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With the holiday season coming up, I thought today we would help out the families of teachers. Sometimes it is hard to know what gift to get for the teacher in your life.
Today we will explore ten gifts for the teacher in your life that are sure to be winners.
If you are a student or parent, please note that these ideas are focused on what families might like to get. Teachers don’t expect to receive gifts from their students.
A thoughtful note means all the world. However, if you really want to get a little something, the top four or five items might be budget-friendly options for you as well.
10 Gift Ideas
1. Pens
A good pen can make all the difference. We aren’t just talking about any old brand here. Paper Mate flair pens are very popular.
There are so many different colors and I can tell you that when it is time for back to school, I have a hard time deciding on just one package. They are great for color-coding a plan book or correcting a student’s paper.
The second pen I would recommend is the Pentel EnerGel. I have to work hard to keep track of mine because people are always trying to steal them. They write so smoothly and feel like they are just gliding over the paper.
You can get different colors here as well. Purple is my favorite color and I usually keep one at home, in my purse, and at school.
2. Post-It Notes
It is no secret that teachers love their Post-It notes. They are so useful at home and at school. We are always making lists of something. I keep some at home and at school.
Sometimes I will bring my plan-book home to plan. It is so handy to be able to make a list of what I need to round up or do when I return to school.
It is important to note here that the actual Post-It brand is preferred. The other “off” brands don’t have the same type of adhesive. This makes it likely they will fall off and disappear before you get them where you need them.
3. Stapler
The value of a good quality stapler cannot be underestimated. Teachers use staplers all the time. They are constantly stapling things to send home with students and creating bulletin boards.
Using the stapler on the bulletin board is usually where the quality comes into play. It is extremely important that the stapler can open up so it can be used for stapling things on the bulletin board.
It is also helpful if it is strong enough to withstand a bit of force when trying to get the staples to go through the aged corkboard.
4. Gift Cards 
Gift cards are another great gift idea. If the teacher in your life loves coffee, a gift card to their favorite coffee shop will be greatly appreciated. While they probably don’t need another coffee mug, coffee beans, or a gift card to a coffee shop is a wonderful idea.
Many teachers also buy a number of school-related items from Amazon, so that can be another great idea.
Additionally, book stores are always great. Barnes and Noble allow you to order online, but you might also have a local book shop with a great vibe. A gift card to that location will cause the teacher in your life to take an afternoon and really enjoy themselves and relax while discovering some new reads.
Teachers are also notorious for buying containers to organize things, so a gift card to someplace such as The Container Store can also be helpful.
You know the teacher in your life. If you know where they like to shop, you will know the right gift card to get them.
5. Candles or Essential Oils
We all love great smelling things and anything that can make our spaces smell great is a bonus. You really have to think about what you are going for here.
A candle can really set the mood and create a cozy feeling at home. Teachers have a hard time taking time to relax. A candle paired with a good book could help them to take some time for self-care and relaxation.
Essential oils are another great option. I keep essential oils diffusing at school every day. While I can’t burn a candle, I can diffuse some light scents that make our room smell great and add to the relaxed vibe.
They are also great to use at home. You know how much I love my essential oils! I would recommend the Balance, Purify, or Immune Strength Blends. Clean the Air is also great for a more refreshing scent. I will link to my other post with a more comprehensive list of my favorite oils.
6. Books 
Teachers love books! You really can’t go wrong here. We are always looking for more books to add to our classroom libraries. If you find a great children’s book that is a wonderful gift.
That being said, we also like to read books for our own personal enjoyment. If you are reading a great book that you think the teacher in your life would also enjoy, share it!
Books that encourage them to develop out their hobbies are great as well as books on personal growth and development.
Cookbooks that have ideas for quick and easy meals may also be appreciated. It seems like there is never enough time and having recipes for quick meals can be a great help.
7. Small Laminator
If you are not a teacher, you might not understand our obsession with laminating. Let me just explain it this way. We spend a lot of time creating materials and we really want them to last longer than this one year.
Also, in the year of a pandemic, it is nice to have items that can be easily wiped down. The small laminator is really nice because you can take it home and work on small lamination projects.
It also allows you to use a thicker, more durable lamination which is nice heavily used items. If you decide to go for the laminator, you will want to purchase some 5ml lamination pouches to go with it.
8. Clothes Steamer
This is another item that can help save time for the teacher in your life. We don’t always have time to get out the ironing board and iron. That being said, we don’t really want to wear wrinkly clothes to school either. A small steamer can help get those wrinkles out of clothes quickly. It is easy to store and use. I highly recommend this!
9. Self-Care Items
As previously stated, it can be hard for teachers to take the time for self-care. Stress is high and that can lead to burnout. Gifted self-care items can help the teacher in your life to schedule some time for self-care. A massage can be a great gift that really helps promote health and relaxation.
10. Experiences
Teachers really value spending time with those they care about. These experiences don’t have to be costly. Planning an outing can be very valuable. This could be planning a hiking day or an excursion to the beach. The key here is quality time.
Conclusion
I hope these ideas are helpful for you as you are working on completing your shopping. Teachers appreciate all gifts, but I know these will make their day extra special. Share your other ideas in the comments!
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