Teachers Don’t Give Up

Reading through all of the comments on the Teacher Appreciation Giveaway post has really inspired me. There has been one common theme that has stood out, “Don’t Give Up on Any Child”. This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but as I take a minute to think about what kind of patience, faith, and love this must take day after day, I can’t help but have even more of an appreciation for educators.

Teachers are Influencers

In addition to planning their lessons, grading papers, assessing children, and instilling a routine and an enthusiasm for knowledge – teachers are Influencers. They have such an impact on the students and children that they reach every day. I hope that all the love that is shown to teachers throughout Teacher Appreciation Week encourages them to keep doing what they are doing because educators really do matter.

Teacher Appreciation is Fuel for Empowerment

Education World published an amazing article encouraging parents, faculty, and administrator to continue showing appreciation past Teacher Appreciation Week titled, 65 Ways to Recognize Teachers During Teacher Appreciation Week and All Year Long.  

The list of ideas is long, but I thought I would share 3 of my favorites from the list, and my own addition. Something that I think is important and may not be one act, but will go a very long way is to Always Provide Feedback! Whether you are an administrator that has just done an observation or a parent attending a parent/teacher conference, provide feedback to the teacher.  They spend effort and time, in addition to what they already do, to prove that they are making a difference in their students’ lives. Specific feedback about their methods and lesson plans is something that can go such a long way. If they are doing a great job, what is it about what they do that makes you say – they are making a difference.

Favorites from the Education World article:

1. Offer a once-a-month “theme week” in the faculty lounge. Decorate the lounge appropriately and provide a related treat. For example, on October 16 you might recognize the birthday of Noah Webster — of Webster’s Dictionary renown — by serving homemade alphabet soup and presenting teachers with a new set of dictionaries or grade-appropriate dictionary/vocabulary skills work sheets that they can use with their students. And use a thesaurus to help turn the wall of the teacher’s room into a word wall, featuring dozens of superlative word cards that describe your staff.

2. Purchase a special book for the school library to recognize a teacher or honor a special occasion (for example, a retirement, a 20th teaching anniversary, or the completion of a master’s degree). You might even give the teacher the choice of what book to purchase. Include inside the book a special bookplate to commemorate the teacher, the landmark occasion, and the date.

3. At the end of each grading period — when teachers have spent hours agonizing over student performance — send special notes of appreciation.