Best Graduation Gifts for NEW TEACHERS!

[@kimkrentcil4581]

I’m 42 and going back in a building after being blessed to be a stay at home/work from home mom. My kids are now 10/13. When I left in 2013 my son was 10 months old. I am excited after being a virtual grade 1 teacher the last 2 years. If you need someone to gift- me!!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Hi Kim! First of all, thank you so much for watching and commenting! I wish you nothing but the BEST of luck as you transition back into the classroom! That's fantastic that you were able to stay and home and raise your kids and then recently work virtually for the past two years. I'm sure it will be a big transition going back into a physical classroom but I hope you love it! 🖤

[@mckee309]

Lee Valley (in Canada) has the best magnets for a new teacher gift. They are expensive but anchor charts stay put as long as you need them to, nothing slides down.

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

That's great to know! Good magnets can DEFINITELY be hard to find! I remember the first set of magnets I got for my classroom were horrible and kept sliding down the board. Thanks for your recommendation!

[@hollywilkinson9611]

I am an elementary school librarian in Canada and love all of these products! it was a great day getting my laminator! i use it so often. My mom even got me laminating sheets for my birthday (plus a Michaels GC) Flair pen team over here! 🙌🙌

[@kristinmogenson9798]

Having a personal laminator was a great way to make friends at college as well

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

HAHA! Yes... that makes so much sense! I had a printer in college and felt super fancy for it 😂

[@russellpalatiere8852]

I love the ideas. Good office supplies are probably the smartest idea (most think they are fully provided but they are not the best quality). Technology is perfect too (love a wireless presenter that runs on USB). I’m actually preparing to shop for a good friend when she graduates next year! She and I have been friends for the last three years and I have been toying with what to get for her (she already has your book)! This video has definitely helped!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Aww, thank you so much Russell! You're right... the office supplies that are provided (IF they are provided) are never the best quality. That's so awesome that you're doing that for your friend... I'm sure she really appreciates that and I'm happy this video could give you some ideas to go off of! I hope you have a GREAT rest of your week! 🥰🎉

[@amandawilkins8403]

I don't know anyone who is graduating and starting a career in teaching, but I still had to watch because a) I love all your content b) I have had short-term student teachers in the past. c) These are great ideas for teaching in general. d) Gifting is fun! Also, I agree with you so much about the benefits of the laminator, especially for materials that the students will write on with dry erase markers. A paper cutter is also a must, as you said, because those huge paper cutters at school are ineffective. I can't wait for your summer book club; it is motivating me to keep pushing toward the end of the school year. I also agree that quality school supplies are worth the extra chunk of change. They will last longer and make you happy when you use them. For one teacher who came to my class for a college field experience, I gave her some Astrobright paper and cardstock. She loved that, too, since schools don't always supply cardstock or colored paper. I laughed out loud when you mentioned the Flair vs. Ink Joy debate. So true! I am on the Ink Joy side, but I also love the Pilot FriXion pens that erase. I just started HP Ink this year with a new printer and I think it is amazing!!! I love not getting stuck without ink and having to rush to stock up. I use it for all color copies. Finally, this video made me think of my own student teaching experience. Along with school supplies, my cooperating teacher also gave me a set of juggling balls because I told her once that I felt like teaching was like a juggling where you have to keep everything managed and up in the air at one time without dropping anything. I can't do a traditional juggling act, but I am trying my best with teaching!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Aww, you're the BEST Mandy! Thank you for watching and commenting as always, even if the content isn't exactly what you personally need. YES! A thicker lamination is essential for anything that you want to use dry erase markers on... it makes a huge difference. I can't wait to jump into the summer book club too and I'm so excited that you'll be in it (once you finish school obviously) 🥰🎉 Ahhh.... Astrobrights was so close to making my list of top 5 for the exact reason you mentioned! Also, I too love the FrXion pens that erase... I remember finding them my second or third year of teaching and I was like, "Where have these been my whole life?!" 😅 The fact that they erase is perfect for grading because we all know that we sometimes make mistakes, especially if you're having a grading party and grading LOTS at once. Oh my gosh... that's such a clever gift idea! I still can't juggle, but as you mentioned, it's a great reminder!

[@Erin_C1010]

I love my wireless presenter which I bought a couple years ago from your recommendations!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

YES! It's one of those items that you wonder, "How did I live without this?!" I'm happy you love yours too! 🥰🖤

[@xNCFOREVERx]

I agree to all of them! I haven't bought the book she wrote yet, but all her videos are gold so I bet the book is amazing too.

[@shayne5246]

I love all your videos, Michelle you’re such a special person

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Aww, thank you so much for saying that Shayne! 🥰

[@shayne5246]

You’re very welcome is the truth I wish I could’ve had you as a teacher you would have been amazing I envy all the students that got to have you

[@shayne5246]

@@PocketfulofPrimary I am so so honored that you responded to my comment so thank you❤️

[@LayDiviana]

Thanks for the book recommendations! Excited for my first year teaching, but I’m very nervous! The books will help! ❤

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Aww, thank you so much for your kind words Diana! I'm happy this gave you some ideas! Don't worry... it's perfectly normal to feel nervous. You're nervous because you care and want to do well. Hopefully my book along with the others I recommended will help ease those nerves just a little bit for you!

[@frenchwithmadameg1116]

Great ideas not only for graduates, but also for veteran teachers like me! I am 100 percent team multiple laminators. I have a school one and a home one and it's a game changer. There is just something so satisfying about laminating and cutting. I love my paper cutter to that I have at school (so much so that I bring home over the summer), but I like that half size paper cutter and I might invest in one of those. Ok, so now to the things I will most definitely get from this list. Those scissors , stapler and staple remover! The magnet that grabs the staple! That alone makes me want to get one. I also need to get a new clicker and I would love the chargeable one! Thank you so much for your dedication to supporting teachers. You know I am a HUGE FAN and I can't wait for next week! Also, have fun on your trip this week! I will continue following on instagram I've been commenting, you have been responding, have you figured out who I am yet? ;)

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Ahh... thank you so much as always Valérie! 🥰 I totally agree that having multiple laminators is a game changer... it's one of those things that seems unnecessary until you get multiple and realize it is SO useful to have them in different places like school and home! I love that you were able to get some ideas for things you need even as a veteran teacher... I mean, we all deserve a gift at the end of the school year, right?! 😂 Thank YOU so much for always watching and commenting every single week... you're the sweetest! And yes... I'm pretty sure I have a good idea 😉

[@betsyfernandez1104]

Great ideas!Thank you Michelle! ❤

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Thank you so much Betsy! I'm happy you enjoyed it! 🥰

[@leighsirmans428]

For printers, look at the Epson Eco Tank printers!!! It is great and very cost-effective. You get the quantity of a toner printer but the refills are so cheap!

[@annestankiewicz8755]

Agree 100% plus the ink last forever. I print a lot and am still on the original bottles from 3 years ago.

[@leighsirmans428]

@anne Stankiewicz same! I've only had to refill the black one time and I was literally printing class sets of stuff at home plus things for college classes.

[@colleensedote1901]

Yes, Epson Eco Tank is the best. I bought mine a year ago, and haven’t had to replace my ink yet.

[@galehoag2264]

Epson Eco Tank for sure!!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

That's great to know and hopefully everyone reading this can decide which option would be best for them! I've always heard great things about the Eco Tank printers. I've been team HP for 10 years now and still love mine so it sounds like both are great choices!

[@jackier143]

Michelle, did you deliberately avoid saying which side of the pen line you fall on? 😆 You meant to say Flair, right? Because they are the BEST! In all seriousness, you are totally right about good scissors, staplers, and tape dispensers being super important and worth spending money on. I left the classroom a year ago after fifteen years teaching high school, and those were some of my most precious items to pass on to other teachers!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

LOL! Honestly Jackie... I kind of love both 😂 If I HAD to choose just one, I would say I'm team Flair Pen. BUT... I do love the Ink Joys because they're clickable and sometimes that's more convenient 😅 Thank you for watching and commenting! 🥰 I'm happy you agree about the importance of having high quality office supplies!

[@jrock1030]

Bought a new clicker but definitely retuning it for the dinostrike!!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

You won't regret it! The Dinostrike is 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Rechargeable, clip to attach to a shirt or lanyard, AND a built in mouse... what else could you want?!

[@xNCFOREVERx]

do the scissors work for lefties? My hands hurt even after 3 minutes of cutting

[@whitetyger06]

Yes to all these things, also I'm team inkjoy pens, I'm sorry I don't like the way flair pens write for me!

[@erikwallis153]

Hey Michelle hope all is well.good ideas

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Thank you so much Erik! I hope all is well with you too! 🥰

[@madisonimes6727]

I’m looking to be and elementary teacher!

[@mzzzzzzday]

The best gift to give a new teacher is a gift card!

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Definitely! I mentioned that at the beginning. But, I know some people prefer to give a physical gift that can be opened as opposed to just a gift card 🥰

[@AidenHinojosaMatthews_1]

i got you to 1,00 views

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Thank you for watching and commenting Aiden!

[@jackalex]

Love the gift ideas! Really great things to get!🤍 also, last day of school for students in my district today!!🎉

[@PocketfulofPrimary]

Aww, thank you so much Jack! I appreciate it and hope you had a great last day! 🎉

[@breehill9042]

This is perfect timing. I accepted the offer for my first year teaching position today!! Have no idea what I need for my classroom. 🩷