyers, many teachers choose games as their preferred indoor activity. These classic favorites promote phonics, expand vocabularies, practice math facts, and help student learn strategy. Ideas: Scrabble or Apples to Apples; Yahtzee Classic Game or Farkle; and Quarkle Board Game or Risk.

School Supplies. According to Money Magazine, a teacher spends, on average, roughly $500 of their own money to outfit their classroom. You would be surprised how quickly quantities diminish
by the holiday break. Here are the top school supplies that typically need to be replenished. Ideas:
Ticonderoga #2 Pencils 24 Count; Sharpies Fine Markers 12 Count; Expo Low Odor Chisel Tip Dry
Erase Markers 8Pk Assorted Colors; and Fiskars 5” Blunt Kids Scissors.

Baskets & Bins. Bins are a gift that keeps on giving. According to the Meijer gift buyers, teachers
shuffle a volume of material throughout the year from workbooks to supplies to bulletin board
materials. Sometimes the sheer volume can be overwhelming – even for the most organized
teachers. If practicality is your gift-giving mantra this year, here are some ideas. Ideas: Room & Retreat
Grey Tote with Elephant Liner; Room & Retreat Basket Chalkboard; Sterilite Deep Clip Box;
Sterilite Stack & Carry 3 layer Handle Box & Tray in Clear.

Glass Water Bottle. Classic rooms tend to be very dry in the winter months. Plus, a classroom
tends to be a petri dish of viruses; thus staying hydrated becomes a must for teachers. One
sustainable solution is to gift your teacher a glass water bottle. Many glass water bottles are
outfitted with a protective rubber guard to protect against shattering. Plus, glass won’t degrade or warp over time. Here are some suggestions: Ello Syndicate 20oz Glass Water Bottle; or Camelbak Eddy Glass .7l Aqua Ice Water Bottle.

If you are still convinced that a gift card is still the way to go, consider options that give a teacher the gift of
convenience. Many teachers juggle a variety of activities, particularly after school. Some of the most
popular gift cards in the convenience category include restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, or movie
tickets. If you are looking for more suggestions, learn about more gift ideas here.

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