Gifts for Teachers: Practical and Personal Ideas

A dozen felt-tip pens in assorted colors with a medium 0.7mm point, a familiar choice for comments in the margin and colorful classroom charts.

A dozen retractable black gel pens in a fine 0.7mm point, a familiar everyday writing pen for grading, planning and signing forms.

A pack of three erasable gel pens with a white barrel and a visible ink supply, a small add-on for a planner or a grading pile.

A dozen retractable black gel pens in a medium 0.7mm point, enough to share with a teaching team or keep a desk drawer stocked.

Fourteen retractable gel pens in assorted ink colors, a bright pack for grading, planning and color-coding notes.

Eight assorted fine-tip dry erase markers for the whiteboard, an easy refill for a classroom that is simple to wrap alongside other items.

A dozen pre-sharpened #2 pencils, a plain classroom basic for the teacher who always seems to be handing pencils out.

Assorted neon #2 pencils in a pack of 18, a brighter take on the classroom basic for handing out or filling a pencil cup.

Twenty washable fine-tip markers in assorted colors for labeling, posters and drawing, especially useful in younger classrooms.

A large pack of 3 by 3 inch sticky notes in 18 pads, plenty for reminders, feedback and anchor charts over a whole term.

Five hundred small page markers in assorted colors, handy for flagging passages in class texts, marking student work and tabbing a planner.

A black desktop tape dispenser with a 1 inch core, useful for bulletin boards, gift wrap and quick repairs at a teacher's desk.

Six rolls of invisible tape with a dispenser, a practical stock-up for taping up displays, repairing books and wrapping gifts.

A pack of 30 washable glue sticks, a sensible supply for craft days and take-home projects that gets used up quickly in a classroom.

A small tin candle in a lavender and pear scent, a simple at-home treat for an evening after a long week of school.

A stack of bracelets with white beads, a neutral braid and gold accents, a personal thank-you that can be worn with almost any outfit.

Four mini bottles of olive oil, plain and flavored, make an edible gift for a teacher who cooks. Check for food preferences first.

A lightweight, insulated bag with a PEVA lining for carrying lunch to school and keeping it organized in a staff room fridge.

A bottle with a built-in straw and a wide opening, so a teacher can sip between classes or tilt it for a bigger drink on duty.

A familiar tumbler in a smaller size that the page says fits deskside, bedside and in a cup holder, so it travels easily.

A hard cover notebook with an elastic closure, ribbon bookmark and a pocket in the back, for a teacher who keeps notes by hand.

The same hard cover notebook in scarlet red, a colorful choice for a teacher who likes a bright cover on the desk.

Spiral notebooks covered with old 3.5 inch floppy disks, a nostalgic pick for a tech teacher who likes a retro touch.

A pen that also holds a screwdriver, a touch stylus, a bubble level and a ruler, a quirky gift for a gadget fan.

An origami kit with 50 preprinted sheets and a video tutorial, in Highland cows or sheep, for a calm evening craft.

A classic picture book about new beginnings, a natural gift near the end of a school year or for a teacher starting something new.

A novel with a long reading-list life among upper elementary and middle school classes, a good gift for a teacher building a class library.

A well-known picture book about giving and taking, one a teacher may want on the classroom read-aloud shelf or at home.