16 Back-to-School Gifts Teachers Will LOVE

Professional Development and Inspiration

Last year, my principal asked each teacher about their favorite fountain drink. Then, on the first Friday of the year, he brought me a Diet Coke; the teacher next door got a Dr. Pepper, and so on. It was one of the simplest back-to-school gifts, yet it made my day.

Back-to-school season is hard for everyone–teachers, parents, students, staff–so it was extra meaningful that our front office team took some time to give us all a little treat!

Sometimes even the smallest gestures can go a long way in taking some of the stress out of a busy time. If you have a teacher in your life, this is the perfect time to pick up back-to-school gifts. These do not need to be elaborate or expensive, but back-to-school gifts are an easy way to communicate gratitude.

I will say this: the best back-to-school gifts are ones that can be shared with the classroom. Giving a teacher a mug or a keychain is thoughtful, but giving the class a gift that everyone can use will make an impact on this class and each one afterwards. Additionally, attaching a note from you or your student will make the gift even more special!

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Classroom Supplies

No classroom ever has enough supplies. In elementary and middle school, students often have a back-to-school supply list, and that’s a great way to outfit your student. Here are a few other supplies that might benefit a classroom and help it to run a little more smoothly:

You can never go wrong buying basic (pre-sharpened!) yellow pencils in bulk!
Mr. Sketch markers are such a teacher favorite, and I don’t think you can go wrong with these.
A battery-operated pencil sharpener is always a blessing. This is the one I have. I love that it’s not reliant on an outlet, and it’s simple enough that my students can empty it without a problem (or a mess).
Students ask for sticky notes and index cards all the time. When students ask for a bookmark, this is also what I reach for. (Not because bookmarks aren’t cute and lovely but because students also constantly lose them. This is easier.)
There are few places in life where I swear by a name brand, and Expo markers are one of them. Teachers can never have enough! If you really want to spoil a teacher, give her a fresh eraser and board cleaner, too.

Classroom Cleaning Supplies

Even the most fastidious cleaning staff is fighting an uphill battle in a classroom. As a result, teachers are constantly cleaning and encouraging their students to clean, too. The past five years have also emphasized the importance of a healthy classroom, and these are some of the back-to-school gifts that make a healthy classroom possible.

Disinfectant wipes and tissues are invaluable in the classroom. This is something students ask for more often than you might expect, and schools never provide quality paper products. (You remember the one-ply tissue and the recycled brown paper towels from your elementary school? They’re still using the same ones.)
Recently, I’ve fallen in love with magic erasers. There’s always a few students who like to draw on their desks. When that happens, I give them a magic eraser and ask them to remove their “art.”
Two overlooked classroom items: sandwich baggies and batteries. Schools rarely provide these, and both are invaluable and necessary.
Schools do provide plenty of bandaids for students, and students (even in high school) love bandaids. Especially if you have a younger student, providing a box of fun bandaids with their favorite character is an easy way to send a little bit of comfort to the classroom. If a Paw Patrol bandaid is something your student would love and something that would limit the tears, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Back-to-School Gifts for New Teachers

New teachers don’t always know what they’re walking into at the start of the year. Will they get a room with the bare necessities? Will they walk into a room full of clutter? Or will they inherit a retired teacher’s treasure trove? It’s tough to know, so here are some back-to-school gifts just for new teachers!

A simple stationary set is a great place to start. In “teacher school,” no one emphasizes the importance of a handwritten note, so starting new teachers off with some all-purpose stationary is a good way to begin.
Most schools are going to set new teachers up with basics like a stapler, but magnets are often overlooked. A set of high-quality, durable magnets will be used every. single. day. These are my favorites.
Vis-a-Vis markers are kind of a niche teacher tool, so new teachers don’t always know their value. I love these markers for when I’m writing something (like the Google Classroom code) that I don’t want to erase for a long time.
I never thought I would use a classroom glue gun as often as I do, and it’s certainly not something I had in my classroom as a new teacher. Now that I have one, it’s something other teachers borrow way more often than you’d think.
Finally, a compact tool kit is a classroom necessity few new teachers think about. My mom (a retired teacher) put one in my Christmas stocking before I left for college, and it’s still in my classroom desk today. This tool kit is similar to the one I have, and it would be a perfect addition to a new teacher’s classroom.

Snacks

I’m a snacky teacher. I have a desk drawer where I always keep some treats for the mid-morning slump and the afternoon push. Snacks make great back-to-school gifts because they’re something teachers can share with one another or with their students.

If you’re sending food to school, always check to see if the school has a policy about classroom treats. Generally, it’s also wise to favor individually packaged items and to avoid common allergens.

My Favorite Back-to-School Gifts

As an English teacher, I love when students contribute a book to the classroom library. To my mind, these are the best kinds of back-to-school gifts. Your student can choose a book they love and that they think every student should read, or they can pick a book they want to read. You can choose a book from your school days and add that to the shelf. When a student or parent contributes a book to our classroom library, I always as them to write a little note inside.

If you’re not sure what books to consider, I’ve got you covered. These are some of my favorite titles for the classroom library. Since I’m a high school teacher, these recommendations focus on young adult readers: