April 30, 2021

This past year has been everything but ordinary. Adapting to a new “normal” within our everyday lives was hard enough, let alone with education. Students and teachers around the world faced the biggest struggle going from in-person teaching and learning to everything moving online. The transition was rocky and difficult, especially for students who learn better in a face-to-face environment. Not to mention the families that struggled to afford laptops and electronics for their children in order to continue their education online from the comfort of their homes. This struggle was on both ends of the spectrum. Teachers chose this profession because of the love and passion they have for teaching and helping students grow. This transition into online learning was just as tough on them. They needed to come up with a brand new plan and fast. That is why Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show them our gratitude for their hard work.

Here are 10 great ways to show them just how much you appreciate everything the do:

1. Send your teacher a virtual gift card to their favorite coffee place. For teachers who put in long hours organizing lesson plans and grading homework, coffee is a must!
2. Send a personal e-card to honor your teacher and recognize the hard work they have put into virtual learning.
3. Get onto TikTok or other social media platforms and make a creative video to show your teachers how you and your family are utilizing at-home learning during COVID-19.
4. Wear red on National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 4th) and post a picture on social media using the hashtag #RedforED.
5. Buy dinner from their favorite restaurant. Ask your teacher where they like to eat and see if that restaurant is available on delivery service platforms like Grubhub, Doordash, UberEats, or Caviar!
6. Write down or print out a picture of a fond memory of your teacher and have everyone in the class do the same. Once all the pictures are gathered, put them into Shutterfly to create a hardcover photo book to give to your teacher and show your appreciation.
7. Coordinate with other students and put together a gift basket of your teacher’s favorite snacks and treats along with COVID essentials like handmade masks and mini hand sanitizers.
8. Give your or your child’s teacher a small plant and along with that, messages of how you or your child have grown as a student and as an individual over the last year.
9. Send a bouquet of flowers to your teacher to show your appreciation.
10. Create a “positivity jar” at home as a gift to your teacher. Buy a mason jar or use one that you already have and fill it with tiny pieces of paper, each of which contains a positive message or note for your teacher to read on their hard days. Teaching from home with no interaction is tough and can take a toll mentally and physically so why not try to brighten their day!