Our Top 10 Ways to Honor Teachers...
Think back. Waaaay back to your school days. There was at least one teacher who inspired you, who made you believe you could do anything. That teacher changed your life. Whether or not you knew it then, you know it now. Teachers are still in the business of changing lives today. By believing in their students. By encouraging them to work hard and dream big. And by helping kids discover that anything really is possible. These are the teachers who make a real difference in our world. So maybe it's our turn to make a difference in their lives by honoring their hard work and dedication. We'd like to suggest 10 ways you can do just that...Let 'Em Know How Much They Count!
You can honor your favorite teacher by...
- Purchasing a teacher appreciation gift such as those found in "I'm a Teacher Booster" on www.TeachersCount.org.
- Sharing a story about your favorite teacher in Featured Teacher Stories on TeachersCount.org.
- Making a tax-deductible donation to TeachersCount in your favorite teacher's name.
Send Notes They'll Notice...
Write a letter of appreciation to a teacher who has made a difference in your life. Here are some tips to think about as you write that letter...
- Be specific—how did that teacher make a difference for you?
- Was there one thing about that teacher that stood out to you?
- Was there a specific incident—or something the teacher said—that particularly inspired you?
- Tell the teacher how the path you chose was influenced by what he or she taught you.
- Be sure to check grammar and spelling!
Start a Classroom Supply Bank
In most classrooms, there are kids who can't afford the basic supplies for school, like crayons, notebooks, pencils, etc. Also, many classrooms have shortages of general supplies for learning activities. Teachers often spend their own money to provide supplies for those children and for their classrooms. You can help by "adopting" a classroom and creating a "Supply Bank" of all the necessities for kids in that classroom. Recruit parents and/or community members to buy extras of each item on the supply list, providing a "bank" for the teacher to discreetly pull from for kids who don't have or can't afford the proper supplies. Another "bank" should contain general classroom supplies like construction paper, glitter glue, printer paper, music CDs for elementary classrooms, etc. Your bank will save money for the teacher, save kids from the embarrassment of not having supplies and enrich classroom learning activities! Get Your Hands Dirty...
Honor teachers with a gift they'll really dig! Plant a tree or a bed of flowers on school property to honor a special teacher (or teachers) at your school. (You'll need to get permission first!) Install a sign that recognizes the teacher(s) with an inscription like "Dedicated to those who plant the seeds that help our children grow..." Book 'Em!
Purchase age-appropriate books for your child's classroom—or donate books to the school library in honor of your favorite teacher. (Check with the librarian for recommendations.) Give a Little Time...Make a Big Difference
Contact your child's teacher and ask how you can help by volunteering in the classroom. Maybe a particular student is in need of extra one-on-one tutoring. Maybe you could assist with a reading group. Do you have specific skills or experiences that you might be able to share in the classroom? Offer to be a "guest" teacher for a short lesson! Do you work full-time? Consider taking a half day of vacation to be a classroom volunteer. Just a little bit of time can make a big difference. Tell on a Teacher...
Know a teacher who's doing an outstanding job and/or going the extra mile for students? Send a "report card" to the principal! Write a letter or report card telling the principal what a great job this teacher is doing. Give specifics on how hard he or she is working, and describe the results of that work—how excited the kids are about learning or how far they've come on a project. Send a copy of your letter to the teacher—it's a well-deserved A+ report card! (Note: It never hurts to send these kudos to the district superintendent and school board as well.) But don't stop there! Create your school's own "show and tell" time by encouraging your community newspaper to dedicate space for recognizing the teachers at your child's school by featuring a different teacher each week. Little Things Mean a Lot
Get to know your child's teacher. Ask questions! Leave small anonymous surprises like cans or bottles of her/his favorite soda, or an envelope of quarters to use in the vending machine. Or leave bigger surprises like gift certificates to a favorite restaurant or to a teacher supply store. Breakfast Is Served...It is the most important meal of the day. Schedule a monthly breakfast buffet for the teachers at your school. Bring in a "potluck" of breakfast dishes and call it the "Breakfast of Champions"—for the champions teachers are to our kids every day. If you're not able to coordinate a monthly breakfast, try to schedule one every 9 weeks, or twice a semester. Apple Tree for the Teacher
Find a place in the classroom or on the wall just outside the classroom to "plant" an apple tree. Using butcher paper or cardboard, draw and cut out the trunk and branches of the tree. Use construction paper to cut out leaves—and glue or Velcro them to the tree. Cut out large apples from red construction paper (or have kids cut their own). Now, ask each student to think of one word that best describes their teacher, and write that word on their apple. (Help with word suggestions if necessary, with words like nice, smart, caring, thoughtful, cheerful, friendly, helpful, talented.) Above the tree, put a banner that reads, "My teacher is..." — and add the apples to the tree to complete the sentence! *Hallmark.com is happy to work with the non-profit TeachersCount organization to help us all recognize and appreciate teachers and the important work they do.
Related Links
Find even more ways to thank a teacher at TeachersCount.org!
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