The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation week. It’s a great reminder to take a moment and show support for educators. They have such a profound impact on our kids and our world!
Ask any teacher and they will tell you that simple, heartfelt gestures go a long way. Here are several ways to show your appreciation, during Teacher Appreciation Week, or anytime:
1) Give them a handwritten a letter. In this difficult year, put your heart-felt thoughts in writing. What about your child’s teacher stands out? What does their work mean to your child and your family? Ask your child to contribute to or write their own thoughts as well. Teachers save these letters to read during challenging times.
2) Make a video. Use your phone to capture a quick, fun video of your child saying what they have loved most about their teacher this year. Email it to their teacher.
3) Build a gift basket. Get together with a few families to put together a nice basket of gift items.
4) Create a thank you book. This is a great suggestion for the end of the school year, though it takes a little bit more logistical effort. Get a cute journal or notebook and have the class write personal thank you notes for their teacher.
5) Create a digital photo album. Ask families to email you photos of the kids from throughout the school year and put together a digital photo album using a service like Shutterfly.
Be sure to ask your child for input for what to do for their teacher(s). Help them brainstorm ideas and support what they decide to do to celebrate their teacher. A drawing? Baking cookies? A gift card and pretty mug? Involve your child in the steps that it takes to pull the gift together, encouraging them to take the lead.
If you need additional ideas, here is a creative list compiled for Teacher Appreciation Week 2022 with fun ideas you can utilize all year.
Take a moment to remind yourself of the importance of teachers. The book Because of a Teacher: Stories of the Past to Inspire the Future of Education describes teachers who were transformational for their students.