Every school has that one teacher. The teacher whose been there so long, they even taught some of your classmates’ parents. You’re pretty sure they were there when the school first opened its doors, and that they’ll still be there well after you and your classmates are long gone.
But there does come a day in every teacher’s life when it’s time to hang up their pointer and retire. If you know a teacher getting ready to leave, you’re probably looking for a gift to help them celebrate.
Here are 21 unique ideas for retiring teachers to help them enjoy their lives outside the schoolroom (believe it or not, they don’t live there!)
Now that they don’t have any papers to grade or lessons to plan, they have so much more time to try new activities. But as anyone who knows a teacher will tell you, good luck getting them anywhere if they haven’t had their caffeine!
This insulated stainless steel tumbler proudly declares that “The Legend Has Retired,” so everyone at sunrise yoga knows just who they’re in the presence of. It holds 16 oz and is available in pink or black.
Maybe your soon-to-be retiree has no plans of getting up until well after the sun. No matter what time their day starts now, congratulate them on their newfound freedom and help them kick off their morning with coffee and a chuckle. This 11 oz mug reads “Retired Teacher: Every Child Left Behind.”
Because no matter how much they loved shaping young minds, they are enjoying some well-deserved “me time” now. Perfect for your favorite wise guy. It’s also dishwasher and microwave safe.
No, they’re not going to proofread your book report for you. But they will still probably correct your grammar on Facebook. For the retiring teacher who has circled a whole library’s worth of spelling errors in red pen.
“Retried Teacher. Retied Teacher. Retired Teacher. I’m Done Teaching” is printed on both sides of this 11 oz mug. Nothing tells your favorite retiring teacher you love them like letting them know they are officially off the hook for making the same mistakes they spent their entire career correcting.
All jokes aside, teachers are heroes. As this 15 oz mug so eloquently says, “Never forget the difference you’ve made. Thank you for everything. Happy retirement.” If you want to let them know how sincerely grateful you are for all their years of nurturing young minds, and still get them their morning coffee (seriously, teachers love their caffeine), this mug is a great addition to their pantry.
Even though it’s lovingly handcrafted, it’s still dishwasher and microwave safe. You can even have it personalized! They won’t be able to tell if they’re all warm inside from this cute mug, or the coffee they’re drinking.
Now that they’ve got all this free time on their hands, they can finally start that garden they’ve always wanted! This little 4″ cube planter will get them started, and give them a confidence boost by reminding them “You’re the Best Teacher of All Thyme.”
The set comes with a durable, cube-shaped wooden planter box, thyme seeds, and peat pellets. Instructions are included on the box, just make sure you remind them to read and follow all directions carefully.
They’ve got lots of things to be carrying around now: their latest knitting project, a planner to keep track of their thriving social life, some snacks for them (no they didn’t bring enough to share with everyone). But one thing they’re not carrying around is your homework.
Replace their worn-out school bag with this fresh cotton canvas one that proudly declares “This Bag Contains Absolutely Nothing Urgent Mind Numbing or Stressful #retiredlife.”
Now that they don’t have to rush anything, make sure they’re not rushing to finish their drink before it gets warm. This cooler will keep their canned drink insulated, so they can savor it. You can pick their favorite color, or the colors of their now former school, from almost 30 different options. Choose eany color of vinyl for the text: “Retired! Not My Problem Anymore.”
A beautiful piece of decor to remind a retired teacher that they’re leaving behind a legacy that will outlive them by decades. This hand-carved resin decorative stone features a hand painted apple tree with the quote: “Teachers plant the seeds of knowledge that grow forever.” It can be placed outside in a garden or under a tree, or anywhere inside their home as a plaque.
For the teacher who can’t wait for the day they no longer have to mind their manners. Now that every day is casual Friday, they’ll get a lot of use out of this shirt that reminds everyone “School’s Out Forever. Retired and Loving It” It’s made from 100% high-quality cotton for their comfort and available in different colors.
For the former teacher who’s planning to spend their retirement flexing their culinary muscles. They can display the laser engraved “Happy Retirement” side as decor or a serving platter, or use it as a traditional cutting board. It’s handmade from flexible bamboo wood with a high-quality finish. It lays flat to the counter so it won’t slip and is resistant to knife scarring.
To remind them how many bright minds they’ve inspired over the years. This rustic tea light candle is hand-carved from natural maple wood and each one is a unique piece of art. They’re available in a variety of designs, or you can choose your own personal message to be engraved.
Add the retiree’s name, years teaching, school, and even who it’s from, so they’ll always remember who they left an impact on. It measures 6.5″ L x 2″ W x 6.5” H and comes with a tea light included.
“I came. I taught. I retired.” Any teacher would be delighted to receive one of these super comfortable Bella t-shirts as a gift, but your favorite history teacher will find it especially humorous! (It’s a Julius Caesar reference. We promise not to tell them if you didn’t recognize it.) It can be purchased in two different styles, plus the design is also available as a sweatshirt. Pick from 8 different colors as well.
A great way to wave goodbye to the teacher whose going to be spending a lot of time by the ocean now that they don’t have to go to school every day. This “Beaching Not Teaching” sign is handmade from handpicked natural wood, so no 2 signs are the same. Each piece is lightly sanded to reveal the natural grain, rubbed with a rustic stain, and finished with a UV protectant sealer.
It comes packaged in biodegradable packing peanuts and recycled boxes, a bonus for the teacher who was always reminding everyone where the recycling bin was. They’ll even gift wrap it for you!
Now that they are retired, they are kicking their feet up and getting some well-earned rest and relaxation. If you even think about asking them to do something, these socks will remind you that they are off the clock forever. They clearly read “RETIRED TEACHER” on the bottom just in case anyone forgot. These unisex socks are made from a cotton blend and fit women’s shoe sizes 4-13 and men’s shoe sizes 5-12.
So they can chronicle all the books they’re reading for fun and not for class! Perfect for any teacher whose “To Be Read” list has been growing longer by the year.
My Book Journal: A 100-Book Reading Diary for Bibliophiles gives them plenty of space to record their thoughts on those first hundred books, plus a monthly book challenge, suggestions for both classics and popular genre titles, and book-club questions! There are even fun top 10 lists for them to fill out.
Another great idea for a retiree whose love of books doesn’t end in the classroom. This handmade wooden bookmark is printed on maple wood veneer and each piece is completely unique! It comes with a beautiful message and you can add your teacher’s name under the beautiful flower engraving. They even come packaged and ready to gift.
It’s all fun and games now that they’re retired! Remind everyone with this rustic handmade “Let the recess begin” sign. Customize it with your teacher’s retirement date! You can pick the month and year or just the year. The crackled warm white background gives it a homey feel and the rusty star accent finishes it off nicely. It comes with a black frame and a tan or gray stripe around the text. This sign measures 6″x25”.
Your favorite retiring teacher has almost certainly had their share of laughs and had to put up with a good deal of shenanigans (from both the students and the faculty) over the course of their career. This second edition of The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons, updated in 2012, includes over 100 cartoons highlighting the emotional highs and lows of being a teacher.
This book was compiled by The New Yorker’s own cartoon editor Robert Mankoff and features an introduction by celebrated cartoonist Lee Lorenz. This is the perfect gift to help them reflect back on their career with fondness and humor.
For the former teacher who’s most excited about the fact they no longer have to wait for summer to go on vacation. Reader’s Digest’s The Most Scenic Drives in America details 120 spectacular American road trips from Florida to British Columbia, Hawaii to Maine. In this book, they’ll find routes for their next cross-country road trip or back roads to explore in their own state.
Routes are grouped by Western, Mountain, Central, and Eastern, so they can easily narrow their route down from the general region they want to explore. Each route also includes information on mileage, the best season to visit, nearby attractions and special events, and even tourism websites to visit for more information.
The perfect gift to let them know you understand that just because they’re done working, doesn’t mean they’re done living.
A great last-minute gift if you want something personal but don’t have time to wait for shipping. These signs are designed from the artist’s own photographs and personalized with your teacher’s name and your choice of one of 4 inspiring quotes.
You can also write in your own special quote to make it even more memorable. It can even be designed with custom dimensions to fit into any frame of your choice.
A stylish, hard-to-misplace way for them to keep track of all their post-retirement plans and wishes. It’ll also serve as a conversation starter for all the entertaining they can do now. They’ll have a perfect Segway to show off those renovations they’ve been making to the spare bedroom or a reason to bring out the photos from their Mediterranean cruise last month.
Most importantly when they see it every day, it’ll remind them that they’re “retired from work, not from life.”
21 Witty and Gag Gifts for Fishermen Fishing is not just a hobby; it is a stress-buster for many people. It is an activity that allows you to let go of your inhibitions and be yourself. Fishing helps evoke the child within you, as you experience immense happiness during this activity. Do you know of
21 Gag Gifts for Lawyers The profession of lawyers is quite stressful. Lawyers have to do a lot of research to ensure that they can argue well in court. Research and analysis take up a major part of their lives. It is quite difficult for them to find humor in their everyday stressful lives. So,
23 Gifts for Drama Students Do you have a classmate, friend, child, or loved one who also happens to be a drama student? Is an event that calls for gifting coming up? If you are nodding, this piece is here to help you. There is that joy that comes with gifting someone you love and
Funny Gift Ideas for Chefs – 27 Witty Ideas Do you have a loved one who is a chef whom you need to get a gift for due to an upcoming occasion in their life like their promotion, celebration of a new job, birthday, Christmas, et cetera? Or perhaps your husband, or your sister-in-law, or
Funny Gift Ideas for New Drivers – Best 27 Ideas Driving a car can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for those who have never driven before. The prospect of knowing how to navigate around other drivers, traffic, and pedestrians safely can be overwhelming for most first-time drivers. Fortunately, there are a variety of new drivers’-specific
24 Gifts for Political Science Majors Selecting an ideal present for political science majors is not easy. It’s because they are ready to judge any and everything given to them. This might sound like a problem to others, but political science majors have a very high opinion of themselves. Therefore, they are selective. But don’t
Gift Ideas for Marine Biologists – Best 27 Ideas The world is a crazy place, and the oceans are no exception. The oceans are so dynamic that they can sometimes feel like a third space. That’s why it’s important to have ideas for things that everyone can be creative with and inspire in others. There
Gift Ideas for a Landscaper – 27 Special Ideas The best way to show someone you care is with a gift. You know, the gift that says “I love you” without saying anything. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive or detailed. It can be as simple as a card or as complex as a
21 Awesome Gag Gifts for Teachers Teachers are our second mothers, undoubtedly. They deserve all the love and respect from us. More often than not, their job is underrated. If you want to bring a smile to your teacher’s faces, and appreciate them for the great work that has been doing, here are some interesting
21 gift ideas for anthropologists Anthropologists are people who study human nature and history. From Darwin to any latest evolutionary theory – anthropologists know it all. History has been a part of their lives since childhood, and unlike most of us, they actually loved the subject and wanted to know more about it. Be it
24 Gift Ideas for Sax Players Are you friends with a saxophone player whom you want to give a memorable gift? Are the available sax player gift options confusing you? If so, you have come to the right place. To make your saxophone gift shopping easy and fun, we have mentioned some great gift ideas.
Gift Ideas For Theater Students – Best 27 Ideas Theatre students are a unique breed of individuals who are passionate about the arts and are constantly honing their craft. As such, they require special gifts that cater to their specific needs and interests. Whether they are just starting out or are seasoned veterans, there is
30 Gift Ideas For Lawyers and Law School Students Choosing a special gift for a lawyer or a Law School student is not an easy mission to accomplish. The practitioners of law are considered to be too serious, too busy, too conservative and stubborn as mules. Nevertheless, it’s possible to defy their imagination and astonish
21 Gifts for Computer Science Students Giving away something to a computer scientist s a hard task, as their work is specifically designed for them to have an eye to detail. After all, not all geeky and nerdy gifts tap into the specialized nature of their work and coding. That’s why we’ve lined up a
Gift Ideas for Chinese Exchange Students The Chinese culture has a great belief in the tradition of giving and receiving gifts. When you exchange gifts with a person, you also exchange the values, traditions between each other. It establishes/re-establishes or makes your bond stronger. Having an exchange student indulges you in a dilemma if he/she
Nurses are synonyms for service. They are quoted as a rank higher than the queen. We have regard for this profession. These feelings should be put into action to let them know how valued they are. After all the toil, most of their day goes in nursing sick people back to health. Nursing professors make
37 Gift Ideas For Professors Finding that perfect gift idea for your favorite professor can be a stressful and tiring process. You want to make the gift meaningful, memorable and maybe practical if possible. So in order to save you time, I will lay out 37 unique and excellent (in my mind at least) gift
Gift Ideas for a Garbage Man – 27 Quirky Ideas Our garbage collectors have always been belittled by our society. They are being isolated and discriminated against because of their nature of work. They have developed a sense of inferiority to those people who kept on bullying, shaming and humiliating them. People tend not to
Funny Gift Ideas for Hairdressers – 27 Unique Ideas In the world of beauty, trust is the key to success. Whenever you venture into a new beauty salon or shop, you need to trust the hairdressers. If you want them to trust you, you need to trust them first. So, what can you get your
Gift Ideas for Beekeepers – Best 27 Ideas Beekeeping has been around for thousands of years ago, and the hobby has only gained in popularity over time. If you have someone on your holiday gift list who is interested in beekeeping and all things honey-related, check out this list of the top 27 best gifts
Gifts for Farmers – 21 Gift Ideas If you ate today, thank a farmer! Even though we’ve come a long way from the days of Little House on the Prairie, farmers are still responsible for most of the meat, produce, dairy, and grains on our plates every day. If you swing by your local farmers’
Funny Gift Ideas for a Psychiatrist – 27 Jolly Ideas Keeping our mental health in check should be a priority. Especially now that we’re still facing the pandemic, we should visit the nearest shrink that could help us cope and be more mentally stable. It’s not something that we need to be embarrassed about because
Gift Ideas for Stock Traders – 27 Unique Ideas Trading stocks has earned a reputation over the years as one of the best ways which can help turn you into a millionaire, so it is hardly surprising that many people have gotten interested to get into it. Many different characters have also been involved with
21 Gifts For a Pilot Dad You don’t need any special day to tell your dad how much he means to you. While some people wait for Father’s Day or birthdays to express their love for their fathers, others are not very good at expressing their love. A nod and a hug are all that
Opening Night Gifts for Male Actors Actors are people who work hard just to entertain us. In other words, they alter their personality and lives completely to be how we want them to appear on the screen. The little we can do as the audience is to appreciate them for their tireless efforts—bringing the perfect
25 Gifts for Daycare Teachers Daycare teachers take special care of our toddlers a job we all know it’s hard in its own right. Sometimes they cry, fight or just tell for no reason, and it’s a teacher’s responsibility to find a way to calm our babies, figure out what’s going on and help them
Gifts For West Point Cadets – 20 Unique Ideas A gift should not be just a decorative item but should be durable, high quality, and unique. Always try to gift something which makes the receiver happy. Gifts make your bond stronger and create a memory for the receiver for a lifetime. When you gift something
Gift Ideas for Massage Therapists – 27 Unique Ideas Massage therapists work hard to help people relax and alleviate pain, but they often don’t get the thanks or recognition they deserve. They often work long hours and have busy lifestyles, so it can be difficult to figure out what to get them as a holiday
Best Gifts for Submariners – 20 Unique Ideas Gifts are our ways to thank someone for the relationship, love, and respect we have for others. They re-connect the bond between the giver and receiver. They reflect both the person who gifts and the one who receives. When you have to choose a gift for someone,
Funny Gift Ideas for Plumbers – 27 Wacky Ideas It’s that time of year again, the holiday season has arrived and with it comes all sorts of gifts to buy for your loved ones. Plumbers are an integral part of everyday life, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. While many of us only think
