Do you remember who your favorite teacher was?
We all have our favorites growing up and for a variety of reasons. They’re patient, they’re kind, and they’re selfless. Whatever the reason is, every teacher deserves appreciation and respect.
It’s not easy to teach a classroom of students or create lesson plans until the wee hours of the night. For teachers, it’s not just a profession, it’s a vocation, and often — their passion.
Every year on the first week of May, we get a chance to celebrate the people who help shape the world’s future; the same individuals responsible for grooming some of the world’s top leaders and CEOs – our teachers.
We have some ideas to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week:
1. Communication from Students and Parents
There’s no better way to make someone feel appreciated than to actually say it. Getting both the students and the parents to write them a letter is a touching gesture a teacher will never forget.
For the student’s part, tell them to describe a memorable moment they had with their teacher. Talk about the life lessons they learned and the instances where they felt their teacher really helped.
For the parents’ part, simply give them the opportunity to express their appreciation and gratitude on how the teacher impacted their children’s lives.
2. Gifts
Another great way to show appreciation is through gifts. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, a set of jewelry, or a great-tasting cake, what’s important is to make sure that it’s personalized.
Write a short message to go with the flowers and chocolates, create the jewelry and bake the cake yourself. Personalization makes a gift extra special because there were sincerity and effort included.
Let’s be real, most of us appreciate handmade gifts more than purchased ones, don’t we?
3. Encouragement for Selfcare
Being a teacher can be stressful. With lots of test papers to check, lessons to plan, and children to educate, the teaching profession can definitely take a toll not only on the mind but also on the body.
One of the best ways to relieve stress is to treat them to “a day in the spa” where they can get a relaxing massage and some much-needed break from work.
If stepping out of school premises is not an option, you can always bring the spa to them instead through corporate massages.
Showing appreciation comes in many forms and making them feel good via a massage is one of them.
4. A Video Tribute
Being remembered for your contributions is a touching gesture, especially for teachers who have impacted countless lives in a positive way.
A great way to remind them about their brilliance and selflessness is to put together a slideshow or a video tribute. Interview some of their current and former students, let them provide a short testimonial, or say a few words about how their teacher affected their lives.
You can then post this over social media for everyone to see. It’s simple, affordable, yet very thoughtful.
5. Classroom supplies
Most public school teachers use their own money to buy classroom supplies like paper, crayons, and scissors. That’s how selfless teachers can be so why not return the favor by gifting them with a year’s supply of the same materials?
Doing this is a great way of thanking them not only for helping you learn but also for their monetary contributions which often get overlooked. It’s thoughtful, it’s touching, and more importantly, it shows that you really care.
Final Thoughts
Teacher Appreciation Week is more than just a celebration. It’s about appreciation, gratitude, and respect. It’s not every day that we get the chance to thank our teachers for being our second parents and for guiding us in the right direction.
We may be where we are today due to our own hard work and efforts but the fact remains that the knowledge and the confidence we need to get there were all made possible by our teachers.
