October 5th is World Teacher Day. Started by UNESCO in 1994, this day is a reminder that quality education requires well-trained teachers. They work hard in and out of the classrooms to create the best learning environment for our children. They even make learning fun!
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show teachers appreciation. Step away from the cute mug with a picture of an apple and try one of these no-spend ways to tell your kid’s teacher how awesome they are.
Ways to Show Teachers Appreciation Without Leaving Home
Write a note: We surveyed parents and teachers and writing a note was the most popular response. Let them know how they’ve helped your student or how your child implemented a new classroom skill at home. Several ways you can do this are:
- Handwrite a thank you note and send it to school with your child
- Email the teacher and copy their boss (usually the principal)
- Have your child write the note
Help them with repetitive tasks: Teachers have very limited time to cut out decorations, collate papers, etc. They’d rather be in the classroom with their students. Email them and offer to take some of those mindless tasks for them. You can probably do them while binge watching The Great British Baking Show. Teachers can send items home with your child. You send them back after the work is done.
Ways to Show Teachers Appreciation in the Classroom
Make copies: This is a perfect task for introverts! Making copies is time consuming, but it has to be done. It’s an easy task and you’ll get plenty of brownie points.
Chaperone field trips: Teachers should get kudos for taking large groups of students on field trips! The logistics and paperwork alone can be daunting, and then making sure no one wanders off is a task on its own. You can help alleviate that by chaperoning your child’s next field trip. It’s a great way to spend time with your kid while helping to keep an eye on the students.
Classroom parties: You can help out by arriving a few minutes early to help set-up the party, but don’t forget to stay for the clean-up. This is one of my favorite ways to help out because there’s food!
Coordinate a classroom activity: For younger students, offer to come in and read to the class. Our family is Vietnamese-American, so I’ve done food demonstrations, read books about Autumn Moon Festival and the Lunar New Year. Teachers love it when you tie the activity to your family’s cultural experiences. You can also try coordinating a (low mess) art project.
Ask how you can help
Don’t forget that teachers need help all year. Everyone is excited at the beginning of the year, but the middle and end of the year are busy for teachers. Leticia Barr of Tech Savvy Mama, who is a former educator, always appreciated when parents helped her pack up the classroom. Find out more ways you can help teachers at the end of the school year.
While it’s easy to buy a mug or gift for your child’s teachers, they truly appreciate the gift of time. If you’re not sure how you can help out, just ask.
How do you show teachers appreciation on World Teacher Day?
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