Gifts for the teacher you love: Updated

In 2017, I posted a guide for 20 gifts for the teacher you love. This month for the “throwback” section of my somewhat-monthly newsletter for teachers, I wanted to re-share the post, but alas- it’s the internet, and so many of my links had broken! I fixed a lot of them, but a lot changes in five years, so I wanted to do an updated version. Without further ado, here’s an updated guide to gifts for the teacher you love – hey teachers, share this with people who love you!

1. A really fabulous bag ($$$)

I still think Artifact is one of the best bag makers out there, but on a writing trip to St. Simon’s Island last year, I walked into a boutique shop and saw a computer bag I fell in love with immediately. Literally, I went back out to the car and got my laptop and tried it to make sure it would fit just right. It cost a pretty penny and I thought long and hard about it, but I’m so glad I didn’t walk away and leave it there. It’s from a company called Consuela, and they have a ton of amazing bags to choose from. Mine is the Sally Sling (expensive – I warned you). I love that there are three ways to carry it, I love the craftsmanship, I love that the company was founded by an artist based in Texas.

2. Amazing soap ($)

I remember as a kid seeing commercials about how soap would “dry out your skin,” and I was convinced that I needed lots of cleansing products, anything that wasn’t soap. Surprisingly, the whole dry-skin thing doesn’t have to be true. One way I’ve handled inflation in our budget is to replace no fewer than 4 shower products with nice soap, and artisan, sweet-smelling soap is one of the top items on my gift idea list. My kids know I specifically want Buff City Soap and a loofah that holds it. I’m telling you, once you’ve bathed with (or washed your clothes in) Narcissist you’ll have trouble settling for anything else. (But also, have you seen esponjabon? It’s not above Buff City for me, but I can confirm it’s an interesting experience!)

3. Tea / infuser ($)

If you’ve not been introduced to the flavorful, meditative world of full-leaf tea, let me help. I love my Grosche tea infuser that steeps my full-leaf tea and then drains the tea into my mug simply by setting it on top of the mug. A bit different: I recently gave my tea-obsessed seminary friend this travel set that she could take with her for a day full of classes. As for tea, I highly recommend the varieties at Full Leaf Tea Co.; given my fight with multiple sclerosis, I’m partial to Organic Brain Health, because while Remember (Lisa Genova) told me the supposed benefits of ginkgo for brain health have been debunked, ashwagandha and turmeric have been key components in my fight to stay off of immunomodulating medication.

4. Whimsy for your glasses ($$)

Those of us getting up in middle age know that it’s only a matter of time before most of us need what my friends call “cheaters” – the reading glasses stashed in various places in my home. A teacher who occasionally needs a little help to see those students’ presentational writing will love this bear glasses holder. There are lots of variations on this idea- look it up! We got one for my husband to use for his glasses at bedtime, and it really is just so cute.

5. Travel tracker ($$)

As a demographic, teachers, and especially language teachers, often love to get around. I’m a sucker for anything that helps me document and remember my wanderings, like a photo travel map of the US, or a scratch-off countries-I’ve-visited map/frame.

6. Feed the birds ($/$$)

One of my COVID hobbies is birds – until the lockdowns, I never paid much attention. Now I have binoculars, feeders, a life list journal, field guides- I love all things bird! Feeders need constant refilling and seed isn’t cheap, especially my favorite- no-waste bird seed (it doesn’t end up with shells everywhere and seeds that sprout in my flowerbeds). Want to pair it with a feeder? Good idea! You could go with something cute or my preference, anything squirrel-proof. (Ugh, squirrels.)

7. Coffee & cookies ($/$$)

Finally, almost every teacher I know is a big coffee drinker, and you can’t go wrong with some great coffee beans. Consider adding a quality coffee grinder. Even better, pair the coffee with a local treat, or a not-so-local one. One evening at the recent ACTFL convention, some friends and I stopped by the Levain bakery and oh wow, what a cookie, and what a bag of coffee. Turns out you can order that.

There you have it, my updated recommendations for teacher gifts! What’s on your list this year? Everything you share could be a new idea for someone else!