As the wife of a public high school teacher and the daughter of a now-retired public high school teacher (incidentally, both are math teachers, and perhaps related, I am terrible at math), you would think that I would have a very clear idea of what the best teacher appreciation gifts are.
But, frankly, you would be wrong. Part of that is because, well, neither my mom nor my husband has ever received many teacher appreciation gifts. (Maybe math isn’t the most popular subject in school, who would have guessed?) Once, my husband received a handmade chocolate-covered apple for Christmas, and it was so exciting that we fought over who got to eat it. (I won, for the record, and I agree with you, it wasn’t fair, but it was delicious.)
The point being, teachers are woefully underappreciated in many regards, and for many, a small token of appreciation—like a literal apple—will be a gift they remember forever. In Michigan, Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 to 8, 2026, but if you miss that, the end of the year is right around the corner. So if you’re searching for a way to show your child’s teacher how much you appreciate them for either occasion, we went right to the source and asked teachers what they are hoping to receive for a teacher appreciation gift.
Handwritten note
By far, the gift that teachers said they loved the most was a handwritten note. I can attest that over the years, my husband has been lucky enough to either personally hear from students or, once in a great while, receive a letter or card telling him how much of a difference he made in their lives. And hearing that from his students has a tremendous impact on him.
Teaching is very, very challenging, and in some areas of Michigan, where income levels are lower, resources are lacking, and students are dealing with a lot of issues, it is even more difficult. So receiving a simple, heartfelt note about how a teacher matters to you can truly mean more than any gift you could buy. I know for a fact that reminders from students about what a difference my husband makes keep him going on the tough days.
Shelby Vincent, a former kindergarten teacher turned Michigan librarian, also agrees that handwritten gestures make all the difference. In her case, she adored it when her kids made her cards. “I made a whole scrapbook out of them!” she gushed.
Katie Waite, a teacher who now homeschools her five children, also kept all the handwritten notes from former students. “That, with a useful gift card, is the best,” Waite said.
Now, as much as I can truthfully say a handwritten, heartfelt note is the most impactful gift you can give a teacher, let’s also be practical here. Pairing that handwritten, heartfelt note with a practical gift makes it all the better. Which brings me to my next most appreciated gift that teachers said they love receiving…
Gift cards
Next up in the list, teachers shared that gift cards are always a gesture that they appreciate. They’re practical, easy to get and give, and even a small amount can make a big difference.
As a parent, I try to pick up a bulk pack of cards at the store (Walmart and sometimes Costco sell them!), so I have them on hand when I need to give them. But in a pinch, I love that I can easily send a digital Starbucks card right from my phone app—you can send the e-gift card as a text message, with a link, print it, or email it right to your student’s teacher. It makes gifting super easy.
And of course, you can always go with my second-favorite option: being forced to go to Starbucks to buy the physical gift card, so it only makes sense to treat yourself while you’re there. (Oh no, what a bummer…)
Coffee
Speaking of Starbucks, Rochelle Hotchkiss, a Michigan native who now teaches in Florida, shared that she still appreciates receiving coffee in any form, whether that be through a gift card, a bag of beans, or canned or ground coffee.
Having just finished my training to become a substitute teacher, I can certainly see why caffeine would be a welcome gesture of appreciation. (Pray for me.) And if you’re looking for a great coffee to gift, may we also suggest picking up a roasted-in-Michigan option? We love a good home state swap when possible!
Cold hard cash
While Vincent was clear that her favorite and most meaningful gift was the handwritten cards she received from her students, she’s also not above admitting that she did not mind receiving money from parents from time to time.
It’s here that we will pause and note that she taught at a private school in California, where her students were all children of well-to-do parents. For instance, she had Orlando Bloom’s son and McSteamy from “Grey’s Anatomy” (rest his soul) in her class at one point. So it wasn’t unusual for parents in that tax bracket to just give teachers hundreds of dollars in cash as gifts. Now, here in Michigan, I will say that such a practice is not as common. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be!
If you completely forget about teacher appreciation week or an end-of-the-school-year gift and have a few spare bucks lying around, this is your sign not to be embarrassed about just giving the cash, because, truly, any gesture is appreciated.
Teacher T-shirts
Amy Fraser Tackabury, a teacher in Michigan, asked her colleagues what gifts they most appreciated, and one colleague answered that she enjoyed receiving teaching T-shirts as gifts. I was surprised to hear this suggestion, but it makes sense: it’s a practical gift that also takes the decision-making fatigue out of what to wear every day. Tuck that shirt into a long skirt or trousers, and you’re good to go!
We found some cute options on Etsy that let you personalize shirts with your choice of color and teacher’s name, all under $10.
Bath and body soap or sanitizer
I was really glad to hear that real Michigan teachers said they enjoy receiving bath and body soap “because you can always use it,” as that’s been my go-to gift for a decade now.
I buy the hand soaps (or sometimes the mini sanitizers, depending on what’s on sale!) in bulk, slap on some “Hands down, you’re the best teacher!” gift tags, and call it a day. If we have extra money lying around, which is rare, because my husband is also a teacher, ahem, I have also been known to affix a gift card onto the twine or ribbon for the gift card. Easy and done!
Throw blankets
In a gift suggestion that surprised me somewhat, Tackabury shares that a few of her teacher colleagues said they “don’t mind a good throw blanket!” While they were pretty downright unanimous in asserting that no teacher, under any circumstances, ever wants another cup or coffee mug (oops), a nice and cozy throw blanket is always appreciated.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear this one, because I would have categorized blankets alongside mugs, but you heard it here first, folks: throw blankets for teachers are in for 2026. I can’t speak for the quality, necessarily, but I did discover that you can buy bulk packs of throw blankets on Amazon, if you’re so inclined to have a batch ready on hand to pass out.
Beach mat
For a Michigan twist, because we’re approaching the best time to live here, summer, you could gift a foldable beach mat instead of a throw blanket. I gifted a teacher a beach mat once, and she loved it so much that I ended up buying one for myself.
Beach mats are under $10, foldable, waterproof, and you can keep one in your car for impromptu picnics, beach trips, or Michigan road trips. Plus, it’s a great reminder to the teacher in your life that they made it through the school year and summer is on the horizon!
Classroom supplies
It’s boring, but true. A few teachers responded that they always appreciate getting classroom supplies for their rooms. Many teachers have an ongoing list or an Amazon wish list you can shop from, or when in doubt, simply ask.
My husband says classic go-tos would be: tissues, Clorox wipes, dry-erase markers, pencils, and bulk primarily allergen-free snacks like chips or fruit snacks. (He teaches high schoolers who are always hungry.)
Can cover
I’m sharing this simply as my own suggestion because I think it’s so convenient and cool—it’s a lid that you can attach to any can to make it spillproof. It also comes with a straw and carrier, so you can cart your can around anywhere.
For teachers, this could be a practical gift that helps them avoid spills in the classroom or near their computers. Or they could use it for their much-deserved beach and pool time this summer. Win-win!
Scratch-off tickets
Kristi Willis, a junior high teacher in Saginaw, Mich., says that along with some favorite snacks like seltzer water or chocolate, she loves receiving scratch-off tickets. “They are fun because I never buy them for myself!” she says.
There are also plenty of printable cards on Etsy, designed to be paired with scratch-off tickets, that you can download and print to add some flair to your gift. (Plus, in most cases, once you purchase an Etsy printable, you have it forever, so it’s a gift that you can keep regiving for as long as there are teachers in your lives!)
An entire week of gifts
Okay, this gift suggestion may not be for everyone, but it comes from an actual teacher, and it’s such a unique (and thoughtful) idea that I had to share. Kari Dinsmore Hall, a pre-kindergarten teacher in southeast Michigan, said that for her kids’ teachers, she aims to gift them with one small item every single morning instead of one larger gift.
“I try to get my kids to ask what their favorite things are, like a drink, snack, or flower,” Hall explained. She admitted that she has a little bit of a sneaky pass because she does work at the school and has access to the kids’ “favorite things” paperwork, but still, the idea is the same.
“Each day we do something small, like a McDonald’s Diet Coke, flowers, or candy,” Hall shared. ” It’s never anything huge, but I hope it brightens their mornings a little bit!”
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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