Appreciate Those Who Teach!

Teaching is a profession that is often filled with rewards as big as the challenges that are faced each day. Teachers are hard working, highly educated people with one major goal: to better the youth of America. Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10,2013, is an entire week devoted to those who willingly stand up to face the task of teaching our children everyday.

What Does it Take to Be a Teacher?

While most children know their teachers are there to help them learn and grow intellectually, they sometimes need to be reminded that teachers are regular people too! Here are some activities you can implement in your classroom during Teacher Appreciation Week:

With younger children:

 

• Read books about special teachers, such as The Best Teacher Ever by Mercer Mayer, Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco, or Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard. Have students tell you in their own words what makes those teachers so special. Then have them share with each other what makes some of their own teachers (past or present) special to them.

• Explain why you became a teacher. For example, having a love of learning, enjoying watching children learn, etc. Tell them that teaching is a career, then have your pupils write and illustrate a paper outlining an ideas for their future career.

With older students:

• Read high-level books about teachers, such as Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, or The Miracle Worker by William Gibson. Reinforce the idea that teachers can be those people they have in school, as well as every day people who teach them something they deem meaningful. Have pupils write their own story about a person in their life who has taught them something of importance, and it can be a schoolteacher!

• Take time for an information session. Let kids ask you questions about becoming a teacher. High school-aged pupils may really want to know what it takes to earn a teaching certification.

Teacher for the Day 

What better way to teach some of the challenges of being a teacher than to allow your pupils to teach their peers? Depending on the age and size of the class, have learners prepare lessons on something specific that interests them. It can be anything from horses, to candy, to rock 'n roll. Then, have them teach their lesson to their fellow classmates, and of course, you! Follow up with a discussion:

• What was easy, and what was difficult as you prepared your lessons?

• How did you feel when you got up to teach your "class"?

Throw Your Own Party

Have your own appreciation party with your class. According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, appreciation means “an expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude.” During the party, have each pupil share one thing they appreciate about their teachers, school, or community. In turn, give each child a personal note written by you with something you appreciate about them. To mix up the fun, have everyone bring in a food or party item for which they have an appreciation!

School-Wide Activities

Administrators can show appreciation for their teachers too:

• Hold a breakfast or lunch to honor the teachers who come into your school every day prepared to change lives!

• Write a personal note to each teacher, thanking him or her for his/her service and dedication to those who attend your school.

• Create and hang up a huge thank you card for all to see as they enter your school on the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. Allow anyone, staff, teachers, students, parents, to write a name of a teacher they appreciate or things they appreciate in the school.

• Remind pupils of the importance of Teacher Appreciation Week. Remind them that a gift is not necessary; the best thing they can do to show appreciation,  is to tell the teacher “thank you."

Related Activities

Teacher Appreciation Card

Learners can share their appreciation for teachers by creating a meaningful card.

My Teacher is the Best!

Pupils compose a persuasive writing piece about their favorite teacher.

I Appreciate You

Children share stories and illustrations about the people in their lives whom they appreciate.