A thoughtful gift is a great way to show a special teacher our appreciation for their hard work. This list of the best teacher gifts from students includes made in USA teacher Christmas gift ideas, gift ideas for teacher appreciation day, gifts for the favorite teacher, and end of the school year gifts.
Best Teacher Gifts
Picking out the perfect gift for your kid's teacher can be daunting as it can be hard to know what a teacher likes. Here are some tips to help make your gift selection easier.
What do teachers really want for gifts?
The best teacher gifts usually fall into one of two categories.
Gifts for the classroom: Many teachers have a big heart and spend their own money on school supplies and other items to improve the classroom setting. For this reason, useful items for the classroom make practical gifts for the teacher. These can also include items that a teacher might use during the school day or during their lunch break like a tote bag, water bottle, or coffee mug. Classroom gifts are perfect gifts all year long and for any occasion.
Teacher appreciation gifts: As parents or guardians we notice when a teacher goes above and beyond and makes a lasting impression on our child. A gift, no matter how small, is a way to show our thanks to our child's favorite teacher.
How much to spend on a teacher present
A teacher gift is not necessary, nor do teachers expect them. In fact, a handwritten note from a student is the very best gift that a teacher can receive. Homemade gifts are appreciated too. There is no need to break the bank for a gift, as the pricier the gift, the more awkward the teacher will feel. An acceptable price for a teacher gift is $35 or less on a gift from an individual student. A gift from the whole class can be more, of course.
Whether you are on the hunt for a great gift for a kindergarten teacher or a high school teacher, we have you covered with this list of the best teacher gift ideas made in the USA.
Gift cards are a great option. Many of the companies on our list offer them as an option too.
Best Teacher Gifts Made in USA
Teacher Appreciation Card
A hand written note is the most meaningful gift from a student to a teacher. Night Owl Paper Goods offers several made in USA teacher appreciation cards to choose from. They are all blank inside so there is plenty of room for a message. Night Owl Paper Goods cards are printed in Alabama on FSC-certified paper made with zero-emission, wind-generated power.
Natural Wood Cell Phone Holder & Charging Station
The Natural Wood Cell Phone Holder & Charging Station by Manmade Woods is a gift for the teacher that likes nature. The holder comes in a variety of wood types and is made to order based on the type of cell phone. For ever holder sold, a tree is planted. Made in Wisconsin.
Hampshire Pewter Teacher's Key Chain
The Hampshire Pewter Teacher's Key Chain can be worn on a lanyard or used for keys. the chain and key ring come attached. This gift can be wrapped when ordered. It also can be engraved on the back.
Skida Snow Tours
The Skida Snow Tour scarf is the perfect present for any teacher that has recess duty or bus duty in cold weather. This light weight layering piece will keep them warm and dry. It can be worn as a headband or a hat and has many patterns to choose from. This is a fabulous gift for the holiday season. All Skida outdoor gear is made in Vermont.
Brass Tea Bells, Set of Two
Every teacher needs to have a bell and with this set of brass bells, you can gift them two! The ringing of a bell is a way to get the attention of students. It worked when our grandparents were kids, and it will still work on our kids today. The Brass Tea Bells, Set of Two is made in Connecticut by America's oldest suriving bell maker.
Gloria Duchin Pewter Teacher Ornament
The Gloria Duchin Teacher Ornament is made from genuine pewter with hand painted glitter paint. This collectable teacher Christmas ornament can be personalized with an engraved message.
LL Bean Canvas Tote Bag
LL Bean's Boat and Tote canvas bags are a teacher favorite as are durable and can hold heavy books and supplies. The small and medium sizes are each under $35. You can even add a monogram for a personal touch. LL Bean canvas tote bags are made in Maine.
Crane Stationery Note Cards
Crane has been making high quality, fine stationery in the USA for over 250 years. A box of note cards is a useful present for a teacher who likes to write personal messages to students and parents. There are many designs available
Tervis Hot or Cold Tumbler
The Original Tervis Tumblers come in many shapes and sizes and are a perfect gift for the teacher who is always drinking coffee, tea, and even water.  Tervis has a large selection of teacher themed designs to choose from. For a treat, fill the tumbler with American made candy, a gift card to a favorite beverage shop, water flavoring packets, or tea bags. Tervis Tumblers are made in Florida. Please Note: Tervis stainless steel products are not American made.
Classroom Supplies
Classroom supplies are always running low, and most teachers use their own money to buy what's needed.  A gift basket made with a Sterilite basket or shoebox filled with American made school supplies like  Expo Dry Erase Erase markers, assorted Sharpie markers, Crayola Crayons  or Post It notes, would be greatly appreciated.  Add a gift card to Target or Walmart which a teacher will be sure to use for anything their classroom needs.
Alex + Ani Teacher Charm Bangle
The Alex and Ani Teacher Charm Bangle makes a special teacher gift. The charm on this Alex and Ani bangle signifies knowledge.  Alex and Ani charm bangles are made in Rhode Island.
CHECK OUT THESE POPULAR MADE IN USA LISTS FOR MORE TEACHER GIFT IDEAS
Beauty Gifts Under $30, All Made in the USA
Disclosure: This post, in case you hadn't guessed, is sponsored by Goetze’s Candy Caramel Creams and Cow Tales which USA Love List is proud to share with you because, sponsored or not, we only share stuff we love. And we love caramel, nom nom…
Good day!
I was looking for some gift ideas for my teacher as her birthday was coming. Thanks for this amaizng post.
This is a lovely post. This is such a great time of year to thank teachers for all their hard work. Especially over the past year. COVID has made the classroom even more difficult and challengin. I know that teachers are so appreciative of the little kindness that a gift can offer, as well as just feeling that they are appreciated.
Yes, these are cool ideas but probably the best will be those gifts that are made with their own hands and written with their own hands. On the teacher’s day last day, I gave the teacher an essay about her. True, I do not write very well, but I was helped by the Paperrater service, a review of which I read at https://essayservicescanner.com/paperrater-review/ there are many more reviews of other services. That’s pretty cool. The teacher really liked my gift. It is useful and can be useful to anyone.
Your part is a great knowledge that I have accumulated, you are an important person that I admire.
This is good for everyone
Very nice, the lecture helped me
What amazing ideas. We have a lot of friends that are teachers and I would love to do something special for them and their coworkers.
Every teacher loves classroom supplies. It’s shocking how teachers pay out of their own pockets for our kids!