“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” ~ Mark Van Doren
May is National Teacher Appreciation Month and Tuesday, May 7, 2013 is Teacher Appreciation Day. We appreciate teachers every day, but now is a special time to really let them know how much we thank them for all they do!
We are all teachers when it comes to our kids and no one knows that fact better than Richmond moms and dads. But this week is all about recognizing teachers who have dedicated their lives to the profession of teaching in our public or private schools – positively impacting thousands of children’s lives every day!
Around 1944, Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.
While many parents receive suggestions and ideas through their child’s Parent Teacher Organization, some of you may not know exactly how to thank a teacher. It doesn’t take a lot to let teachers know how much they are appreciated. A simple note that says ‘thank you’ is a good place to start. You can also find some great ideas on our Richmondmom.com Pinterest Board for Teacher Appreciation Week.
If you’re looking for ways to honor and celebrate teachers this week, consider these ideas:
- Provide lunch to your child’s teacher one day – a healthy lunch can be a welcome surprise!
- Send a bag of healthy snacks for the teacher
- Provide a bag of age-appropriate giveaways for the teacher to use when rewarding excellent performers or encouraging certain behaviors
- Donate school supplies for the classroom
- Donate books to the library in honor of a teacher
- Send a single flower to school with your child for the teacher
- Write a special note of thanks or a poem
- Give a teacher a gift certificate for coffee, tea or some other fun place
- Provide a gift card to local craft stores or other places where she/he can purchase school supplies
- Have several parents chip in for a nice gift certificate for dinner
- Send the teacher an email of thanks for all they do
- Give a teacher a pack of stationery and note cards – they’re always useful
- Provide a big package of stickers for the teacher to use
- Give a teacher a bottle of hand sanitizer
- Provide a teacher with a box of tissues – they never have enough!
- Encourage your child to create a hand-made card or picture for his or her teacher
- Volunteer to help out in your child’s class, the library, or anywhere you are needed at school
- Ask your child’s teacher how you can help, what supplies are needed, or what you can do to help during the rest of the school year – you may surprised what you learn!
Remember to thank a teacher this week. And if you remember a special teacher in your own life, it’s a great time to contact him or her to make sure he/she knows exactly how much your life was impacted by having a great teacher! It’s never too late to say ‘thank you’ and teachers never hear it enough.
To all of our great Richmond moms, dads, grandparents, and others who are teachers in our local private or public schools – “THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO!”
Leave us a comment below to let us know of creative ways to thank a teacher – and if you ARE a teacher, let us know what you like to hear and receive that helps the most.
