Top Holiday Gifts for Teachers Under $30

Teachers do incredible work for their students, often spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets in order to finance classroom projects, decorations, or field trips. The holidays are the perfect time to say thanks and to show those teachers that their dedication is appreciated, but parents don’t need to spend a mint to give teachers a meaningful, thoughtful gift.

Classroom-Oriented Teacher Gift Options

Gifts that enhance a teacher’s classroom not only help the teacher, but also create an even better environment for the students. These useful gifts will be well appreciated by dedicated teachers and will serve students long after the holidays.

- White board markers, erasers, and cleaning solution. Most classrooms are equipped with white boards rather than messier chalk boards, but the cost of multi-colored markers can add up over the year. Erasers and cleaner help keep the board organized and in great condition for each day’s lesson. 

- Craft supplies such as construction paper, cardstock, paste, glitter, safety scissors, and crayons. Students can’t express creativity without the proper materials, and different craft supplies can make it easier for teachers to arrange fun projects that coordinate with their lessons. 

- Cold and flu items including tissue, cleaning wipes, and anti-bacterial gels. With germs multiplying throughout the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to give gifts to help fight illness. This will not only help keep the teacher healthy so students don’t need a substitute, but students will be healthier and miss fewer days of class as well. 

- Class sets of needed items such as rulers, basic calculators, dictionaries, or other educational tools. While buying an entire set of these may be out of reach for many parents, coordinating gift-giving efforts with multiple parents can ensure that a teacher has the necessary items for each student to use. This is particularly useful in math and science classrooms or for upper grade level teachers.