We've all had that one very special teacher who made learning fun, encouraged us, challenged us, and had a huge impact on our lives, either directly or indirectly.
Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May and is the ideal time for you and your child to let a teacher know how special they are. Forget the Starbucks Gift Card — they’ll get enough of those from other kids.
Here are 10 Ways to Show Your Appreciation...
1.) Have your child write a handwritten note to the teacher, telling him or her one thing that they have learned from that teacher and why it matters to them. Or tell the teacher about a specific teaching style that the teacher used and how your child enjoys learning in that manner.
Download a free printable your child can fill out with memories from their school year to give to their teacher!
2.) Nominate the teacher for an award. If you know an educator who consistently goes above and beyond for their students and community, nominate them to the National Teacher's Hall of Fame.
Tell them you nominated them. They don’t need to win to feel appreciated. The simple act of nominating them expresses your appreciation for their efforts. Here are four Teacher Awards to which you can nominate your child’s teacher.
3.) Fill their classroom with supplies. You know, the ones they go out and buy with their own money. Tissues, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer tend to be high on the list.
4.) Find out their favorite things. Do you know anything about the teacher’s private life? Some schools keep a list in the office!
If they like to cook, put together a basket with one of your family’s favorite recipes and all the ingredients to make the dish. Buy a best-selling novel for the avid reader, a blank canvas for the painter, or a sleeve of golf balls for the golfer.
5.) Write a letter to the Principal and Superintendent explaining why you believe the teacher is exceptional. Use specific examples of how the teacher has influenced your child’s learning. Copy the teacher on the letter. Who doesn’t like to look great in front of their boss?
6.) Volunteer to clean the classroom on the last day of school. After the kids have gone, teachers are left to pack up their belongings and clean the classroom. Bring boxes and cleaning supplies to help your teacher get an earlier start to his/her summer.
7.) Pitch in with others for a big gift. It can be uncomfortable for a teacher to receive an expensive gift but not if it comes from the entire class. Coordinate with all the parents in the class to donate toward one bigger gift from the entire class such as a spa day gift card, dinner and a night at a swanky hotel, or tickets to a professional sporting event.
8.) Give an annual pass to something that the teacher can enjoy with family and friends.
- State or National Parks
- Zoo
- Museum (Science, Art, History, Children’s)
- Amusement/Water Park
- Aquarium
9.) Write the teacher a Letter of Recommendation. Many teachers take summer jobs and most employers appreciate Letters of Recommendation. If you know your teacher is going to look for work this summer, provide them with a Letter of Recommendation without them asking for it.
10.) For younger grades, buy a book for the classroom and have your child write inside the cover, “Donated to [teacher’s name] class by [child’s name].” This is a great way for a teacher to build up their library of classroom books.
And Here are a Few Gifts To Avoid...
I have several teachers in my family and I asked them to share what gifts they would suggest parents avoid getting for a teacher.
They prefaced their suggestions with the comment, “Teachers like to know they are appreciated so all gifts are appreciated. But if we had to suggest some things to stay away from….”
1.) Coffee cups. I read somewhere that this is the #1 gift given to teachers. My cousin, a teacher, said in her 10 years of teaching she has received well over 50 coffee mugs. What would you do with 50 coffee mugs?
2.) Anything scented. Scent is such a personal thing; both the scent itself and the strength of the scent. This means no bath salts, no candles, no lotions, etc.
3.) Baked goods. Teachers are people too. Some struggle with their weight. Others suffer from food allergies. Unless you know for a fact that the teacher enjoys what you’re thinking of making/buying, don’t do it!
4.) Knick-Knacks. This is the same as the coffee cups. Picture frames or signs with teacher sayings are cute when you’re shopping for a gift for a teacher, but again, imagine how many of these items a teacher with ten years’ experience has received.
Exception: If it’s for a first-year teacher, go for it, says my niece, also a teacher.
5.) Coffee or tea. Don’t assume that everyone drinks coffee or tea. And even if they do, do they prefer a breakfast blend or a robust dark blend? Best to avoid it altogether.
