5 Great Gift Ideas for Teachers

Teachers put so much of their heart into teaching students and guiding them to their greatest potential. What do they get in return? Maybe a shiny red apple on the first day of school? Here are 5 useful and interesting ideas for teacher gifts that they will surely appreciate.

1. Gift certificate to teaching supply store

This especially applies to elementary school teachers who go the extra mile on smaller salaries making their classrooms warm and welcoming to young children. Teachers with younger students are not given much to work with for decorations and end up spending their own money decorating their classrooms with displays and crafts. Besides the time and energy involved, there's also the very real cost. A gift certificate to a teaching supply store would probably be put to good use and also acknowledges the teachers efforts.

2. High quality stationary

Teachers are constantly reading and writing. Whether it's grading assignments, writing children notes or just simply for personal use, every person in this position appreciates good stationary, good pens and a good bag to keep it all in. Purchasing a few items from Levenger is a wonderful idea. Levenger is known for high quality stationary items and has been the go to place for several novelists and serious readers. For example, where else would you find a lapreader (Price: $38) that is specially shaped to help read books but resting them better in your lap.

3. Presentation remote/laser pointer

Several classrooms have computers and projector screens, but teachers tend not to use them because they are tedious. However, a remote control for the computer would make it easier. Several businesses provide a remote control with a built-in pointer, but schools do not budget for these items, and leave it to the teacher to figure it out. For about $40 you can find decent wireless presentation controls like this one made by Kensington .

4. A nice bag to carry the stuff

Think students are the only ones with homework tonight? Teachers frequently carry work home with them, like textbooks and assignments. They need a way to carry that with them. A great gift would be a bag thats fashionable and functional. For under $30, you can purchase a "School is Cool" graphic bag.

5. An even nicer cart to move it all

Sometimes teachers have to carry more things with them than their backs will support. A rolling briefcase may not be flexible enough and a carryon bag is just a stop gap. For spouses of teachers, or relatives willing to pitch in the money, Zuca makes highly regarded customizable rolling carts that run approximately $140. The idea is that the teacher can use it for both work, and personal travel.

Remember though, just because the person you're buying a gift for is a teacher, doesn't mean you have to buy a work-related item. Teachers are people too! We tend to forget that because as children, we only saw them as authority figures. Any ideas that would be great for your friends would also probably work for a teacher too!