Ahhhh, springtime! Baseball season has started, pollen season is well underway (Bless you, by the way) and the school year is coming to a close. Speaking of the school year, did you know that Teacher Appreciation Day is on Tuesday, May 8th? While some schools may choose to honor teachers all week, the official day is May 8th.
Why should you celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day?
Remember just the other week while your kids were on spring break? You may have thought to yourself (or shared the gif on Facebook) something along the lines of, “School can’t start back soon enough!” Yeah, that’s why. I’m teasing . . . maybe. But in all seriousness, teachers work hard to ensure that your children can learn and develop in the best environment. They wear many hats on top of the teacher hat (that one doesn’t come off).
As a teacher myself, I knew that I wanted to write something to help parents understand a little about what teachers really want in order to feel appreciated. I reached out to several other teachers to make sure I had a variety of answers of include. The opinions I have included represent teachers at the pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Some of the answers may surprise you.
The first question I asked was: When do you feel truly appreciated for what you do as a teacher?
Surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of the answers were the same: a note. A thank you note from parents, or students, or both thanking them for what they do. Saying that you appreciate what your child’s teacher has done for him/her or mentioning a few things that your child has learned can go a long way, especially towards the end of the year. One teacher said that she loves getting notes but sometimes she does not get notes or messages from students until years after they’ve graduated. Teaching is not always an “instant gratification” profession. Boy, if that isn’t the truth. This is why thank-you notes or messages are so meaningful to teachers. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are truly impacting your students or if they are taking anything away from your class unless something is said.
Pre-kindergarten and elementary teachers also love getting pictures that the students drew. I keep every picture that my students give me throughout the year and hang them up behind my desk. Usually, I run out of space.
Teachers also LOVE it when students have “light bulb” moments. Encourage your child to tell their teacher or write a note when they understand something that has been hard for them to grasp. This is truly rewarding for a teacher to hear. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great time to do this, if they have not already done it.
Don’t have a way with words? Teachers like material gifts too.
I asked the teachers, What kinds of gifts have parents given you that you loved and greatly appreciated?
Their answers mentioned gifts like flowers, school supplies, and various types of gift cards. Several teachers also said that they enjoyed getting gifts that showed the students paid attention to what he or she liked. For instance, if your child notices that his or her teacher is always drinking Diet Mountain Dew, it would mean a lot to buy one for the teacher. One teacher added that she enjoys gifts that make her feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Another teacher said that sometimes the parents will get together to provide breakfast or lunch for the faculty one day. This is not always feasible, I understand. If you know several parents that would be able to get together to get lunch for the teacher one day, it would mean so much to him or her. I can attest to this personally. Teachers don’t typically get lunch breaks or an opportunity to leave the building for lunch, so having outside food brought in is wonderful!
Still worried you will get something the teacher won’t like?
Most of the time, your child’s teacher will be able to use anything you give them. Teachers have a special talent for things like that. [Insert winking face emoji]. If you aren’t sure if the teacher is a coffee drinker, maybe stick to a gift card to a place that has other options and skip the mug. If you choose to buy gifts such as frames, ornaments, or other decorations, maybe consider including a gift receipt if you are worried that they will not use it. If that makes you feel awkward, there is nothing wrong with gift cards!
If your child has more than one teacher, getting everyone a gift may be a little overwhelming. Don’t forget about them, though! This is where the notes would be helpful. Maybe you could consider getting something that can be easily shared such as a dozen doughnuts for your child to bring by to each teacher in the morning, sausage biscuits on your way to work, or even a few gift cards.
Here is another fun idea from a high school teacher: “Our Key Club has a week each year that the students choose a teacher secret pal. We fill out a paper of our favorite things and they give us a surprise each day. On the last day, they reveal who they are and then we buy them a surprise gift! It is so fun and helps us bond with our students!” This could be incorporated during Teacher Appreciation Week too! Even if you have an elementary-aged child, you could send them to school with a questionnaire for his or her teacher to help get an idea of what the teacher’s likes and dislikes are.
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Teacher Appreciation Week is a great time to help your children’s teacher(s) know that you appreciate them, their job, and all of their efforts. Even if you have not seen eye-to-eye with the teacher your child has this year, doing something nice will let them know that you appreciate their hard work. Teacher Appreciation Day (and Week) is not about who can buy the best gift or create the most Pinterest-worthy basket of treats. It is about letting the people who teach your children every day know that you appreciate what they do. It is about letting your child’s teacher know that they have made a mark on your child’s life and will be remembered.
As a general life rule, it is always a good idea to say thank you. I feel, especially with my own children, that when another person has made a positive impact on their lives that will be remembered for years to come, it is not only a kind gesture but maybe even my duty as a parent and advocate for my children to let them know.
