Thank a Teacher on Patch for Teacher Appreciation Week

The first full week in May, every year since 1984, has been designated as Teacher Appreciation Week by the National PTA.

Signs at schools throughout the country are giving a nod to this year's appreciation celebration, as PTA volunteers, school administrators, students and parents gear up to recognize teachers who make a difference.

As noted on the National PTA Web site, Teacher Appreciation Week is "a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children." PTA events at the national, state, and local levels celebrate the outstanding contributions teachers make.

Is your school, or PTA organization, holding or hosting a local teacher-appreciation event or initiative? Let us know in the comment box below.

The decision to teach often comes with low-to-moderate pay and around-the-clock hours. Support from families can ease the difficult work teachers do. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of PTA Teacher Appreciation Week now is the perfect time to personally thank your students’ teachers for their sacrifices and support for children throughout the year. While appreciation alone will not reduce the challenges teachers face, it will let them know their efforts are not going unnoticed.

Here’s how you can honor teachers:

• Write letters and cards of appreciation to your students’ teachers throughout the week and ask you students’ teachers how you can support them throughout the year.
• Show your support for the tremendous work teachers do by volunteering in your students’ classrooms.
• Nominate your students’ teachers for local and national awards.
• Tell us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram how you plan to appreciate your students’ teachers using the hashtag #ThankATeacher.
• Pick up the April/May edition of Our Children magazine, which is devoted to teachers’ perspectives and offers parents great advice for building a strong relationship with their students’ educators.
• Give the gift of PTA membership to a teacher in your life.
• Follow the new PTA Pinterest boards for more teacher appreciation ideas.
• Follow the new PTA Instagram account to share how you #ThankATeacher.

National PTA has also created customizable recognition tools for you and your child to use to make your teacher feel special:

• Advertisement: Place this advertisement in a local publication or distribute it as a flier.
• Certificates: Use these customizable certificates to recognize outstanding teachers at your students’ school.
  • Given by a PTA President
  • Given by a PTSA President
  • Given by a Principal
  • Given by a Student
    
• E-card: Send a graphic card via email to your students’ favorite teachers.
  
• Social Media Badge: Share the PTA Teacher Appreciation Week badge on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
  
• Web Banner: Display the PTA Teacher Appreciation Week banner on your school’s website.