Teachers tie shoes, dry tears, and calm fears. They lead, guide, supervise, advocate, and negotiate. They do all this and more, in addition to lesson plans, progress assessment, and parent communication. Teachers give a lot—emotionally, mentally, physically, and sometimes financially. That’s why teacher appreciation matters—now more than ever—and Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to put “thank you’s” into play.
Let School Zone Publishing help! Founded more than 45 years ago by husband-and-wife teachers, we are all about providing learners and educators with tools and resources that make learning fun and teaching easier. Creative, playful, colorful products that are teacher-designed and kid-tested definitely make great classroom gifts for teachers. However, as Teacher Appreciation Week approaches, teacher appreciation ideas and ways to celebrate teachers come in many forms.
When (and what) is Teacher Appreciation Week 2025?
According to a School Specialty Schoolyard Blog post, back in 1953, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress of the need for a special day for recognizing teachers, but it didn’t become an official national day until 1980. Originally in March, Teacher Appreciation Day moved to May four years later in 1984, and the National Parent Teacher Association also expanded the celebration to include the entire first full week of the month. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9, and Teacher Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Never has the need for recognition been more important than today. As the Truth for Teachers website notes, “Teaching involves a lot of hard work that is rarely acknowledged.” Created by former teacher Angela Watson 20+ years ago to “share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset,” Truth for Teachers has now evolved into a popular K-12 podcast of the same name. The episode 9 topic was “avoiding discouragement when no one seems to appreciate what you do.” The podcast aptly pointed out that “teaching is a pretty thankless job by nature, in the same way that parenting is. For every one thing you do that gets noticed and acknowledged, there will be hundreds of other tasks that go without recognition.”
Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance to change that— at least a little bit.
How to thank a teacher?
Even a simple gift or gesture can go a long way, but a little planning can make teacher appreciation gifts seem more thoughtful. Because of food allergies and sensitivities, dietary restrictions, and plain ol’ likes/dislikes, homemade treats are often not the best go-to. And like the rest of us, most teachers need nothing else that gathers dust or takes up desk or cupboard space, however cute or unusual it might seem.
Below are a few categories of gifts and gift alternatives that are virtually certain to be both meaningful and useful.
Easy and Impactful Ways to Show Appreciation (Even on a Budget)
- A heartfelt note with words of thanks from both you and your kiddo. Thank your child’s teacher for all they do, but try to call out a specific way they have helped or influenced your child. Ask your child what the teacher does that makes them happy. Or why they like this class. Or what the best part of class is. Again, the best thank-you teacher messages are sincere and personalized.
Go School Zone’s Freebies for Parents and Teachers page to get an adorable Teacher Appreciation Day Activity that your child can complete to express gratitude to their teacher. The first page asks them to answer questions about their teacher and class. The next page asks your child to draw a picture of their classroom, teacher, or favorite thing they’ve learned this year. Imagine their teacher’s delight and surprise when your child hands it to them!
- A small gift card for a local coffee shop or bakery.
- A gift basket with a few different inexpensive or free items i.e., teas, favorite recipes, seed packets, etc.
Creative Gift Ideas Teachers Will Actually Use
Do an online search for gifts that teachers appreciate, and hands-down favorites are gift cards—versatile gift cards—and classroom supplies. Combining the two, i.e., Amazon or Staples gift cards, can be a great pick. If you are set on a more customized gift, often the best way to know is to ask. The San Diego Family website suggests providing teachers with a questionnaire about where they like to dine, grab coffee, or find family fun.
Consider going in with another parent or two on a bigger gift card. For example, a gift card or certificate to an upscale restaurant might be outside your budget (and a teacher’s budget, too!), but collaborating could make it a doable and very welcome surprise.
- Gift cards with the classroom in mind (Amazon, Staples, or other retailer carrying school supplies)
- Gift cards with the teacher’s free time and interests in mind (knitting, cooking, golfing) from Amazon, restaurants, yarn shops, kitchen shops, pro shops, local bookstores, etc.
- A collection of School Zone print products, from $3.49 to $49.99, for classroom use. Ideas include: flash cards, game cards, workbooks (many with tear-out pages that make individual worksheets), or learning kits that contain lots of tools and activities—some are designed to provide a year-long curriculum.
- A classroom subscription to School Zone’s Anywhere Teacher subscription online learning program for ages 2-8. (Contact Michele Pierson: michelep@schoolzone.com for more information on school subscriptions.) seed packets, etc.
Thoughtful Acts That Say, “Thank You” in a Different Way
Gifts are one way to let a teacher know you appreciate them. Parents can also collaborate with school staff and students. It takes some thought and lead time, but together “the team” could put together a surprise coffee bar or decorate the classroom. Another idea is to create a teacher appreciation video message from parents, students, and possibly other contributors. Here is one how-to from the Loom blog, but there are many resources online and how-to’s for a coffee bar, too.
And sometimes, celebrating teachers can be partly about planning something for their students that requires little on their part; teachers can (more or less) sit back and watch the joy. For example, Got Sneakers”, a sneaker recycling organization, suggests some super fun ways to do just that in "Top 10 Creative PTA Ideas for Elementary Schools: Fostering Fun and Learning," They include Family Movie Night Under the Stars, Sneaker Drive Fundraiser, and an Art Extravaganza and Silent Auction “showcasing artwork created by students and local artists.”
These activities are community-building as well as honoring.
Support teachers year-round, not just this week
While a designated day or week helps remind us to show gratitude to our kids’ teachers, parents can show ongoing meaningful teacher appreciation and support by volunteering, checking in, and helping with classroom supplies). Teachers want to be in partnership with parents! A former first-grade teacher wrote “10 Ways Parents Can Build a Better Partnership with Their Child’s Teacher” for Boston Moms. One easy-to-implement tip for partnering with teachers is “Find out what your children are learning in school, and make those connections while you are out and about in the world.”
Making connections between learning at home and in the classroom is at the heart of School Zone’s mission. For nearly five decades, we have created products that can reduce teacher workload and support student learning. Follow School Zone on social for educator support, parent tips, product launches and updates, and specials and giveaways.
Remember: You don’t have to break the bank to make a teacher’s day. Got a fun teacher appreciation idea? Tag us @schoolzonepub—we’d love to see it! Teacher appreciation ideas are seeds that keep growing. The flowers can be surprising!
Shop These Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas
