Gifts for a student teacher can range from something as simple as a thank you card, a new pencil sharpener, to a new backpack and everything in between. If you have mentoring a student teacher it’s a nice gesture to get them something as they begin their teaching career. Below is a list of 14 gifts that any student teacher would love to have.
The one that I recommend you do at the very least if you can’t afford to buy them anything is to get the students involved by writing letters/notes of appreciation.
Let’s get started!
1. Basket Filled With School Supplies
Find a basket, container, or bag and fill it with things that you know they will need for their first teaching job.
Some ideas for what to include in the basket are dry erase markers, good scissors (like these), hand lotion, a daily planner, pens and pencils, etc…
You can also add some of their favorite snacks to the basket to mix it up a little.
This is a low cost option that the student teacher will appreciate.
2. Electric Pencil Sharpener
A good pencil sharpener is a great gift for a student teacher.
The best one is this one (Amazon link), the X-ACTO electric pencil sharpener.
My students often bypass the old school cranking pencil sharpener attached to the wall and use the electric one instead.
It will last a long time and can take the abuse it will receive. I’ve had one of these in my classroom for me and my students for several years and it’s never slowed down.
The old school pencil sharpener with the crank on it that’s on the wall of my classroom is nothing compared to one of these.
3. Plan A Small Party
Get the kids/students involved in the planning, your student teacher will love it.
Along with a gift it’s nice to give the students some closure too and have an opportunity to say goodbye to your student teacher.
You don’t have to go overboard with this, keep it simple.
Buy a small cake (parent permission form of course), exchange gifts, and say goodbye.
4. Have Students Make A Card
Have students make a farewell card and then have them all sign it and write a message in it.
You can give it to your student teacher during the party!
Another option is to have students create a big farewell card on a large piece of paper and write their messages/notes on it.
Gifts like these are sometimes more meaningful than the material ones.
5. Notes From The Students
A great idea that your student teacher will love is a binder full of notes from the students.
Have students write notes/letters and then put them all into one binder for your student teacher to read later on.
Warning: this one will cause tears.
This was one of the things that my mentor teacher gave me and I remember how amazed I was while reading them.
It was cool to see how much I impacted their lives and that they really learned from me!
6. Gift Cards
You can’t go wrong with a gift card or two.
If you know that your student teacher frequents Starbucks or someplace else for coffee or tea then get them a gift card.
These days you can even order a gift card on Amazon so there is no need to go to the actual business anymore.
Another idea is to find out where they like to eat and grab them a gift card for that restaurant.
Target it good too, you can’t go wrong with a Target gift card.
7. A Thank You Card
That’s right, a simple thank you card.
Make your message sincere and warm, let them know what they did well and wish them the best going forward.
This is what I received from my cooperating teacher and I really appreciated her kind and supportive words.
8. Insulated Cup or Tumbler
For not a lot money you can get them a nice insulated cup/tumbler that they can use when they start their first teaching job.
These are great for tea, coffee, or anything else that needs to be kept cool or hot.
I like the ones like this one on Amazon because you can drink out of them with or without a straw. By the way the metal straw comes with it too.
9. A Tote Bag
Any teacher (especially elementary) can use a nice tote bag like this one on Amazon.
Get you student teacher one and they will cherish it and find good use for it once they land a teaching job.
What about something like this Lands End tote on Amazon, you can pick the size that you want too.
They are perfect for taking stuff home and back to school again.
10. Messenger Bag
Messanger bags are great for teachers and they look more modern than a tote bag.
A lot of male teachers I work with prefer them over the totes.
This one on Amazon is a good option but be warned, messanger bags do typically cost more than tote bags.
Be ready to spend a little more money if you go this route.
11. An Adult Backpack
The NorthFace has a lot of nice backpacks your student teacher could use, this one here is perfect for a new teacher.
It’s not too much money and looks more modern and professional than something you will find at Walmart.
Make sure the backpack you get looks like something an adult would wear, don’t get the cheap ones at the local Walmart that students will be wearing.
12. New Teacher Lesson Planner
You can go with a simple planner like this one or a planner that has a little more character like this one on Amazon.
Either way you go your student teacher is going to appreciate having their very own lesson planner ready to go once they get their first teaching job.
13. Good Stapler and 3 Hole Punch
Having a good stapler, like this one, is priceless. They make a great gift.
Another tool that helps make them more organized is a 3 hole punch.
Bostitch makes a great one that isn’t a lot of money either, order it on Amazon right here.
I love my 3 hole punch.
I use it all the time to organize my paper copies of assignments.
What can I say, computers crash and everything can be lost that is digital. My paper copies in my binder live on!
14. First Year Teacher Books
No matter how awesome you were as a cooperating teacher your student teacher is still going to be very nervous their first year teaching on their own.
We were all there at some point.
To help make their first year of teacher a little easier get them one of these highly recommended books:
- The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher, by Harry Wong and Rosemary T. Wong: This book (link to it on Amazon) is a classic and a must have for all first year teachers. It’s the one that you have probably already heard of or read. You can’t go wrong with this one.
- The First Six Weeks of School: A great book that is very practicial and will help the new teacher get started the right way on the first day of school. You can get it on Amazon right here.