22 Apple Gifts for Teachers They’ll Actually Use
An apple for the teacher is one of the oldest school traditions around, and it still works when the gift is something a teacher will actually use. These apple gifts for teachers lean that way: sticky notes, stamps, timers and coffee cups that earn a permanent spot on the desk, plus a few keepsakes for the last day of school or Christmas.
Most teachers already own a shelf of apple figurines, so the trinkets here are kept to the ones worth giving. If you need ideas beyond the apple theme for everyone else on your list, my gift ideas for everyone page covers the rest.
The 22 picks below are grouped into three sets: classroom and desk supplies, gifts just for the teacher, and keepsakes and Christmas ornaments. Whatever you choose, a note from your child makes it better, and this free teacher appreciation poem is an easy one to tuck in the bag.
Apple Gifts for the Classroom and Desk
These are the ones that get used every single school day, which is exactly why they make the best apple teacher gifts.
1
Post-it Apple Pop-Up Note Dispenser
If you only buy one thing from this list, make it this one. The weighted apple base keeps it from sliding around the desk, and it pops out one sticky note at a time, which is handy when a teacher is juggling a stack of papers with the other hand. It refills with standard 3×3 pop-up notes, so it keeps working long after the first pad is gone.Best for: Any grade level, any time of year
Buy on Amazon
2
Apple Wood Pencil Holders (2 Pack)
Two wooden apple cups means one for the teacher’s own pens and one for the pencil pile that grows on every classroom table. Each holder is about five and a half inches across, wide enough for scissors, markers and highlighters too.Best for: Elementary teachers with a reading table or small group station
Shop on Amazon
3
ExcelMark Apple Self-Inking Teacher Stamp
Teachers stamp a ridiculous number of papers, and a self-inking stamp saves them from digging out an ink pad every time. This one prints a small red apple and is good for thousands of impressions before it needs more ink. I especially like it for a new teacher who is still building up her stash of grading tools.Best for: Grading, homework charts and reading logs
Buy on Amazon
4
Red Apple Reward Stickers (576 Count)
Stickers disappear fast in an elementary classroom, and nobody turns down a refill. This pack has 16 sheets of small red apples that fit on behavior charts, spelling tests and the back of a hand.Best for: Preschool through third grade classrooms
Shop on Amazon
5
Gotcha Covered Apple Teacher Memo Pads (3 Pack)
Two full-size pads and one smaller pad, all with glue tops so the sheets tear off cleanly. They are practical for parent notes, sub plans and the running to-do list every teacher keeps, and the apple prints are cute without being over the top.Best for: Teachers who still like writing things down on paper
Buy on Amazon
6
Apple Paper Clips and Bookmarks (60 Count)
A small, cheerful add-on that slips into a card or a treat jar. They clip papers together like any other paper clip, and they also hold a page in a read-aloud book, which is how a lot of them end up being used.Best for: Stocking stuffers or a little extra tucked into a bigger gift
Shop on Amazon
7
Stainless Steel Red Apple Wind-Up Timer
A wind-up timer is a classroom workhorse for centers, test time and clean-up countdowns, and this one needs no batteries. The glossy red metal shell feels sturdier than the plastic timers that usually crack by spring.Best for: Kindergarten and elementary classrooms that run on rotations
Buy on Amazon
8
Apple 9 Inch Classroom Wall Clock
Big black numbers on a white face make this easy to read from the back row, and the apple shape gives the wall a little personality. It has a quiet sweep movement, so it will not tick through a spelling test, and it runs on one AA battery.Best for: A new teacher setting up a first classroom
Shop on Amazon
9
Pretend Play Apple Stand Printable
This one is from my own shop, and it is made for preschool and kindergarten dramatic play centers. The set includes the signs a play apple stand needs, like open and closed signs, an apple menu, a pay sign and a weight sign, and kids practice fine motor skills cutting the pieces out. It is an instant download, so it also works as a last-minute fall gift.Best for: Preschool and pre-K teachers planning an apple unit in the fall
Get the Printable
Apple Gifts Just for the Teacher
Not everything has to go in the classroom. These are for the teacher herself, for the coffee break, the drive home and the kitchen at the end of a long day.
10
Teaching Is a Work of Heart Apple Coffee Mug
A mug is a classic for a reason, and this one keeps the apple small: a red heart-shaped apple and one short line of text. It holds 13 ounces and is dishwasher and microwave safe, which matters when the coffee gets reheated three times before lunch.Best for: Pairing with a coffee shop gift card
Buy on Amazon
11
Apple and Pencil Glass Cups with Lids and Straws (2 Pack)
These 16 ounce glass cups come with bamboo lids, glass straws and little cleaning brushes, so they are ready for iced coffee on day one. One cup has an apple print and the other has pencils, which makes this an easy gift to split between two teachers.Best for: Iced coffee and water drinkers, or a co-teacher pair
Shop on Amazon
12
Yankee Candle Macintosh Large Jar Candle
Macintosh is Yankee Candle’s crisp apple scent, and the large jar burns for up to 150 hours. Most schools do not allow candles in the classroom, so think of this as a gift for the teacher’s home, especially in the fall.Best for: A fall or Christmas gift for her living room, not the classroom
Buy on Amazon
13
Apple Print Kitchen Towels (Set of 4)
Kitchen towels are one of those gifts that never sit unused in a closet. This set comes with four large tea towels in coordinating apple prints, so a teacher can keep a couple at home and bring one in for the classroom snack area.Best for: Teachers who bake or love fall kitchen decor
Shop on Amazon
14
Large Clear Apple Container Jar
The jar is really just the wrapping here. Fill it with her favorite candy, tea bags or hand-written notes from the class, and she can reuse the jar on her desk for paper clips or erasers once it is empty.Best for: A treat-filled class gift kids can help put together
Buy on Amazon
15
3D Red Apple Dangle Earrings
Teachers love themed earrings, and apples are an easy match for back to school, fall and the first week of May. These are resin and weigh only about five grams each, so they are comfortable through a full day on her feet.Best for: Teachers who like fun accessories on spirit days
Shop on Amazon
Apple Keepsakes and Christmas Ornaments
For the last day of school, a retirement or a teacher who made a real difference, these are the gifts meant to stick around for years.
16
Engraved Crystal Apple Paperweight (4 Inch)
This is the classic crystal apple, made more meaningful with the teacher’s name or a short message engraved on it. Because it is a bigger gift, it works best as a class gift where several families chip in.Best for: End of year class gifts, retirements and milestone years
Personalize on Amazon
17
H&D Yellow Crystal Apple Paperweight
A golden yellow take on the crystal apple that catches the light on a sunny windowsill. It is a little over two inches tall and comes in a gift box, so it is ready to hand over without wrapping.Best for: A smaller keepsake from one family
Buy on Amazon
18
Banberry Designs A Teacher’s Prayer Apple Plaque
This 7 inch apple-shaped plaque is printed with a prayer for teachers, and it can stand on a shelf or hang on the wall. It is a sweet pick for a teacher at a Christian school or a Sunday school teacher.Best for: Faith-based schools, Sunday school and homeschool co-op teachers
Shop on Amazon
19
Apple Photo Snow Globe
The apple twists apart to hold two photos, one on each side, and screws back together at the stem. Add a class picture on one side and a picture of your child with the teacher on the other. It is hard plastic rather than glass, so it can live on a busy desk.Best for: A personal end of year keepsake
Buy on Amazon
20
Old World Christmas Teacher’s Apple Glass Ornament
Old World Christmas ornaments are mouth-blown and hand-painted, and this one is a glossy red apple sitting on a stack of books. It feels special enough to come out of the ornament box every December for years.Best for: Christmas gifts for a teacher who decorates a big tree
Shop on Amazon
21
Tree Buddees Apple and Worm Teacher Ornament
A worm pops out of this resin apple holding a pencil, which makes it the silly option of the ornament bunch. Resin holds up better than glass if it gets knocked off a classroom tree.Best for: A lighthearted Christmas gift or a classroom tree
Buy on Amazon
22
Custom Teacher Apple Shaker Ornament
This wooden shaker ornament is made by a small Etsy shop and can be customized with the names of the students in the class. I especially like it as a group Christmas gift, since every child gets their name on it and the teacher gets a reminder of that particular class.Best for: A whole-class Christmas gift
Personalize on Etsy
Tips for Giving an Apple Teacher Gift
- Useful beats decorative. A sticky note dispenser or a stamp gets used every week. A third crystal apple usually ends up in a box.
- Go in on the bigger gifts. Engraved and personalized pieces make great class gifts when a few families split them, and the whole class can sign the card.
- Order personalized items early. Engraving and custom names add days to shipping, so plan ahead for Christmas and the last week of school.
- Keep classroom rules in mind. Candles and anything scented belong at home, and food gifts should be sealed and store-bought if the class has allergies.
- Add the words. A short, specific note about something the teacher did this year is the part most teachers keep.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! You'll also get regular recipes & printables to your inbox!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
A few questions parents ask about the apple teacher gift tradition and when to give one.
More Teacher and Apple Gift Ideas
- Thanksgiving Gift Ideas for Teachers
- The Best Owl Themed Teacher Gifts
- Halloween Gifts for Teachers
- Inspirational Quotes for Teachers (with a free printable)
Shop My Homeschool Room:
Here are a few homeschool room picks you can find on Amazon. Click any image to see it. Yes, these are affiliate links.
Want more learning without printing more pages?
If your little one is between 2 and 8, ABCmouse is a full online curriculum of learning games, books and puzzles, so the practice keeps going on the days you are out of ink. Take a look at ABCmouse
Prefer something that shows up in the mailbox? Highlights High Five is made for ages 3 to 5, and the classic Highlights magazine picks up from 6 to 12. See High Five | See Highlights
