What can I get my friend for her birthday - she's about to start her first year as a teacher?

Question

My friend is about to turn 40. She's also about to start her first year teaching elementary school. Is there a cool gift I can get her to commemorate the start of a new chapter of her life?

Answer 1

I agree that you definitely want to get something to honor HER (not her classroom).  What about a spa gift certificate or something that will relax her before her first day of school?  Or maybe a few of you can go in on that together for her, as it can be a little pricey.  There are also a ton of quote books, Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul, etc. that might be a nice added touch.  Is she a coffee/tea drinker?  Maybe you can get her a special mug just for school.  A bamboo plant would be nice also, because you don't have to water it too much so it can be left at school over a long weekend without worry, and it symbolizes good luck!  I have one on my desk in a cute elephant-shaped container that I got from one of my students.  Another really cute idea is "Oh, the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss.  It is a great book to have in the classroom and it is such a cute book to give to someone who is starting a new chapter in life.  I think anything you get her she'll appreciate...it is obvious you are putting a lot of thought into this!  Good luck! :)

Answer 2

Depending on what you want to spend... you could do a great "teacher themed" 40th celebratory gift.  For example...

* A pencil box with 40 pencils (you can never have enough as a teacher, kids always need them!)

* 40 pencil cap erasers

* 40 encouragement stickers

* 40 of any type of school necessity that the kids (and her!) will use throughout the year (highlighters, pens, boxes of crayons, folders, notebooks, etc)

* 40 bags of tea (if she's a tea drinker!)

* 40 brown paper bags (for lunch - even though I am more of a recycle person, it would be cute!)

* A 40 minute CD of relaxing music

* A 40 minute massage (when I started teaching, massages became a necessity)

* A $40 gift card to her favorite store (namely, a shoe store, she'll need comfy shoes!)

* 40 pennies for luck!

* 40 pieces of life saver candies for when she needs a lifesaver!

Really, you could take just about anything and get 40 of that or a GC for $40.  It would be very unique, thoughtful, practical, fun and memorable!

If you went with multiple items, you could then put them in a basket with a small potted plant that she could keep in her room (if she has windows.  I have no windows in my classroom and every plant dies!)

Have fun!  Your friend is lucky to have you!

Answer 3

School supplies!! You can never have enough.... glue sticks, crayons, pencils.. they all disappear as the year goes on. Stickers are also big if she is teaching a younger class.

A gift certificate to the local teacher store (My favorite, Holcomb's Knowplace) is always appreciated. Also, as funny as it sounds, one to the local dollar store. My first year teaching, I could spend over $30 easily at the dollar store... every other week.  I would stock up on pencils, "treasures", posters, Ziploc bags, you name it, I found it there.

There are great books out there for her to have in her room, or to receive from a friend. Again, it depends on what grade level she is teaching. Mr. Ouchy's first day is a very cute book about a teacher who is nervous to start his first year teaching. It shows the students (2nd and younger) that teachers can be nervous too, and that its ok.

Good luck and congrats to your friend!

Answer 4

Make her a basket of school supplies, teachers love these!  Or get her a gift card to a local teacher store.  When I graduated from college, my mom read somewhere that all teachers should have a plant in their room to promote oxygen.  She got an ivy plant and put it in a cutedy basket, then glued school supplies on floral sticks and had them sticking out of the plant.  It was soo cute!  I'm now beginning my 3rd year teaching and I still have it!  (Also, the kids love to water it, so I use it as a reward in my class)

Answer 5

When I started teaching, so many people gave me great teacher-themed gifts, which was great.  I would think that your friend is going to receive a lot of school supplies when she begins teaching.

For her birthday, I would give her something for her.  Like a spa day, weekend away type gift that she can use during a school break.

Answer 6

I read all the other answers before thinking of what gift she would really appreciate.  I love teaching, but it can really get stressful at times. Teachers are rarely shown appreciation. I like to "get away" by going to the local La Quinta hotel for a night.  While there I usually use the jacuzzi, swim in the pool, relax on a king size bed, watch endless free movies (on satellite TV), order dinner in and  have a free breakfast the next morning.  At times, I have called in a massage therapist to complete the "package".  You can get weekend special rates on LQ.com.  ($59-69 in CA). Perhaps you could book a room for her, have a little surprise party, and other friends could gift her the massage, bathrobe, slippers, or pamper products.  The focus here is on her turning a "young 40."  Make sure the room is decorated with her favorite color. Candles? Relaxing CD? Favorite tea?

Answer 7

plenty of alcohol and pain meds...

joking

Get her a nice seat cushion for her chair or desk

Answer 8

Harry Wong's book "The First Days of School".  It covers all the things you don't learn in your credential program, and it is an easy read.  The very best part is his anecdote about how his parents, being Chinese, wanted him to be a brain surgeon, the most prestigious specialty in medicine.  "I exceeded their expectations," he writes, "I became a teacher."

Answer 9

A survival kit!!!

Germ-x hand sanitizer

Vitamin C

Tylonel

a red pen

stress ball

cough drops (new teachers get sick a lot!)

egg timer etc.