Best Teacher Appreciation Week Freebies & Deals | Free Food + More!
Celebrate your favorite educators with the best deals and freebies for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!
Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with these freebies & deals for educators! 🏫🚸📚
National Teacher Appreciation Week runs from Monday, May 4th, through Friday, May 8th, 2026.
Many restaurants and retailers are showing their gratitude with exclusive offers. Below, we’re sharing all the best National Teacher Appreciation Week offers that are available so far! Keep checking back for all the latest deals and freebies as the week progresses.
Thank a teacher with a creative gift idea paired with one of our free teacher appreciation printables!
THANK YOU, teachers, for all you do! 💖
Teachers can enter to win free Chipotle.
Through May 12th, 2026, teachers can enter to win one of 100,000 free Burrito e-Cards from Chipotle! At the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, 100,000 randomly-selected teachers will receive an email to verify their employment status via ID.me and claim their free food!
Possible free Chicken Sandwich or 8-Count Nugget from Chick-fil-A
Select Chick-fil-A locations often celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day by offering free chicken sandwiches and nuggets to teachers! The availability of this offer does vary by location, so check with your local Chick-fil-A to see how they’re celebrating teachers this year!
School employees can save 10% at Daiso.
From May 4th through May 10th, school employees with a valid ID can take 10% off their entire purchase at Daiso stores.
Insomnia Cookies is planning something special for Teacher Appreciation Week 2026!
Insomnia Cookies has something special planned for teachers from May 5th through May 12th. Last year, the offer was a buy one, get one free deal on their classic cookies (in-store only with a valid teacher ID).
Stop by Insomia during Teacher Appreciation Week 2026, or keep an eye on their socials to see how they’re celebrating teachers this year!
Free iced tea from McAlister’s Deli
From May 4th through May 8th, teachers can stop by their local McAlister’s for a free Sweet or Unsweet Tea – no purchase necessary! This offer is valid in-store for dine-in or takeout orders only, and you may be required to show your work ID to claim your free tea.
Teachers can get BOGO Burgers at Shake Shack.
From May 4th through May 12th, educators can get BOGO ShackBurgers or VeggieShacks with a valid ID at participating Shake Shack locations.
Teachers save 40% on Tarte Cosmetics.
For Teacher Appreciation Week 2026, Tarte Cosmetics is giving all K-12 teachers 40% off their purchase when they verify their employment through SheerID!
Free Breakfast Entree from Whataburger
On Thursday, May 7th, educators can stop by participating Whataburger restaurants to claim their choice of a free Breakfast on a Bun, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, or Breakfast Taquito. A valid school ID is required.
Kindergarten Mom here so new to all this, Do we get a gift for Teacher appreciation Day or do we need to do something for the whole week??? I am LOST
Hi,
Usually I send in one appreciation gift sometime during the week.
Teacher here, parents often do something small each day during the week (fav candy bar, fav drink, handwritten note/picture, new pens/post it’s and then at the end of the week a gift/gift card). Each family handles it differently but at my school that was the most common!
Anything is appreciated I’m sure! Just the fact that you acknowledge them is wonderful! And please don’t forget your school nurse! It’s also nurses week! They are forgotten most of the time.
I’m a middle school teacher, and the biggest thing is the thought! One gift would be lovely, but a drawing from the student or a little note from the parent would be just as sweet! I definitely would not feel pressure to get them something every day of the week.
I have been reading a lot about this on Pinterest and the number one teacher requested item out of all of the articles I’ve read are gift cards. Even if it’s just $5, something just for them. I do come from an area where they ask for something specific each day, however, where we are now they ask for nothing for teacher appreciation week. So, because I love my kids teachers and they are by far the best they’ve ever had, we are sending in something each day. It’s always the thought that counts, but specifically the articles say 70% of teachers would like gift cards. I’m not a teacher, just a caring parent so I had to research a bit. There are a ton of diy projects to do on Pinterest for teacher appreciation week as well and they are adorable. A lot of free printables too.
We do a little something each day, example favorite candy, drink, a sweet note. On Friday we send a card with a message inside from our family and a gift card to their favorite place.
As a K teacher :), one gift is plenty! I think it’s sweet to do something everyday but it feels like a lot to ask parents to do, and for me, a simple gift card or Starbucks card (even $5) is much more appreciated than all the other “stuff” that cost the parents money but I really can’t use. If not a gift card, I just love the sweet notes!
One day
2nd grade teacher here in Idaho. It’s rare and not expected here to get gifts from students during teacher appreciation week. I have only had a few over the years. I feel like teacher appreciation week is the week your district celebrates you. We have a luncheon from our superintendent and school board and gifts/treats from the PTO all week. Definitely don’t feel like you have to send gifts during teacher appreciation week but if you decide to we do of course super appreciate them!
Teacher of 30 years here. Last year was the first time that a parent gave me a gift every day of the week (and she is a teacher!) At my school most parents/children do nothing. A few send in a plant or candy or a nice card–and anything is loved! Some help contribute to whatever the PTO has put together. This and last year they set up a Sign Up Genius to help stock our fridge with a variety of drinks and provide snacks for us to munch on all week.
There isn’t anything that is EXPECTED for families to do–just do whatever is in your heart! 🙂
As a teacher, the PTO/PTA usually does something every day and parents usually give one gift (If they give anything at all). Stay away from mugs, school supplies, and “Best Teacher” items. Stick with gift cards or something personal if you know their favorite food/treat etc. It really is the thought that counts.
Mugs, school supplies and best teacher gifts are what I would love. NOT gift cards!!!!
Are these deals for substitute teachers too or permanent teachers. Thanks
Great question, AS! You could always double check with your locations to be sure on how they will honor it for you. ❤️
I’m hoping they’re for home schooling teachers too! 🙂
I used to homeschool my kids and now teach at their school, and I can say that I got these deals both when homeschooling and now when working at a school.
I always asked first and never was told no.
I work at a preschool. Most don’t do teachers week gift because end of the year is coming. But they do help send in stuff for a breakfast for us to enjoy at the beginning of the week. Of course there is left overs. I agree $5 gift cards are great. Remember not everyone loves plants, not everyone drinks coffee and not everyone needs another mug
I always send in one gift for the week. Typically a gift card. Now that I am a teacher at the school I thought it would be interesting to see what most people give. So far I’ve received all items for the classroom. While a gift card would be nice those classroom items are a blessing as well.
I’ve worked for over a decade as an Algebra cyber school teacher. Never got a gift from a single student even though I’m just as qualified (have 2 masters degrees). Cyber school teachers are not recognized for their hard work. Maybe I’ll buy myself a teachers apple mug that in-person teachers complain about.
It’s less common for teachers to get gifts in middle/high school, since kids have so many teachers compared to elementary school. It’s not just the cyber teachers. 🙂 I love the idea of treating yourself! After all, no one gets into teaching (or they shouldn’t at least) for the recognition! Signed, A fellow upper-grades teacher who has sent all kinds of gifts for my kid’s elementary teachers but has never received any
Don’t forget about your paras please!!! They work so hard too!
100% and school secretary and custodian!
And Librarians