Whether it’s for National Teacher Day on May 7 or to mark the end of the school year, parents and students may want to pick up a little token of appreciation for the teachers who've worked so hard to nurture and enlighten. Here are some special gifts to acknowledge educators' efforts. All cost $20 or less, and many are $10 or less.
Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
Price: $5.50 | Buy it on Amazon
Many teachers scribble and jot notes throughout the day. This journal reminds a favorite teacher of your admiration every time they write something down. The handy 6-by-9-inch notebook contains 120 lined pages ready to be filled.
Price: $16 | Buy it at Target
Thermoses may not be known for their style, but this vacuum-insulated travel mug from Ello can keep a busy teacher's coffee piping hot for five hours and look good doing it. It fits in a cupholder for commuting and can be tossed in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Price: $18 | Buy it from Philz Coffee
A 1-pound bag of coffee like Philz Coffee’s Tantalizing Turkish can yield about 40 (8-ounce) cups for a java-loving teacher who will likely appreciate the caffeine boost. Blue Bottle, Stumptown, Four Barrel, and Sightglass are other well-known roasters that sell mail-order coffee for $10 to $18 a bag.
Price: Starting at $15 | Buy it from Audible
For teachers who might enjoy adding a literary twist to their commute, Audible offers more than 180,000 audiobooks for download, including many new best-sellers narrated by the authors themselves, at a price of $15 for one month (or $45 for three months). Membership includes credit for one book each month, valuable discounts, and members-only sale opportunities for more audiobook purchases.
Price: $18 | Buy it from Frostbeard Studio
Elevate the often-expected gift of a candle by giving one with a unique scent that's particularly appealing to teachers. This book-and-vanilla-scented soy candle from Minneapolis-based Frostbeard Studio is perfect for the dedicated teacher and prolific reader who would happily spend hours in the library stacks.
Price: $15 | Buy it on Etsy
Add your favorite teacher's name to this zippered tote. It's sturdy polyester and has plenty of room for books, tests, and supplies — a hardworking bag for a hardworking educator.
Price: $12 | Buy them on Amazon
Fizzy bath bombs are an easy way to add a touch of luxury to any bath, perfect for a busy teacher looking to unwind at the end of the school year. Made with essential oils and dried flowers, they’re also plenty big, at 4 ounces each.
Price: $8 | Buy it on Amazon
Most teachers won't see much value in an actual apple, but an apple-shaped, sticky-note memo pad could be handy for those trying to plant the seeds of knowledge.
Est. Price: $6 | Buy it from Cost Plus World Market
There's no need for a bespectacled teacher to go on a glasses hunt with this quirky, stylish eyeglass holder on their desk. Handcrafted in India, this design was inspired by the stone statues of Easter Island. There are variations such as a rosewood display stand, also handcrafted in India ($7.50 on Amazon).
Price: $6.29 | Buy it on Amazon
When it comes to wrong answers, seasoned teachers may think they've seen it all. But this humorous paperback reminds them that incorrect answers know no bounds. Teachers will delight in just how spectacular some failures can be.
Price: $9 | Buy them on Amazon
These multifunction pens are designed for teachers who, in this digital age, also have to write on paper. They will feel your gratitude every time they pick up one of these stylus instruments for touchscreen devices that double as ballpoint pens.
Price: $13 | Buy it on Amazon
For teachers who write out loads of sticky notes, this cute dispenser will keep blank ones handy. It comes with a 50-page pad of 3-inch-square notes.
Price: $10 | Buy it on Amazon
Help a teacher be the hippest — and best-organized — in school with this retro desk tidier. It's got compartments to hold everything from push pins to paper clips and doubles as a tape dispenser. It might even teach future students what a cassette is.
Price: $8 | Buy it on Amazon
This inspiring hardcover book by best-selling Christian author Max Lucado is designed for teachers of faith. The tiny but powerful work includes 40 prayers meant to renew and bring peace to stressed-out educators.
Price: $10.50 | Buy it on Etsy
This necklace is designed specifically for a math teacher. The charm is adorned with one of the most recognizable symbols in all of mathematics: pi.
Price: $11 | Buy it on Amazon
The "Inspiration for Teachers" edition of the classic "Chicken Soup" series includes 101 stories from teachers and from students expressing their thanks. Let favorite teachers know they're making a difference with a book honoring their service.
Price: $8 | Buy them on Etsy
Teachers are more than educators; they're the keepers of hall passes. With these bright, wooden, pencil-shaped passes, a teacher can reward students who have earned the privilege of out-of-class travel.
Price: $20 | Buy them on Amazon
"Great work!" "Fantastic!" "Excellent!" Teachers have been inspiring students with these words for generations. With these self-inking stamps, they no longer have to be written out by hand. Each stamp is good for more than 30,000 impressions and can leave a lasting impression on a student.
Price: $11 | Buy it on Etsy
This pendant makes your gratitude explicit by coming with a thank-you card. The necklace chain is adjustable, and the pendant can be round or oval.
Price: $18 | Buy it on Amazon
On a world map that resembles a giant scratch ticket, geography teachers and globetrotting educators alike can mark all the countries they've visited — or would like to visit over summer break. A coin uncovers color and geographic detail beneath the gold foil. The travel edition (16.5 x 11.7 inches) makes for a convenient gift, but if you're looking to spend a little more, the original is larger, and other scratch maps are dedicated to the U.S. and Europe.