The Best Teacher’s Gifts Under $20

Are you looking for a great gift idea for the teacher in your child’s life that won’t break the bank?  I have compiled a list of  20 teacher’s gifts under $20 that he or she will be sure to love!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

1. Classroom Rules Poster

After a long Christmas Vacation Break, teachers often have to review the rules and expectations with their students.  This classroom rules poster will be a great way to do just that! 

2. Flair Pens

Trust me when I say that teachers LOVE their flair pens!  They are perfect for lesson planning, grading papers, student work and more! 

3. Key chain With Quote 


Teachers love inspirational quotes, and this one written on a key chain is sure to please!

4. Labeled Binder Clips


Teachers love to be organized!  This set of labeled binder clips will keep all of their mounds of paperwork tamed! 

5. Apple Post-It Dispenser

What teacher doesn’t like apples or post-its?  When you put the two together you have a winning teacher present idea!   

6. Laminating Pouches

Teachers laminate things in the classroom to help them last through all of the use that takes place in a busy classroom.  These often go on sale for around $10, so be sure to check back often to get a great deal – your teacher will LOVE them! 

7.  Expo Markers

ExpoMarkers are a hot commodity in any classroom, and you can never have too many!  Teachers use them not only to write on the boards themselves, but also for students as well.  Grab your favorite teacher a pack of these, and it will surely be one of their favorite gifts!

8. Mr. Sketch Markers

Speaking of markers, teachers also love Mr. Sketch markers!  They are perfect for creating anchor charts to help remind students of concepts they have learned in class.

9. Portable Silverware


I can’t tell you how many times my lunch plans have gone awry when I forgot to bring a fork or a spoon from home.  This portable silverware set will save the day!

You could also create a mini-lunch kit by filling a plastic container with plastic plates, forks, spoons, cups, and napkins!

10.  Classroom Books

Teachers can never have enough classroom books!  Whether for read aloud to the whole class or student enjoyment, books are a must in any classroom.  You can pick up several great deals on books for the classroom at Amazon.  Click on the age range in your child’s classroom for some great book suggestions!

Ages 3-5

Ages 6-8

Ages 9-12

11. Winter Gloves

Many teachers spend a lot of time outside on the playground during the school day, so warm winter wear like these cable knit mittens will surely be appreciated!

12. Gift Cards

You can’t go wrong when you give a gift card, because your favorite teacher can pick exactly what they would like.  Here are a few places that teachers LOVE to shop at!

Teachers pay Teachers

Really Good Stuff  

Amazon 

Starbucks

Sephora

iTunes 

13. Candles

Candles are a great go to gift idea for just about anyone, but teachers could especially use the gift of relaxation!

14. Thinking Putty

My students love Thinking Putty for focusing and staying on task, but it is also pretty addictive for grown-ups as well!

15. Erasable Pens

These erasable pens write like a gel pen but erase like a pencil!  They are perfect for teachers to write lesson plans, grade papers, and more!

16. Magnetic Emoji White Board Erasers

These Emoji white board erasers are sure to bring a bit of fun into the classroom.  They are magnetic so the the teacher can stick them to the board and not lose it.  

17. Fruit Infuser Water Bottle

Teachers need to stay hydrated during the day, and this fruit infuser water bottle will help them do that while making the water extra tasty!

18. Teacher Angel Ornament

Teachers are angels and your teacher will remember you every year as she adds this beautiful ornament to her Christmas tree!

19. Teacher Socks

These fun teaching inspired socks will be perfect for crazy sock day or just for a teacher to share her love of teaching!

20. Teachers Rule Mad Libs

I love using Mad Libs in my classroom to help teach grammar in a fun and engaging way.  This teacher edition will be fun for both students and teachers!

More Teacher Gift Ideas

Check out this blog post for even more teachergift ideas.


I also have a Pinterest Board dedicated to teacher gifts right here. While you are there, be sure to follow me  so you don’t miss out on any of the teaching ideas and resources I share.

And, if you are a teacher or you know a teacher check out our most current giveaways here for a chance to win a Teachers pay Teachers gift card!

What unique or affordable gifts have you given your children’s teachers or have you had given to you?  Leave a comment below or join in on our Facebook discussion here.

 I would love to hear from you! ❤️

Have a question? Idea for a resource you might find helpful?

Be so kind and leave a comment below.

No Excuses List

Do you have students who consistently make the same writing errors?  

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

• Do they forget to capitalize the beginning of their sentences?
• Do they forget to capitalize proper nouns?
• Do they leave out ending punctuation?
• Do they misspell common words such as who, because, too, there, etc?
• Do they forget to indent paragraphs?

Many of these skills are skills they have been working on since early elementary, yet the mistakes keep happening?  Why?  Because we allow them to keep doing it!

This is how I have gotten the errors to (mostly) stop.  Enter the No Excuses List:

I post the anchor chart above on the wall and give my students a similar version to keep in their binders.

I teach a mini-lesson about our No-Excuses list.  I remind them that the items on this list are all things that they have learned in prior grades, so they are no excuses for them not showing these skills in their writing.  

I explain that when I see these types of errors in their assignment, I will draw a red star at the top of the paper to let them know that they need to go back and proofread their paper using the no excuses list.

At the beginning of the year I draw A LOT of red stars on their papers, but by the end of the year I hardly draw any at all!

If you would like to grab an editable version of the student no excuses list you can get it FREE at my Teachers pay Teachers store here.

If you do decide to use this No Excuses List, I would love to see pictures!  Please email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net or tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!



And... before you go, make sure to visit my Giveaways page to enter our weekly giveaway to win a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card!

Amazon Prime Day is July 16th - Get a $10 Amazon Credit to Spend!

If you are anything like me, Amazon boxes are a frequent delivery by your mail truck!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.    

And.... while my boxes are never *quite* that big (although that would be amazing!), I definitely do order A LOT from Amazon.

Not only do I buy most of my books from Amazon, but I get a fair deal of school supplies, home supplies, and even presents for birthdays and Christmas for my boys!

You don't even have to wait until Prime Day to get an AMAZING deal on these Ticonderoga Pencils!

One of my favorite shopping days of the year is coming up - Amazon Prime Day!  On this day, (July 16th and 17th this year), Amazon promises prices that surpass Black Friday prices!

This year's Prime Day starts at 3PM EST on July 16th and runs through the entire day of July 17th.  Be sure to check back here, on Facebook, and Twitter for all the BEST Prime deals I find!

Prime members will find exclusive deals on office supplies, electronics, toys, video games, movies, clothing, and more.  They even have tons of extra deals leading up to Prime Day!

If you are not already an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to take advantage of all these deals!

BONUS: Right now you can get a free $10 Amazon Credit when you download and sign in to the Amazon mobile app for the first time!

 This credit is valid for new AND existing Prime members who have never signed into the Amazon app before. The app is ALSO one of the easiest ways to keep track of all of your favorite Prime Day Deals!

Here's how to get your FREE $10 Credit:

1. Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, or log-in to your existing Prime account.

2. Download the Amazon mobile app here.

3. Sign in to your Amazon account for the first time on the app.

4. You'll receive a $10 credit via e-mail within 7 days - plenty of time to use it on Prime Day!

5. Your $10 credit will be good on any $20 in-app purchase.

Combine your credit with the Amazing Prime Day deals for even bigger savings!!

If you have an Amazon gift card (or buy one now), you can also get a $10 bonus when you load $100 to the card. 

Here are some of the deals that have already been posted:

I love Kindle unlimited for both my personal reading and for books for my classroom iPads!

Shopping for groceries and household items has never been easier!

The Echo Show is like Alexa - only better, because you can see what she tells you!  

This would be so much fun at home or in the classroom! Click on the link below to see the Prime Day price.

And... if you would like to earn additional Amazon Credits, you might like to try Swagbucks! I earn approximately $10-$20 a month which helps cover some of the costs of items I buy for my classroom.

What deals are you looking forward to the most?

Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway - April 23, 2018

Teacher Giveaway!

$25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Every week one lucky teacher gets to go on a Teachers pay Teachers shopping spree!  Will it be you this week?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card 

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 4/30/18 and is open worldwide.  

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers! 

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Epic! App Review

Thank you to Epic! for sponsoring this post.  While this was a sponsored opportunity from Epic!, all content and opinions expressed here are my own. I only promote brands and products that I love, and we have truly loved using epic! in our classroom! I hope you enjoy today's post and discover some great ideas for using epic! in your classroom!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

A few years ago I had a student in my class who came into fourth grade as a non reader.  He barely knew his alphabet.  

When I conference with my students at the beginning of the school year, I always ask them, "What kind of reader are you?"

He answered, "I'm the kind of reader who reads chapter books."  My heart broke for him knowing his current level, but I made a promise to him that he definitely would be by the end of the year.  

At Christmas time we started his first "chapter books" the Fly Guy books.  By the end of the school year he was devouring the Mercy Watson series.  I had kept my promise, and I couldn't have been prouder of him!

He recently stopped by to say, "Hi!" to me, so of course I asked, "Are you still a chapter book reader?"  

He said, "I don't read books anymore."  My heart sunk... then he added, "Now I read Epic!"

I had of course heard of Epic!, and had even used it a few times in my class, but his saying this made me check out the app a bit more.  I am always on the look-out for anything that will help my reluctant readers LOVE reading!

Even though the app has been on all of my students' iPads already, I hadn't really seen any of them use it.  So, I decided a mini-lesson was in order to introduce it to them. (If you haven't already signed up for Epic! you can sign-up here - it is FREE for teachers)! 

When your students sign-in to your account, they will see this screen, where they can press their names to find the books they would like to read or to continue reading the books they were already reading.

They can choose interests and Epic! will suggest titles for them, or they can just search the over 25,000 titles that are available.

This student searched for Lego books (his current passion) and was able to find just the right book.

This student chose a chapter book series she had been reading.

Students can even listen to books.  The only thing I feel is missing with this feature is the text - students really benefit from following along with the text as they listen.  I have figured out a work around though, I started matching books from my library with the books from Epic! so they can listen to them as they read.

Some other features that I love as a teacher are the content collections, their Epic! for Educators resource page, and the parent accounts.

They have a wide selection of content collections that you can search through for various themes.  Our school uses the Lucy Calkins units of study and I have had a difficult time with the American Revolution Unit because I honestly don't have enough books in my library for it.  But, Epic! to the rescue because they have this collection ready made by another teacher, and I can even make my own.  All of my students can access these resources at the same time using Epic!

The teacher resource page includes these 10 creative ideas for using Epic! in the classroom as well as many other videos, tutorials, tips, and more.

Parents can sign-up for an account for their child to use at home.  It is only $7.99 and gives them access to over 25,000 books!  No more excuses about having nothing to read at home!  I will be sending home flyers at the end of the year to make sure that my students continue to read over the summer.  I can't wait for them to come back and visit me in a few years to tell me how excited they still are about reading because of Epic!

If you want to instantly increase your library by over 25,000 books, sign-up for Epic! now!

If you are already using Epic! in your classroom, I'd love to hear the ways you use it!  Leave a comment below so we can all benefit from your great ideas!

Thank you to Epic! for helping to make reading even more enjoyable!  You can learn more about Epic! and discover even more ideas for using it in the classroom at the Epic! Website, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and  Twitter.

If you are interested in having An Apple for the Teacher review your innovative product or book, please contact me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net. 

Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway - April 16, 2018

This giveaway has ended :(  Please head over to our giveaway page to enter our current giveaway.

Teacher Giveaway!

$25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Every week one lucky teacher gets to go on a Teachers pay Teachers shopping spree!  Will it be you this week?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card 

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 4/23/18 and is open worldwide.  

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers! 

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Green Highlighter Activity for Peer Tutoring

I have mentioned before how I like to give my students immediate feedback with self grading.  Another way I like to provide feedback AND encourage peer tutoring is with this green highlighter activity.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

I give my students a small number of problems to solve (usually no more than 5).  

As the first few students finish work, I check their work.  If they solved the problems correctly, I give them a green highlighter.  If not, they try their problems again.

The students who have green highlighters are then tasked with going around to help other students.

My only job during this process is to check completed work, my students with the green highlighters are tasked with tutoring and assisting other students until everyone is done.

If we have more time, I assign a few more problems.

A few things that I like about this process are:

* My fast finishers have something to do instead of sitting around waiting for other students to finish.  

* Students who peer tutor learn the concept even deeper as they teach it to others.  

* I am freed up to collect data regarding which students understand the concept and which students might benefit from re-teaching.

I also got to observe this activity in use during my visit to the Ron Clark Academy which re-affirmed my love for this method! 

Have you tried a method similar to this?  I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway - April 9, 2018

This giveaway has ended :(  Please head over to our giveaway page to enter our current giveaway.

Teacher Giveaway!

$25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Every week one lucky teacher gets to go on a Teachers pay Teachers shopping spree!  Will it be you this week?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card 

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 4/16/18 and is open worldwide.  

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway