Teacher Appreciation Gifts That Aren't Mugs

3rd Grade Teacher Tote Bag - Twenty-Six Students, Four Pencils…, lifestyle photo

Ask any teacher what they get every year and you'll hear the same answer: mugs. Lots of them. They are grateful, but the cabinet is full. If you want your appreciation week or end-of-year gift to stand out, pick something they will wear, carry or hang up instead.

Short on time? Our 30-second gift finder quiz matches you with gifts by who it's for, their sense of humor, and your budget.

Gifts teachers actually reach for

A sturdy tote is always useful, because teachers haul grading, snacks and supplies home every night. A comfortable tee or hoodie with a classroom joke works on spirit days and casual Fridays. Countdown calendars are a quiet favorite: they let a teacher mark off the days to break while still making them laugh at their desk. A small ornament with a grading joke is a sweet holiday add-on that doesn't take up shelf space.

Match the joke to the grade or subject

A first grade teacher who keeps envelopes for lost teeth will relate to a different joke than an ag teacher chasing a loose heifer. The more specific the design, the more it feels picked just for them. Add a note from your child about a favorite moment from class, which teachers keep for years.

Our picks

Pooling money with other parents? Two or three pieces bundled together feel like a real thank-you.

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