Expressing Gratitude: 7 Gifts for Teachers That Make a Lasting Impression

Make Teacher Appreciation Week memorable

Teachers are society’s unsung heroes. While they deserve our gratitude all year ’round, Teacher Appreciation Week marks the officially recognized celebration of teachers nationwide. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week takes place May 6 through May 10.

At Walmart Business, we want to do our part to give back and honor the extraordinary work teachers do for our communities. We’ve compiled this list of gift ideas that teachers will love, from sweet treats to decorations and practical gifts to games and gift baskets.

7 gift ideas for teachers

1. Spark creativity with a leatherette-bound journal

A premium bound journal is a perfect companion for any teacher, whether they’re jotting down ideas for lesson plans or using it for their favorite creative hobbies. Featuring high-quality heavyweight paper and durable covers, these picks will last as far as their ideas can take them:

• The Exceed Pocket Ruled Journal comes with 96 double-sided sheets and two bookmark ribbons to keep track of notes. An expandable inner pocket offers portable storage, while the elastic closure keeps everything packed up nicely.
• Generate daily brainstorming sessions and topic starters with the Piccadilly 5 Year Question A Day journal.
• The Pentalic Brown Traveler Pocket Artist Drawing Journal has 160 acid-free, recycled pages and is a fantastic travel companion for sketches, free-form note-taking and doodling.

Consider taking these gifts a step further by including a personalized message on the inner jacket cover.

2. Brighten their morning with a travel mug

Help your favorite teacher get their day started right with an insulated travel mug. The Ozark Trail Stainless Steel Tumbler keeps coffee warm and fresh for up to three hours—perfect for keeping energy up all the way through second period.

Or stay frosty with the Mainstays Double Wall Textured Tumbler. Its thick design insulates cold drinks to keep them cool for hours, and the silicone seal ring keeps spills to a minimum.

3. Coffee to keep them going, tea to help them relax 

Pair their new travel mug with some premium coffee so your favorite teacher can keep their energy up throughout the day. Choices like Eight O’Clock Medium Roast Coffee provide a balanced flavor that they can mix up with cream or sugar, while the Great Value Cinnamon Vanilla-flavored coffee offers a great taste and aroma that’s perfect on its own.  

Or you can help your teacher unwind at the end of the day with a selection of aromatic tea bags. Go classic with the Bigelow Earl Grey Black Tea pack, or pick out the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea for a soothing, comforting flavor.

4. Gift baskets offer a grab bag of sweet and savory treats

Not sure what to get? You can’t go wrong with a gift basket full of snacks and other goodies. 

There’s the Ferrero Collection, which includes an exquisite assortment of hazelnut, almond and dark chocolate candies. Or show your appreciation with the Golden State Fruitfully Yours Gift Box, complete with fresh fruits, chocolate-covered blueberries and assorted flavors of mixed nuts.  

If you need a gluten-free option, the Gluten Free Gift Basket from Alder Creek will fit the bill. It combines an assortment of dried fruits, nuts, meats and cheeses into a package that will delight any recipient.

5. Spruce up the classroom with plants and decor

A little bit of greenery and decoration can do wonders for lifting a classroom’s spirits. Consider the following picks and spark joy in teachers and students alike:

• A bouquet of roses, carnations, sunflowers and other mixed flowers in an artful arrangement—mix and match for a truly personalized gift.
• Palm plants, dracaena and zebra plants are classroom-safe foliage options that offer opportunities for students to learn about nature while freshening the air.
• Decor like colorful signs and educational maps bring color and personality to any classroom.

6. Games and activities to keep teachers and students engaged

Board games are an excellent gift for teachers looking to entertain students in ways that foster communication, collaboration and problem-solving.  

Of course, there are the old standbys like Clue, Monopoly and Yahtzee. Modern classics like Catan and Carcassonne offer deeper play experiences with classroom-friendly designs that are just as fun for adults as for kids. And party games like Trivial Pursuit and I Should Have Known That offer opportunities to sprinkle trivia questions throughout the school day while allowing the entire classroom to join in on the fun.

7. Classroom supplies are always appreciated

There’s no such thing as too many pencils. Consider finding out what your teacher needs beforehand and arrange a gift basket full of must-have teaching supplies, like pens, markers, whiteboard erasers and paper. Then, bring the whole package together with a hand-made card for that extra-special touch.

Save money on these gifts and more with Walmart Business+ 

Looking for more gift ideas? Visit the Walmart Business Teacher Appreciation and PTA pages for inspiration on a curated assortment of gifts at everyday low prices.

If you have a Walmart Business+ membership, you’ll save even more on free shipping from our warehouse with no order minimum¹ or free delivery from your local Walmart store on any order over $35². Then, treat yourself with 2% back in Walmart Rewards on purchases over $250.³  

Don’t have a membership yet? Sign up today and start saving over $500 a year⁴ on gifts, must-have supplies and much more.

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.

³Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.

⁴Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $7.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).