10 Ways to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4th-11th marks Teacher Appreciation Week, and while you may see a shortage of Red Delicious apples in the produce section, there are plenty of other creative ways to acknowledge the passion and dedication of the teachers in your life.
Here are 10 small ways to celebrate teachers that show gratitude without having to buy a one-time souvenir. Complete #10 and you could win a $50 Amazon gift card!
1. Write a Note About a Time They Inspired You
You don’t have to buy a card to share a meaningful sentiment. Grab some pen and paper and write a note to your teachers about a particular interaction with them that had an impact on you. Whether they illuminated a concept in science class or helped build up your confidence in a moment of doubt, acknowledging and celebrating a teacher’s impact can be a gift in itself.
2. Invite Them to Lunch
No spending spree required! Invite your teacher to a group lunch in the cafeteria or the classroom. It’s a great chance for you to connect with them personally and talk about life outside the classroom (aka what they thought of the newest Avengers movie).
3. Make Their Lunch Special
On the flipside of #2, lunchtime is often a teacher’s chance to have a break. Why not make it feel like a real meal? A tablecloth and some fresh cut flowers on the table will go a long way. Or you can download #4 as a decorative centerpiece!
4. Download This Image
Share this with your teacher. You can print it out or share over Facebook. Be sure to use #TeacherAppreciationWeek!
5. Reach Out to Past Teachers Who Have Helped You
Teacher Appreciation Week isn’t just about celebrating the teacher you have now: it means celebrating the hard work of teachers past, present, and future. Reach out to a teacher you’ve had previously – 10 months ago or 10 years ago – and let them know the work they did inspired you. Even the smallest acknowledgement can make a huge impact!
6. Put Together a Collage
Does your teacher say the darndest things? Or maybe it’s the words of compassion that have stuck with you. Work with your classmates to come up with a collage of all the attributes you love about your teacher, including all-time favorite quotes, and create a poster or a door covering that celebrates their personality.
7. Donate To or Volunteer For a Cause That’s Important to Them
Does your teacher like animals? Music education? Environmental research? Make an individual contribution to a program they support or gather your friends for a collective donation. Bonus points for following through on a subject you’ve discovered through your in-class activities: knowing students are engaged in the curriculum is a teaching win!
8. Help Stock the Classroom
Speaking of donations, if there is one thing teachers are always in need of, it’s school supplies. Consider donating gently used pencils, markers, and paper from your home or bring an item or two from the dollar section.
9. Create a Compliment Wall
You probably don’t interact with every teacher in school, but wouldn’t it be great to make a space for anyone to share their memories and positive attributes? Talk to your school admins about setting up a communal bulletin board for the week where everyone can leave notes. Peninsula High School’s “Share the Love” campaign was in February, but the concept is great for Teacher Appreciation Week too!
10. Leave a Comment on This Post
Share your gratitude for a teacher in your life, past or present, in the comment section of this post and you will be entered to win two $50 Amazon cards, one for you and one for your teacher! We will share select comments on our social media pages during Teacher Appreciation Week and select a winner via lottery. Comments posted before May 9 will be considered.
Sarah Bichsel
I am thankful for my AP European History teacher Mr. Grunloh; he not only was an excellent teacher, but he fostered my love for travel through our trip to Paris, Lucerne, and Munich. He made the trip educational and fun and a trip to remember forever. I am thankful to have had Mr. Grunloh as a teacher for two years, but as an inspiration for many more.
One of the most influential teachers in my life is my World History teacher, Mrs. Franta. She encouraged me to take my first AP class, and she pushed me to sign up for the Europe trip through ACIS. On the trip, it was so fun to spend time with her as she gave us travelling trips and fun facts. She brightens my day every time I see her in the hall, and I am truly grateful for how she has shaped me into the person I am today.
My teacher Mr. Rogosich led my trip in Italy with ACIS; what a trip of a lifetime! Not only does he push me to think beyond the typical scope of a high school course in my Holocaust Literature class and ponder difficult yet meaningful questions, but as we roamed through Florence, Rome, and Venice, he (a 20+ year vet of the trip) would pull me aside and give me personal attention and facts on what we were seeing and where we were going. Rogo is the most fun-loving, crazy, high-energy teacher I have ever and will ever meet — there is never a dull moment in his class! One moment, he is standing on a desk, making us all laugh; the next moment, he is making us all think deeply about who we are.
My Latin teacher Ms. Shupp creates a warm and inviting learning environment for all her students on a daily basis. She incorporates traditional Latin learning into our lives and teaches us things that most teachers don’t care enough to do, or lack the ability to do. She teaches motivation, empowerment, and work ethic. Ms. Shupp always makes us feel welcome in the classroom, and does her best to make personal connections with all her students. She also happens to be one of the few teachers in the world who actually knows how to use technology and social media, which she uses as a way to connect with students and motivate them. She has been going on trips with her students through ACIS every two years since the 2000s. When encouraging her students to go on the trip, she explains how even those with low income can afford to go with a little bit of elbow grease and determination. She has been to Italy around 20 times. There is no one else I would want to learn Latin, Roman culture, how Ancient Rome influences America and the rest of the world, and basic life lessons like honesty, integrity, and the value of hard work from.
One teacher who has made a significant impression on me through his teaching is Mr. Jeff Prondzinski. In his Advanced Placement European History Class, every student is expected to be responsible for their own learning. His teaching style has clearly been impactful on many people, with students of all ages, education levels, and occupational fields coming back to Wayzata to visit him. Mr. Prondzinski is the first teacher I have had who allows his students complete independence in their learning. I believe that one reason why I have been successful in this class is because I am expected to develop good homework and study habits, asking for assistance when I feel I need to. In many other classes, students are dependent on the teacher for learning, which is not necessarily a bad thing. In Mr. Prondzinski’s class, however, students are self-dependent and learn skills which will be used in all aspects of adult life. On top of this, Mr. Prondzinski teaches in a compelling way that makes me excited to go to first block each morning. Instead of just having students mindlessly copy down notes, he formulates a story, helping students learn and understand history in a memorable way. Unlike many Advanced Placement teachers, Mr. Prondzinski does not wish for his students to simply pass the AP test, he expects us to excel. Again, he constantly reminds his students that they must be self-reliant and independent in order to excel. But above all else, Mr. Prondzinski believes that taking a European history course will make students more educated people. Any student who has ever had him as a teacher, mentor, or coach will say that Mr. Prondzinski believes in education being a gateway to the world. From him, I have learned that letter grades, AP test scores, and how well the student next to me did are not important. Rather, what is truly important is being able to use and apply what I learn in a class in order to keep up with the ever-changing pace of the world. I am very excited to be going on the France-Germany trip through ACIS with him as one of our group leaders this summer!
I am very thankful for my Pre-Ap English Teacher Mrs. Bastin. She has been my most favorite teacher out of all the teachers I have ever had. She’s not like most teachers she actually listens to you and talks to you in a way that makes you feel like your her own child. She’s very loving and compassionate and always has a good story to tell. She has inspired me throughout her class to learn more things about other countries and she has inspired me to go on a trip with her to Europe. I love listening to her stories about her travels around the world. She really is a great teacher and a great friend to me.
My Spanish teacher, Ms Reichel , has shared with me the one thing, perhaps the most important in life, is one person caring for another is the only thing that truly makes a difference.
My favorite teacher is Sra. Fisher my Spanish teacher, my mentor. She has a passion for teaching a second language like no one. She is caring, dedicated and never gives up. I wish I have that passion and energy. Her shoes are very hard to fill. Mi maestra favorita.
Mrs. Pool is a wonderful tecaher who cares dearly about her students.
I’m grateful for every last one of my teachers even if some push me through times I appreciate it because it shows me they personally care about me. I also love how my math teacher this year took time out of her life to set up a tutoring session to help struggling kids. I thank every last teacher out there. I don’t know how you guys do it all as a single person. I still have 2 years left of high school until I graduate in 2020. I honestly like all my teachers this semester. I currently have 3 A’s and an 82% in math. Ive had AB honor roll the two past times because of what my teachers did to help me in any way possible. I’d love for one of my teachers to win and treat themselves to a vacation that’s not school related just to relax.