Spark some joy

Creative ways to appreciate your teachers

Julianna Poe, Copy Editor

Day and night, your teachers spend countless hours preparing, grading and tailoring their lesson plans to be sure you have a proper education, feel welcome in their classrooms and understand what they are teaching. Not only should we appreciate our teachers, including our paras, for all their hard work today and this week, but we should thank them year-round. Here are just some of the many ways you can give back:

 

  1. Write them a handwritten letter or email. Better yet, tell them in person how much they mean to you. Even a hug followed by a “you’re awesome” could make their day.

 

  1. If you want to go a little further, make them a video. You could reenact your favorite lesson or moment by yourself or with friends. If you want to tell your teachers how much they mean to you but don’t want to do it in person, you could video yourself or you and your friends telling them how they’ve impacted your lives.

 

  1. Want a more outside of the box idea? Create one or more playlists for your teachers. You could compile a list of oldies, today’s hits and/or select genres. In addition, you could name them based on the type, mood or decade of the playlist. For example: “Pop Music,” “Spirit Booster” and “The ‘80s.”

 

  1. Teachers want supplies. We’re all well-aware that markers, pencils, etc. run out fast and many times go missing. Supplying your teachers with new materials you know they’d love is a great way to show them you care.

 

  1. Buy them their favorite snack or drink. Doing this out of the blue is especially heartwarming. Next time you grab a drink or snack from the vending machine, get two and give one to your teacher.

 

  1. If you want to go the extra mile, offer to buy your teacher lunch or go out of your way to bring them a drink to start off their day. Hint hint, according to www.weareteachers.com, teachers love free coffee.

 

  1. With that extra time after school, offer to help your teachers tidy up. Whether that means putting up the chairs, making some copies for tomorrow’s lesson or picking up the floor, your help is much appreciated.

 

  1. Knowing your teachers’ birthdays and giving them something thoughtful on their special day is another great way to show your teacher’s how wonderful they are. Not sure what they’ll want? Get to know your teacher’s’ favorite restaurants, authors, etc. and purchase them a gift card or book depending on what they say.