Teacher Appreciation Day is the Tuesday of the first full week of May every year.
Though everyone knows how important teachers are, it can be tough to actually let them know you recognize their work.
So how can you celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day this year?
In this post we’ll share the best ideas for students, parents, administrators, and even teachers!
Each group of people has a different perspective when it comes to how hard teachers work every day, so they’ll have different options when it comes to celebrating!
4 Ways Students Can Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day
As a student, you spend a lot of time in the classroom learning from your teachers. Sometimes it can be easy to forget how helpful your teacher is when you see them nearly every day.
That’s why Teacher Appreciation Day is the perfect time to show your teachers what they mean to you!
But what’s the best way to do that?
You could write a note explaining what you like about your teacher and how they’ve helped you this school year. Is there a specific moment your teacher really helped you out? Mention it!
Take this celebration a step further by also writing notes to your former teachers. Hearing from previous students can really brighten a teacher’s day!
Give them a hand-made gift that relates to how your teacher has impacted you. If you prefer to make something rather than write a note, this is a great way to do it!
Make a giant card from your entire class with everyone’s signature and a short message. This is a great way to get your classmates involved in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day without spending a lot.
Give them a gift card for a local coffee shop or store they like. You’ll show teachers that you appreciate them and know something a little bit extra about his or her life!
4 Ways Parents Can Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day
Even though you don’t interact with teachers on a daily basis, your child’s teacher plays a huge part in their life!
So how can you show the teacher that you see the value they provide to your kids?
Write a hand-written note explaining how the teacher has helped your child grow. This could include comments about academic improvement, personal growth, or other aspects.
The overall purpose of the note is that it explains why the teacher is so important in your child’s life!
Contribute supplies to your child’s classroom. It’s common for teachers to pay for classroom materials out of their own pocket, so providing pencils, paper, sticky notes, or other supplies can make a huge difference to any teacher!
Donate a book to the school’s library with a dedication to your child’s teacher inside the front cover. This is a great way to show your appreciation to the teacher and help the school.
You can make this donation extra special if you find out what the teacher’s favorite book is!
Volunteer to help a teacher after regular school hours. Teachers have a lot to do after students leave for the day, so if you can help make copies or put together homework packets, you’ll help the teacher live a little easier!
7 Ways Administrators Can Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day
From planning budgets to fielding hundreds of questions per day, school administrators have a lot on their plates.
But when it comes to Teacher Appreciation Day, you can make a big impact!
Each of the options below involves a different amount of planning and time, but picking just one can make your teachers’ days a little brighter.
Schedule a quick meeting to say thanks to your teachers. A five-minute faculty meeting dedicated to highlighting the work your teachers do every day will put a smile on everyone’s faces!
Host a “thank you breakfast” for your teachers in the faculty lounge. Provide simple on-the-go food like bagels, donuts, yogurt, and fruit that they can take to their classrooms. Make sure you don’t forget the free coffee!
Put notes in your teachers’ mailboxes that list three reasons you’re glad they’re part of your school. Take the time to put a personal thought in each note so your teachers know it’s something special.
You could even take this a step further and mention one specific time that a teacher really shined!
Surprise your teachers with a small bundle of classroom materials that could be in short supply. Common items include pencils, whiteboard markers, sticky notes, and paper. You can usually get these items for a better value if you buy in bulk from a teacher catalog.
Spruce up the teacher’s lounge to brighten your teachers’ day. This could include getting new decor, updating the furniture, or even buying a new microwave!
Order lunch and have it delivered to the teachers’ lounge for a nice surprise on your teachers’ lunch breaks. Even if they don’t advertise it, most restaurants are willing to cater a small lunch for a surprisingly low cost on a week’s notice.
Include a message in your morning announcements reminding students to thank their teachers today. This type of reinforcement can make Teacher Appreciation Day a bigger celebration across the school as a whole!
3 Ways Teachers Can Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day
Teachers often get gifts and messages like what we’ve mentioned so far on our list.
But what about teachers who want to show their coworkers how much they appreciate them?
Give your coworkers a break by popping into their classroom during your prep period.
As a teacher, you know how hard it is to catch your breath during the day! If you have a bit of downtime before your next class, step into another teacher’s class for a few minutes to let them freshen up their coffee and hit the bathroom.
This can be especially appreciated by your colleagues who have a number of classes back to back without a break in between!
Add an activity to your class that involves students writing down one thing they appreciate about another teacher in your building. Collect the notes at the end of class and put them in each teacher’s mailbox before the end of the day.
This can be a nice brain break for your students and only takes a few minutes out of your day!
Share this list of the ultimate teacher discounts with all of the teachers in your school.
If you don’t have time for anything else on Teacher Appreciation Day, send a quick email that will give everyone the scoop on where they can get discounts!
Get Ready for Teacher Appreciation Day!
Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day by choosing one item on this list to make a difference to the teachers in your life.
Whether you’re a student, parent, administrator, or teacher one simple gesture can show teachers how much you appreciate them!
How are you celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day? Let us know in the comments!