With Teacher Appreciation Week six weeks away, we are sharing some of our favorite ideas to celebrate your teachers. Teacher Appreciation Week is a dedicated time to elevate your teachers and show them how much you care.
At Honored, we celebrate teachers all year long, as they deserve to be recognized for the extraordinary impact they have on their students' and families’ lives every day. These Teacher Appreciation Week ideas can be used at any time during the year to recognize how hard our teachers work to support students and families.
Teacher Week Appreciation Ideas
1. Nominate Your Teacher for the $5,000 Honored National Teaching Award
It’s no surprise that our favorite way to honor teachers is by nominating them for our Honored National Teaching Award. Our innovative online platform empowers students and families to publicly recognize the teachers who have made a difference in their lives. Each “Honor Story” that a student or family member submits is shared directly with the teacher and posted on our Honor Roll.
Additionally, each story serves as a nomination for the Honored National Teaching Award, which includes a $5,000 cash award along with a feature on our podcast, Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast. The profiles of the selected teachers are highlighted on our website and shared through local press, social media, and newsletters.
This simple act of recognition goes a long way in ensuring teachers know how important they are. Further, through our research, teachers who receive nominations feel more inspired in their teaching practice and are more certain they will continue to be a teacher for the next five years.
2. Donate to a Teacher’s DonorsChoose Project or Adopt a Classroom with AdoptAClassroom.org
DonorsChoose and AdoptAClassroom.org are nonprofit organizations committed to combating inequity in school funding and education. Through their online platforms, school teachers across the country create classroom project requests for materials, technology, and other resources their classrooms need. You can browse their database of projects and give any amount to a project or teacher that inspires you.
Their proven methods of teacher support have found that funded DonorsChoose projects and AdoptAClassroom.org projects inspire teachers to stay in the profession. Ultimately, when teachers feel supported and equipped with the tools and supplies they need to succeed, students and school communities benefit too.
3. Fulfill Items for a Teacher’s Wishlist
Studies show that educators spend an increasing amount of their own income on classroom supplies. With the rising cost of school supplies comes an increase in the teacher shortage and attrition. By purchasing an item or a few items off a teacher’s wishlist, you can make a huge difference in supporting their work.
Many teachers keep a running wishlist of items they need and would love to have in their classrooms. Whether it's art supplies, flexible seating options, snacks, or books, there are always items needed to support a successful classroom environment. Ask your teacher if they have an online wishlist and purchase even one small item to gift to them.
4. Leave Your Teacher a Heartfelt Note
Not every Teacher Appreciation Week idea requires a financial commitment. Something as simple as handwriting your teacher a meaningful thank-you note can go a long way in celebrating their impact. Whether you are a student, parent, or family member, expressing your gratitude through a note can make a teacher’s day.
5. Volunteer Your Time in Your Child’s Classroom
If you are the parent or family member of a young child whose teacher works with family volunteers, you can dedicate time to their classroom. From helping with classroom setup and clean up to creating classroom materials, there are many ways you can support your child’s teachers. Not only does this help take tasks off the teacher’s workload, but it also helps improve the classroom community and helps cultivate a collaborative environment.
6. Create a Meaningful Gift Basket
If your teacher shares personal information such as their favorite sports team, restaurant, authors, and hobbies, you can craft a thoughtful gift basket to show your appreciation. Taking the time to show your teachers that you listen and care about their lives outside of school lets them know that they are valued far beyond being an educator.
Teacher Appreciation Week is vital in increasing teacher recognition and highlighting the extraordinary impact of educators. We can continue these acts of gratitude beyond Teacher Appreciation Week to uplift teachers at any time of the year. Even a small act of gratitude can make a big difference in helping our nation’s educators feel seen and valued.
