Christmas Gifts to Give to an English Teacher



It's that time of year again... Christmas! Do you know an incredible English teacher that you'd like to encourage this holiday season? Check out this list of gifts for ELA teachers. 

Gift card to a local bookstore & a handwritten note 

There's nothing an English teacher loves more than well written words! Handwrite a thoughtful card and pair it with a gift certificate to a local book store. 

A refill on classroom supplies 

Let's be honest. Most classrooms are underfunded. Teachers often end up shelling money out of their own pockets to purchase basic supplies for their classroom. 

Here's a list of school supplies that are frequently needed: 

  • #2 pencils 
  • Kleenex tissues 
  • 3-spiral notebooks 
  • Hand sanitizer 
  • Clorox wipes 
  • Highlighters 
  • Dry erase markers 
  • Sticky notes 
  • KN95 masks 

Activities for rainy day recess 

Rainy days can mean students are cooped up in a classroom all day with few opportunities to release pent up energy. Giving toward a teacher's stash of rainy day activities can make the teacher's life a bit easier and provide opportunities for meaningful connection. 
  • board games (Apples to Apples Junior, Scrabble, and Taboo Junior are all fun games that involve a lot of words) 
  • coloring books with inspirational quotes 
  • word search and crossword puzzle books 
  • makerspace kits 
  • origami paper and tutorial 

Personalized stationary 

Often, English teachers are prolific writers. Order a set of custom stationary with the initials of the teacher, as well as a meaningful illustration. 

Self-care kit 

Teachers work hard, often devoting many hours beyond their scheduled work time. Sometimes, they feel guilty spending extra money on themselves. A self-care kit can remind teachers that they are worthy of rest and rejuvenation. Here are a few ideas for filling a basket of self-care items: 
  • gift card to a local spa 
  • hand lotion
  • face masks 
  • coffee subscription (yes, you can send a package of coffee beans to the teacher's school every month!) 
  • mineral bath salts 
  • candle 
  • tea variety pack 
  • fuzzy slippers 
  • journal with mental health reflection prompts 

New books for the classroom library 

Text or email the teacher to ask what genres are popular in their class. Then, research recently published books that the teacher is unlikely to already have in their classroom library. 

A custom stamp for grading

English teachers often have stacks of essays, quizzes, etc. on their desks. Customized stamps with specific grammar feedback ("run-on sentence error") or words of praise ("amazing figurative language!") can save teachers time and prevent hand cramps.

What else would you recommend giving as a Christmas gift for an English teacher? Type your ideas in a comment below! 

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