What is Teacher Appreciation Week?
Teacher Appreciation Week, which also incorporates National Teacher Day, is a week-long celebration that honors and celebrates teachers for the contributions they make to education. It offers students, families, and administrators an opportunity to show their appreciation and gratitude for the things they do for their students.
When is Teacher Appreciation Week?
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated the first full week of May each year. And in case you’re wondering, Teacher Appreciation Day is celebrated on the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week.
In 2022, Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday, May 2nd – Friday, May 6th, with Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 3rd.
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week
The challenges of COVID-19 and virtual learning uncovered the realization that Teacher Appreciation Week is more than well-deserved. Respect for what teachers do every day is at an all-time high. Parents and families across the globe have humorously expressed their new respect for teachers on social media:
As the pandemic began, most teachers showed up to school with no idea that it would be their last day physically in-class together with their students. And their response to that was extraordinary. Ken Buck’s social media post said it best:
“We gave educators almost no notice. We asked them to completely redesign what school looks like and in about 24 hours local administrators and teachers “Apollo 13’ed” the problem and fixed it. Kids learning, children being fed, needs being met in the midst of a global crisis.No state agency did this, no so-called national experts on curriculum. The local educators fixed it in hours. HOURS. In fact, existing state and federal policies actually created multiple roadblocks. Local schools figured out how to do it around those too. No complaining and no handwringing – just solutions and amazingly clever plans.Remember that the next time someone tries to convince you that schools are better run by mandates from non-educators. Remember that the next time someone tells you that teachers have it easy or try to persuade you that educators are not among the smartest, most ingenious people in society. And please never say to me again, “Those who can’t do anything else just go into teaching.” Get out of the way of a teacher and watch with amazement at what really happens.”
Below are some ideas to show your appreciation.
Ideas on How to Thank Your Teachers
Team up with other students and families to make a photo collage message
This one might take some planning and coordination, and it’s also kind of our favorite, so we’ve put it first to give you some time to plan.
Get together with other students and families to make a photo collage message that thanks a teacher or your school’s entire staff! Simply plan and coordinate a message among your group, take your pictures, and put them together for your teacher or faculty!
Here’s an example of a thank you collage from some students at Lake View High School:
This would be a clever idea to duplicate. It could even be as simple as teaming up with four other families and their children to create a short message like “Thank-You-To-Our-Teachers.” But, the more the merrier!
Send them a digital or e-card
There are a variety of websites that you can use to send a digital card or video to your child’s teacher.
One option is to use Canva. Their easy-to-use site allows you to design your own thank you cards or choose from a variety of templates. You can check out Canva’s Thank You Card Hub to explore all of their options.
Another option you can explore is Hallmark’s Teacher Appreciation Day cards. If you’re looking for a premade option that you can just purchase and send, they have a number of e-card options to choose from.
Make a personal thank you video
Creating a video opens a creative, personal way to show your appreciation to teachers. You can even turn it into the next home learning project for your child: have them write a script, record the video, edit it with a free video editing app or program, and publish it online for their teacher to see.
Create a voice recording
If you don’t have the means, or if you’re are a little camera-shy, creating a voice recording to say thank you is just as meaningful. Letting teachers hear their student’s voice is a very personal way to thank them for all of their hard work.
Create a hand-made work of art
Have your child draw, write, color, or paint a thank you and send it to their inbox! If your teacher is on Livingtree Engage, use the inbox feature and send it as a direct message.
Learn more about the Livingtree Engage school communication platform:
Email them a gift card
Gift cards are certainty still an option, especially since most are available to send via email. Here are a few great options to consider:
Amazon
Teachers can always use Amazon gift cards, whether it be for school supplies, home goods, groceries, or a movie night on Amazon Video.
Netflix or Hulu
Speaking of movie nights, a $10 gift card to Netflix or Hulu could mean a month of movie nights at home or binge-watching an addicting show.
Your local grocery store
Purchase them a gift card to the local grocery store in your community. Taking care of the essentials is always appreciated, especially during difficult times.
Food or grocery delivery
Purchasing them a gift card for a food or grocery delivery service is the perfect quarantine gift. A gift card to a grocery delivery service like Instacart enables your teacher to receive groceries while staying safe and healthy at home. Gift cards for food delivery services like Uber Eats, Doordash, Favor, and Postmates also make great meal gifts, and support your local delivery workers and restaurants.
Local shops or restaurants
Gift cards to local places help support your community during these difficult times, and make a great gift that teachers will appreciate.
Support their fundraising campaigns
Many teachers fundraise online for classroom supplies and projects. Sometimes funding requests for their projects and ideas are also posted and made available online as grants through their education foundations. Either way, if your child’s teacher has a fundraising project on an online school fundraising site like Livingtree Give, consider supporting it. A small donation, or even just sharing it out on social media can be a big help.
Interested in creating an online fundraiser for your school? Sign up for a free Livingtree Give fundraising account!
What Teachers Truly Want to Hear and Who They Want to Hear it From
It’s important to truly communicate how much their work means, and to provide teachers with recognition of how amazing they are, how much they are appreciated, and tell them the stories and examples of how they’ve made a difference.
Teachers not only want to hear this from current students, but also their families, administrators, and even former students.
As challenging as you may find it to educate your child, just remember, teachers CHOOSE to do it day in and day out. Not for the money, and definitely not for the hours, but for the special opportunity to make a difference and move a child towards a successful future.
We hope this inspires you with a great idea for thanking a teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week. And to all teachers around the world, all of us here at Livingtree give you our biggest THANK YOU!
Are you a school or district leader looking to better connect families with their child’s teacher and school? Schools can benefit from a unified platform that enhances teacher-family communication, especially during remote learning. Download our free guide for engaging families through technology, or visit the Livingtree Engage platform page.
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