Key Takeaways
- Teacher Appreciation Week falls on the first week of May, giving students and families an opportunity to show teachers how much they’ve meant to them.
- There are creative ways to tell your teacher “Thank you” without spending a dime: write them a letter, have the class sign a card, create a wall of words, organize a teacher awards ceremony, help them out after school, and always be respectful.
- If you want to take it a step further, consider giving them a thoughtful gift: a basket of their favorite things, a personalized stamp, or even organizing a breakfast or lunch during the week.
The first week of May typically marks the final month of school, but it also speaks to something else: Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a full week dedicated to letting your teachers know how much they mean to you. While you should always say “Thank you!” to show your appreciation, for Teacher Appreciation Week you might want to think about taking it a step further.
Teachers have a lot going on every single day of the school year (and even during the summer)—among lesson planning, grading papers, preparing the classroom, and parent-teacher conferences, their schedule is booked. Their day does not end at the final bell. This Teacher Appreciation Week, consider some special ways you can show teachers just how much they mean to you. Check out these 10 ways to celebrate your teacher the first week of May!
1. Say Thank You
One of the best ways to show your teacher appreciation is to simply tell them! You have no idea how just saying, “Thank you. You’re an amazing teacher.” can make their day, week, and maybe even year. If you are someone who has a hard time saying what you want to say out loud—or you want to say more than a few lines—write them a letter! Tell them how appreciative you are of everything they do and how they’ve made an impact on you. You never know, this letter may actually become one of your teacher’s most prized possessions!
You should also aim to tell your teachers “Thanks” whenever you receive help. Whether that’s in the form of a letter of recommendation, after-class assistance, or when they sign your yearbook wishing you luck, a simple thank you will go much further than you may realize.
2. Have the Class Sign a Card
Ensure the entire class takes part in Teacher Appreciation Week by organizing a collective card for your entire class to sign! You can purchase one at the store, create one from scratch, or simply fold up a piece of printing paper. Use this opportunity to express gratitude by signing your names and writing heartfelt messages to your teacher.
3. Give a Gift
You can always get a thoughtful gift for your teacher—and we’re not just talking about the end-of-the-year apple or mug either (unless it’s a really good mug, of course). Here are some great gift options to consider:
- Their favorite snacks
- A bouquet of fresh flowers
- A gift card to a nearby restaurant or store
- Classroom decor
- School supplies like pens, highlighters, or post-it notes
- An Amazon gift card—you can never go wrong with this one!
4. Gift a Favorite Things Basket
If you want to go all out and really show your teacher some love, grab your peers and put together a “Favorite Things” basket. Here’s how it works: each student brings in something small that your teacher loves—it could be their favorite coffee, a Target gift card, or even a protein bar they always seem to have on hand! This is a gift that will really make teachers feel not only loved but also known.
5. Wall of Words
Want to get creative with your classmates without having to spend money? Have everyone come up with one word that describes your teacher: kind, brilliant, patient, hilarious. Then, compile them onto a poster, inside a frame, or cover the outside of their classroom door for a surprise display of appreciation (with your principal’s permission, of course). It is a simple gesture, but it will mean the world to them.
6. Teacher Awards Ceremony
There’s always that one teacher that just connects with their students so well—so, why not celebrate them with a Teacher Awards Ceremony? This is a lighthearted and fun way to show appreciation, and it’s guaranteed to make your teacher smile. Think outside of the box to come up with creative award categories like:
- Best Lecture Tangents (That Somehow Still Tie Back to the Lesson)
- Most Iconic Coffee Mug Collection
- Best “This Will Be on the Test” Face
7. Personalized Stamp
If you’re looking for something unique, but still meaningful, Etsy is full of customizable teacher stamps like “Graded by Mrs. B” or “Mr. Johnson likes this!” You can even put their Bitmoji on some! If you think this is something your teacher would like, get creative with it—and don’t forget to get them an ink color you know they’ll like.
8. Organize a Breakfast or Lunch
Get everyone together, parents included and organize a breakfast or lunch for the teachers. Bring in items like breakfast burritos, bagels and cream cheese, fruit trays, pastries, or even a taco bar for lunch. Don’t forget the caffeine! This is a simple and thoughtful way to show your teachers how much you appreciate them—and make sure they’re fed with their busy schedules.
9. Help Your Teacher Out
Is there something you can help your teacher with? While you can’t grade those papers or run the conferences, your little gestures can go far. For example, it may have been a while since the bookshelves were cleaned out, or their desk could be a running joke in the class because it’s full of non-functional markers. Students like you can volunteer to help teachers with these tasks during after-school sessions! It will definitely help cross off one of the many items on your instructor’s to-do list.
10. Be Respectful, Courteous, and Thoughtful
This goes without saying for many students, but always be respectful and courteous—not just during Teacher Appreciation Week. This means paying attention in class (no phones!), engaging in discussions, asking questions, studying, completing homework, staying quiet and on task, and giving it your all. That’s really all teachers ask for.
From being respectful in class to saying thank you in a well-thought-out letter, there are plenty of ways to show your teacher just how much you appreciate what they do for you and your classmates. If you take the time now to thank them, it is something they will likely remember for the rest of their career.
Are you thinking about following in your teacher’s footsteps? If you have been particularly inspired by the work they do, teaching could be the perfect career for you! You can uncover teacher job growth expectations, median salaries, education requirements, the best schools for teaching, and more using our Career Finder tool—for free!
