The end of the summer holidays is all about buying exercise books and indoor shoes – but the first day of school is also a good opportunity to tell the new class teacher that you appreciate their work. A gift for a teacher at the start of the year works differently from one in June: it is not a thank-you, but a welcome. And that is exactly why it tends to be accepted much more easily.
How to choose a gift that will not just gather dust in the staff room
Teachers receive gifts in waves and in large numbers – before Christmas, on Teachers' Day (28 March in the Czech Republic), before the end-of-year reports. Most of them fall into two groups: things that get eaten and things that end up in a cupboard. If you want to choose something from the third, smaller group, follow three guidelines.
Think in terms of the whole year. A September gift has the advantage that the teacher has ten months ahead in which to use it. A notebook in which they will jot down notes from staff meetings all year has a completely different fate from a box of chocolates.
Go for a small gesture, not a high value. An expensive gift puts the teacher in an awkward position, and many schools have restrictions in their internal rules. The ideal is something that delights through its idea and craftsmanship, not its price tag. A joint gift from the whole class, with each family chipping in about €2, is therefore safer than an individual present.
Personal does not mean intimate. An engraving with the class name, the school year or a short message from the children works brilliantly. Perfume, cosmetics or clothing, on the other hand, are too personal a choice for a relationship that is professional.
One more thing is worth mentioning, as it is often forgotten: not every teacher welcomes gifts. Some refuse them on principle, others have their hands tied by school regulations. If you are not sure, ask the class parent representative or the staff room in advance – you will spare yourself an awkward moment in front of twenty pairs of children's eyes. The safest option remains a joint gift from the whole class of symbolic value, handed over publicly.
And a word on timing. The first day of school tends to be hectic – the teacher is dealing with timetables, textbooks and tearful first-graders. Handing over a gift therefore often works better on the second or third day, once the class has settled a little. For a new teacher, the first parents' evening can also work well, as there is room for a calmer conversation.
🌳 Looking for a gift with your own text? In our online configurator you can design an engraving for a wooden product yourself – a name, the class, the school year or a message from the children.
Browse gifts with your designSix ideas that really get used at school
1. A wooden notebook with a name and the school year
The most practical choice of all. Teachers are always writing – minutes from staff meetings, lesson preparation, observations about pupils, plans for school trips. A wooden notebook with solid wood covers lasts the whole year in a bag and looks quite different from the plastic folders from the stationery shop.
A name works well for the engraving, with the class and school year below it, for example "Class 3B, 2026/2027". In ten years the teacher will have a row of notebooks on the shelf, each belonging to a different year group – something an ordinary notebook cannot achieve.
2. A pencil holder for the class's shared crayons
A small thing that teachers do not buy themselves, because classroom equipment comes out of the school budget and there is usually no room in it for such items. Yet many teachers buy classroom supplies out of their own pocket – a gift that saves them this expense is therefore more welcome than it might seem.
In primary school, crayons, scissors and felt-tip pens are forever rolling around the desks. A wooden pencil holder for the teacher's desk or the art corner solves some of that chaos and, unlike a plastic cup, lasts more than one year.
This gift makes most sense as a joint present from the whole class – it serves the children as much as the teacher.
3. A name sign for the staff room door
Especially for a new teacher who has just joined the school, a name plate for the door is a symbolic welcome. A wooden sign with text looks far better than the slip of paper in a plastic sleeve that hangs on most doors.
You can choose just the name and subject, or add a small motif – musical notes for music, a leaf for biology, a cogwheel for physics.
4. Magnets for the board
A practical little thing that teachers use every day and practically never have enough of. A set of wooden magnets for holding up drawings, the timetable and noticeboard materials is an inexpensive gift that gets a lot of use.
In primary school, magnets with animal or fairy-tale motifs are especially appreciated, as they can also be used in lessons.
5. Bookmarks for the whole class
A reverse scenario: a gift the teacher receives and passes on. A set of wooden bookmarks, one for each pupil, is useful in reading workshops or as a reward for finishing a book.
If a group of parents buys them, each bookmark can be personalised with the child's name – and the first day of school instantly has a little handing-out ceremony.
6. A gift voucher, when you are not sure
Is a new teacher joining whom none of the parents know yet? A gift voucher is a solution that puts no one in an awkward situation. You can add a wooden greeting card signed by the whole class – and it is precisely that signed card that teachers tend to keep.
Tip for handing it over: It works best when a pair of children hands over the gift on behalf of the class, not a parent. A short message that the pupils come up with and sign themselves carries more weight than the most expensive wrapping. And if you are planning the gift for the first day of school, order well in advance – personalised engraved products are made to order and demand rises in August.
Selected ideas from our workshop
Frequently asked questions
Is it appropriate to give a teacher a gift right at the start of the school year?
Yes, as long as it is a small gesture without financial weight. A gift at the start of the year works as a welcome, not as a favour in return, which is why it tends to be accepted more easily than a gift before the end-of-year reports. It is best handed over on behalf of the whole class rather than individually.
What is a reasonable price for a teacher's gift?
For a gift from an individual pupil, keep to a few euros – roughly up to €10–15. For a joint gift from the whole class, it is common for each family to contribute about €2–4. The idea matters more than the amount.
What suits a teacher of first-graders?
Practical aids that will be used in the classroom all year – wooden name signs for the desks, magnets for the board or a pencil holder for shared crayons. The first year of school means a lot of organisation, and such things make the work easier.
How long does it take to make an engraved gift?
We make personalised products to order, so allow for a longer delivery time than for items in stock. If you are planning the gift for the first day of school, order well in advance – demand for engravings rises in August.
And what should I give a teacher at the end of the year?
At the end of the year the focus is on saying thank you, so keepsakes tend to work better than practical aids. We have put together ideas in a separate article on end-of-year gifts for teachers.
What gifts for teachers can I find at AMADEA?
In our sheltered workshop we make wooden notebooks, pencils and pencil holders, signs with text, bookmarks and magnets. Most of them can be personalised with an engraved name or a short message directly in our online configurator.
🌳 A gift that lasts the whole school year. Notebooks, pencil holders and signs made of Czech wood – with an engraving based on your own design.
Go to gifts with your designAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.