A pretty plant to adorn your teacher's desk will likely brighten her day and her spirits. You can buy a live variety if you wish, but a silk plant is often the best choice, as it is better equipped to handle the often inhospitable classroom environment, and survive winter break without watering.
Many teachers depend upon their daily brew to help them make it through their hectic day. Buy your teacher a coffee mug that reads "#1 Teacher," or expresses a similar pro-educator sentiment. This gift is particularly apt if you see your teacher toting a coffee cup around all day--you know the present will be put to good use.
Help your teacher stay on top of all of her work with a to-do list. These lists can be purchased at many stationery or book stores. Often, the list contains a decorative background and a bulleted set of lines on which your teacher can place her tasks that need to be accomplished.
In many schools, name tags are required for security purposes. Give your teacher a gift that turns an everyday name tag into an aesthetically pleasing accessory by buying her a name-tag holder. Beaded or decorated name tag holders can be purchased at many teacher supply or business uniform stores.
Give your teacher a tool she can use to praise her pupils by buying her a decorative stamp. Scrapbook or art supply stores offer an array of decorative stamps containing encouraging phrases or pleasing pictures. If you buy your teacher a stamp or stamp pad at the beginning of the year, you can continue adding to her stamp collection as the year progresses, providing her with a well-stocked assortment by year's end.