Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

Originally published on the I Earned It Blog.

Five Tips for Celebrating Teachers

It’s that time of the year again: Teacher Appreciation Week! Teacher Appreciation Week wasn’t always an entire week; it wasn’t until 1953, when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to dedicate a day to celebrating teachers, that National Teacher Day was started. Then, in 1984 the National Parent-Teacher Association expanded the holiday to the entire first week of May. So this year, the National Education Association wants us to do three things, tell teachers, “We will listen to them, we will stand with them, and together we will take action so that every student has a teacher who feels respected and supported.”

Here are five ways to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week:

1. Write a heartfelt thank-you note to a teacher.

Teaching is one of the most important and impactful jobs there is. After all, as it’s been said, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” With teachers playing such an integral role in our lives, spending an entire week showing them our appreciation only makes sense. What’s a better way to do so than writing a heartfelt thank-you note.

To write a heartfelt thank-you note, start with a greeting that expresses your appreciation. Clearly, state what you are thankful for and how your teacher impacted you. Then, add a personal touch by sharing a specific memory or detail that made the experience special. Finally, end with another expression of gratitude and a warm closing. Remember to be sincere and specific in your message.

2. Give the teachers in your life a gift.

Here are some of our favorite teacher appreciation gifts:

School supplies: Teachers could always use more supplies such as pens, pencils, markers or anything else they can use for the next school year.
Spa Stuff: One thing everyone learned during the Pandemic is that teaching is challenging and can be very stressful. Help your teachers relax by getting them spa items, such as lotions.
Gift Cards: If you’re looking for something your teacher can spend elsewhere, consider getting them a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant.

3. Organize an appreciation activity.

If you’re a school administrator, there are several appreciation activities you could organize for teacher appreciation week, such as:

Creating personalized thank you cards or notes from students and parents.
Organizing a special breakfast or lunch for teachers.
Providing small gifts or tokens of appreciation, such as flowers or snacks.
Hosting a school-wide assembly or event to honor teachers and their contributions.
Give teachers a break from their routine by inviting guest speakers or organizing fun activities.

4. Share your appreciation on social media.

Social media is an excellent tool for sharing positive experiences and gratitude. Which makes it the perfect spot to show appreciation for the teachers in your life. You could share a personal message of gratitude to a teacher who has impacted your life, a photo of a teacher who has inspired you, or a note of appreciation for all teachers in general. You could also share educational resources or articles highlighting the importance of teachers. And remember to use the hashtag #ThankATeacher.

5. Volunteer to help a teacher.

As the school year is ending, there are plenty of tasks and projects teachers may need assistance with. You could ask the teachers in your life what they could use help with or ask if you can help with the following:

End of the Year Party: Most teachers host an end-of-the-year party, typically from their own pocket. You could ask a teacher if you could buy anything for their end-of-the-year party or if you can help set up and run the party with them.
Cleaning the Classroom: While students get out of school early, teachers still have a lot of work to get done, from grading to cleaning up their classrooms. You could ask if you can help clean up and organize their classroom so it is ready for the summer.

Remember, even a small gesture can go a long way in showing your gratitude for a teacher’s hard work and dedication.