Teachers have a difficult job. On a daily basis they wipe noses and tie wet shoelaces. They mediate disputes between students and maintain order among thirty or more different personalities. They make sure that children who are hungry are fed and those without a jacket are given one. They watch and protect their students. Throughout it all, they strive to instill a love of learning into each and every child they encounter.
In return, how can we say thank you to this group of selfless dedicated people who hold in their hands the future of our world? Below are a few tips:
- Send a note-card with heartfelt thanks. True sentiments of thankfulness are treasured by teachers and kept for years and years. Many teachers return to their file of thank-you notes when feeling blue or burned out to be uplifted and recharged. Go to www.inspiringteachers.com/cards/ and print off one of the free cards available to say thank you to a teacher or other school helper.
- Give your teacher a gift-certificate to a local restaurant. Then arrange to volunteer in the classroom for an hour or two over lunch so they can enjoy a real treat.
- Gift certificates to bookstores and office supply stores are a real treasure! Most teachers spend over $500 a year of their own money to supply their classroom with books and supplies for children.
- Let your teacher really pamper herself (or himself) with a gift certificate for a massage, manicure, or pedicure. Teachers rarely take time for themselves and this gift will really let them know you care!
- Don’t wait until teacher appreciation week to say “thank you”. We should be thanking teachers throughout the year for the job they do. If you see a card in the grocery store or a little token you think would be perfect for your child’s teacher, don’t wait until Christmas or the end of the school year, go ahead and give it to them right away. Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated and will go a long way to helping that educator stay excited and energized about teaching.
Written by Emma McDonald, co-founder of Inspiring Teachers and author of "Survival Kit for New Teachers" and "Classrooms that Spark". Inspiring Teachers offers many free resources for both teachers and parents on their website www.inspiringteachers.com. To contact Emma call 1-877-496-7633 or email info@inspiringteachers.com
