Teacher Appreciation Week: Deals, How To Thank Massachusetts Educators

MASSACHUSETTS — National Teacher Appreciation Week will be popping up from May 1 through 7 this year. Why not let the people in Massachusetts who show up for your kids every day know how much you value them? Teacher Appreciation Day itself is on Tuesday, May 3.

Teachers in Massachusetts are closing out one of the toughest school years many of them can remember amid teacher and staff shortages, student behavior problems and increasing polarization surrounding what should be taught.

Read more: Over 1,000 Boston Teachers, Staff Out Sick Tuesday

At the same time, teachers often dig into their own bank accounts to pay for classroom supplies. An Economic Policy Institute analysis three years ago found the average teacher spent $459 a year on classroom supplies. The highest inflation in 40 years hasn’t helped.

There are several ways to show your appreciation. One we like is DonorsChoose, established in 2000 by a teacher in the Bronx to connect teachers and donors. Currently, there are thousands of teacher requests you can support with whatever donation works for your budget. DonorsChoose ships the supplies directly to the teacher.

In the 22-year history of the program:

• 721,535 teachers have been funded;
• 2,268,851 classroom projects have been funded;
• 5,248,525 people have donated.

In Massachusetts here are some of the projects:

• A Fresh Start: Help me give my students an updated classroom library that will peak their interest, encourage independent reading time and harbor a love for a variety of texts. Organized by Mrs. Johnson at Joseph W. Martin Junior Elementary School for Grades PreK-2 in North Attleboro
• Let's Stay Focused: Privacy Shields for Students' Desks: Help me give my students Privacy Shields for Student Desks. These are helpful for students who are distracted during test time. These privacy shields will help keep my students focus and more engage during standardized tests and assessments. Organized by Mr. Jean at Josiah Quincy Elementary School for Grades 3-5 in Boston.
• Developing Organizational Skills for Middle School Success: Help me give my students 3 ring binders and sheet protectors for dividers to improve their organizational skills and learning success. Organized by Ms. Vinay at Plouffe Academy for Grades 6-8 in Brockton.
• Fuel Up for Dance in the City Project Week: Help me give my students snacks & drinks for our dancing Project Week. Organized by Ms. Olivia Dehm at Boston Green Academy for Grades 6-8 in Brighton.

Here's another incentive to support DonorsChoose. On Tuesday, Teacher Appreciation Day, Sonic Drive-In will match up to $1.5 million in donations made to the national nonprofit. Sonic is also offering teachers a free cheeseburger with everyone who is enrolled in its Teachers' Circle rewards program available through its app.

• Peabody
• Somerset
• Springfield
• Stoughton

Several national chains, including restaurants and retail companies, are offering deals. We’ve rounded up a few of them (be sure to check availability where applicable at your local stores):

Ann Taylor Loft: Through its Loft Loves Teachers program, educators with a valid school identification get 15 percent off full-price items.

• Acton
• Boston
• Braintree
• Burlington
• Canton
• Chestnut Hill
• Dedham
• Hingham
• Holyoke
• Lynnfield
• Mansfield
• Methuen
• Millbury
• Natick
• Peabody
• Plymouth
• Wareham

Crayola: Website visitors can get 20 percent off gifts for teachers through May 8 with the code EDUCATORS. The company also created the Self Care Art Supply Gift Set, an internet exclusive that includes eight products to help teachers indulge in self-care and restoration.

Laffy Taffy: The first 100 teachers each day from Monday, May 2, to Friday, May 6, who register on the website by sharing their favorite joke will receive a care package, plus be entered in a drawing for $5,000 to be used for a vacation to a tropical destination. Students, parents and others can nominate their teachers.

Staples: Customers who sign up for the Classroom Rewards program through the chain's app can earn 5 percent back when they shop for local teachers.