How to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is the first full week of May every year. As the school year winds down, you'll find this is the ideal time to thank teachers for their hard work over the last several months. Make sure the teachers in your community get the recognition they deserve for everything they do for children.

Collaborate with the school's parent-teacher organization

Every school has a parent-teacher organization that handles large events for students and teachers. The most impactful events for Teacher Appreciation Week are usually organized through this group. Anyone interested in helping make special events happen for the holiday would do well to start with these individuals and see what they have planned. If the group needs ideas, here are some starting points to work with:

• Have children record messages of thanks and work these into a teacher appreciation video or splice them into the musical breaks in a sentimental song. Share the finished piece on social media or with a local news or radio station.
• Contact local businesses and have them adopt a teacher or two by posting a special bulletin board for the individual. Have students and parents contribute notes, drawings, and cards to display.
• Host special meals throughout the week for educators, such as a breakfast buffet or special lunches.
• Let the teachers luxuriate in something special. Hire a massage therapist to give shoulder massages before or after school and during lunch breaks or work periods.
• Ask local businesses to offer special deals throughout the week, such as free coffee or discounted donuts. Some businesses may offer to bring these items in while others might provide a coupon or simply run a promotion for anyone with a school ID.
• Host an awards ceremony for teachers instead of students. Encourage students to vote for different awards, and have fun handing out accolades that are both playful and heartwarming.
• Help kids get to know their teachers, and shine a spotlight on each one by putting together displays with their baby pictures, photos of their pets and home life, and information about their hobbies.
• Deliver bouquets to all the teachers, or decorate the staff lounge with flowers.

"Encourage kids in all grades to verbally thank their teachers."

Help your child make a card

One of the best ways parents and children can show gratitude for their teachers is with a handwritten note. Cards and letters are some of the most treasured items that educators receive. These items are highly personalized, so each one is unique not only to the teacher but to the family's relationship with them. Each child has unique impressions, experiences, and memories that no other student can share. 

Parents can write personal notes and cards to their children's teachers as well. These can carry a lot of meaning in instances where the teacher has had an impact on the child that the child cannot quite articulate. Many instructors are part of a monumental shift in a child's emotional or mental development, and they may not realize how significant their impact is beyond the classroom. Students and parents need to make the effort to communicate with those special educators, and Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Consider a simple gift

If you'd like to give a special teacher something as a gift, it's helpful to know what to focus on and what to avoid. Most teachers report that they already have an abundance of mugs, candles, and bath products. Kitschy objects with sayings on them are overdone as well. One of the most appreciated items is a gift card. Choose a website such as Amazon or a big box store such as Target, and you can be sure that your recipients will be able to find something that they truly enjoy for themselves.

Donate supplies to the classroom

Many teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies. It's a sad truth that public funding for schools rarely goes as far as it needs to, and even the supplies that parents bring in at the beginning of the year aren't usually enough. Ask teachers what they need most for their classrooms and donate. If you can, organize donations from other parents as well. This helps keep teachers' money in their own pockets, and it's a wonderful gift that both educators and students will benefit from.

If you have a connection with an office supply company, consider asking if they will donate some supplies or offer a steep discount. Let business owners know what you're doing and who it's for, and you may find that they're more than happy to lend a hand in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.

Help upgrade the teachers' lounge

If you're not familiar with the state of the teachers' lounge at your school, contact the secretary and get the inside scoop. Is the coffee pot an ancient relic? Do the teachers make do with a lumpy couch? Consider what you can provide to help make this space a peaceful haven for the employees who do so much to help kids. 

Perhaps you have some great furniture you can donate, or you're able to purchase a new coffee pot. Teachers may also appreciate small perks such as air fresheners, baskets of snacks, or a donation of gourmet teas to help provide pick-me-ups during difficult days. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Most instructors will be delighted just to see the thoughtfulness that goes into any touch of gratitude and comfort.

Encourage children to voice their thanks

Make sure Teacher Appreciation Week is well publicized in your community. Whether you're a parent, principal, secretary, or member of the community, you can find a way to start talking to students about the week and what it means. Encourage kids in all grades to verbally thank their teachers. Let them know that this is a special time of the year and that they should do all they can to make the week as pleasant for them as possible.

A few kind words of thanks can go a long way. As these stack up throughout the week, they'll create a wonderful feeling of warmth for the teachers who deserve to hear this type of appreciation year-round.

Consider the overlooked teachers

In elementary school, it's easy to form a strong connection with an individual teacher. However, teachers get less personal appreciation as the years go on. In middle and high school, each student has so many instructors throughout the day and the year that you may not know them all as well. In the upper grades, it's especially important to show appreciation. Include as many educators as you can, and focus on school-wide and community-wide projects and events that can incorporate everyone.

Where elementary school students are concerned, make sure to honor teachers for art, music, and gym classes. These individuals handle more students than anyone else in the school but may not get the same holiday and end-of-year gifts. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great time to make sure that they stand out.

Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week is an important time to focus on giving back to the hardworking professionals in our schools.

More tips for teachers

Are you interested in becoming one of the world-changing teachers who deserve so much praise? See who's hiring.

Learn more about teacher salaries in your area, and consider how you can ease the burden of classroom expenses for them.

Consider roles similar to teachers and make sure these impactful professionals get the appreciation they deserve too.