Our Favorite Things (for Teachers and Librarians)

With the holidays right around the corner, we've got gift giving on our minds. Whether you are shopping for your child's teacher, an educational colleague, or making your own wish list, we hope you'll find gift giving inspiration in our Favorite Things list. ​ Also, no gift list is complete without books but of course we think books are worth their own blog post so you can look forward to our Best Books for gift-giving next week in time for your holiday shopping. 

Corey's Favorite Things

Totes. Totes. Totes. As someone who lugs a lot of papers (plus a laptop) back and forth to my classroom each night I can never have enough totes. I like the look of these cute totes from Ballard Designs. They are functional while still looking stylish. $29

Have you thought about a Yeti? I don't have one but a lot of my colleagues do and they RAVE about how warm it keeps their coffee and how cold it keeps their water. Teachers can find themselves stuck in their classrooms for hours on end with no hope of topping off their coffee or adding ice to their drink making this the perfect gift. $30

A customized Sharpie? Yes Please! Many teachers have a love affair with school supplies. I know that I get giddy when I see a new pack of colored pencils or markers and a certain colleague of mine who will remain nameless (starts with G ends with N) loves scented gummy bear erasers. So if you are looking for a small gift consider a pack of sharpies or better yet, a customized Sharpie for a fun and functional gift. $5-12.

The gifts from Etsy's Bookity shop warm my heart. As a lover all things vintage and bookish, I love these bracelets and cufflinks that highlight everything from Harry Potter to maps to poems. They are thoughtful gifts with a little bit of whimsy. $Range.

I love the idea of honoring a teacher by giving a gift that helps kids living in poverty receive access to education. UNICEF offers a variety of gifts ranging in price from $210 to $27. For example, the Backpack Basics supplies a community with 40 workbooks, 40 slates and 80 pencils for kids in need. The Storybook packages helps to supply a school library with books in the native language. .You can find more of these ideas at UNICEF's website.

Last but not least, my favorite teacher gift is a personal note. Hearing from a current or former student can make my week. So when in doubt, pick up a pen and thank a teacher in your life. It's the best gift you can give.

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​Gretchen's Favorite Things

Touchscreen gloves. Most teachers have smart phones, right? As winter hits, these are immensely useful -- keep your gloves on whiile using your phone or tablet. This pair from Agloves is a good pick! $12.

​Who doesn't need a bluetooth tracking tag or three? It's easy to misplace keys (or phones! or wallets!) around the school building or the house -- a tag connects to an app and helps you find those misplaced items. You easily find these tags on Amazon, like this one from Tile Mate (you can even buy a 4-pack and make lots of teachers happy)! $25-$70.

Teachers are always juggling multiple lessons, meetings, and family stuff. The Passion Planner is my favorite way to detail out life. The planner comes in two different sizes and makes it easy and satisfying to plan your day, week, and year. I love the reflective components built into this planner as well. Passion Planner also has a philanthropic heart as a company: for every planner they sell, they give one away. Pair this gift with a pack of Sharpie Pens (not to be confused with Sharpie Markers!) and your favorite teacher will never forget you! $13-$30.

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Organization is a challenge for me. With this in mind, IKEA is a great source for gifts that help corale the minutiae. I love trays to help sort groups of things -- the colorful, long,
narrow POPPIG trays are the best (I like the smaller POPPIGs too)! The RISSLA magazine file can help sort out desktop papers. The RIMFORSA tablet stand would be useful for classroom or home. If you want to shop somewhere other than IKEA, I like this this Nate Berkus desk organizer set from Target. $5-$16.

I am a notepad addict -- they give me something else to write on with those awesome Sharpie Pens I love so much! Shutterfly has a great selection of customizable notepads; make it extra special by personalizing with a teacher's name or initials. $15.

Bed, Bath & Beyond

These wood cutting boards in the shapes of the 50 states are a perfect for a your favorite Social Studies teacher (or as a holiday party host gift)! Of course, I'm partial to the Virginia board, but all states are represented! $20.

Wouldn't a hand-stamped thin bracelet cuff be a fun gift? I would love to wear a stack of these sweet bracelets from Etsy's TheBeadPotCanterbury shop all at once! Personalize with a favorite book quote (or a favorite teacher quote) and get back smiles! $11.

I love the idea of DIY book-ish art. Get an inexpensive book from a local used book shop or select one from your own shelf that you no longer need and get to work. This blog post from Big DIY Ideas has a lot of great projects that would make fun gifts this season.

Merry Shopping to You & Yours!
Corey & Gretchen

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BubbleUp Take5: Books to Give this Season (December 13, 2016)