Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show your childcare and preschool teachers how grateful you are for their hard work and dedication to children. This article details creative ways to celebrate the staff in your program so you can remind your teachers how much you value them and boost morale at your center.
What is teacher appreciation week?
Although we express our gratitude for early educators all year long, Teacher Appreciation Week is a nationally-recognized week set aside for honoring teachers and the important work they do. Every year, Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated the first full week of May and includes Teacher Appreciation Day, which is typically the Tuesday of that week. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12, 2023 and Teacher Appreciation Day is May 2, 2023.
Because the early educators in your program are all unique and have different interests, it’s best to plan a variety of Teacher Appreciation Week ideas to ensure that every teacher feels included and celebrated. For example, while some of your teachers may love sweet treats, others may feel more appreciated through spending quality time together, or receiving a heartfelt note. To learn more about your staff members’ preferences, you can always send out a survey before Teacher Appreciation Week asking what kinds of gifts and activities they enjoy most.
We also gathered some great ideas from our community of early educators in our Teacher Appreciation Week webinar below. Whether your teachers prefer affirmations, treats and gifts, or fun activities, there’s something for everyone in the list below!
Host a "make your own sundae" or "make your own smoothie" event
Organize a scavenger hunt where staff can find notes of appreciation hidden throughout your center
Throw a school-wide themed party such as a Taco Tuesday party
Set up a coffee bar or a mobile coffee cart
Have a tie-dyeing day where you give each teacher a white t-shirt with your program’s logo that they can tie-dye
Treat your staff to a manicure or pedicure
Organize a staff potluck
Have a food truck cater lunch
Treat teachers to a massage day
Play bingo for prizes
Set up a breakfast buffet with coffee, bagels, or baked goods
Throw a group painting party
Put together teacher talent shows
Offer daily tea time for the entire team
Make time for daily dance breaks
Create a staff playlist with everyone’s favorite songs
Celebrate each day of the week with a theme, such as sports jerseys, decades day, or silly hats
Host a surprise party at the end of the week in the break room or parking lot
Have a white elephant gift exchange
Invite families to participate in a bake-off and ask teachers to be the judges
Celebrate teachers all year round
Your preschool teachers are essential to running your business. It's important to acknowledge all their hard work, in both big and small ways. Use these suggestions as inspiration as you celebrate your staff during Teacher Appreciation Week and all year round.
Students can offer to help their teacher with tasks such as organizing the classroom, assisting with lesson preparation, or even tutoring fellow students. Demonstrating their commitment to the learning process is a meaningful way for students to thank their teachers for their hard work and dedication.
Students can offer to help their teacher with tasks such as organizing the classroom, assisting with lesson preparation, or even tutoring fellow students. Demonstrating their commitment to the learning process is a meaningful way for students to thank their teachers for their hard work and dedication.
Chick-fil-A doesn't have a nationwide deal but several locations are offering teachers a free item or meal, most on Tuesday. One way to find out if your local restaurant has an offer is by checking its Facebook page.
You could write them a note on a nice card and simply tell them how much you appreciate them. You could go to each of them personally and just say it. You could write a letter to their principal, naming each of them and for what you appreciate them. Send each teacher a copy of the letter.
Put up staff pictures with messages of encouragement in the hallways, and since the staff may be spread out, gift them goodies that can be kept in their desk for quick snacks like granola bars, hot chocolate mix, microwave popcorn and bags of trail mix or crackers.
❖ What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given? ❖ If you had to teach a class on one thing, what would you teach? ❖ If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why? ❖ Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room?
Wishing you joy and happiness, you are an amazing teacher, and you only deserve the best. The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. Thank you for being a wonderful teacher. Happy Teacher's Day!
"A good rule of thumb is to spend around $20-$30," Lauren Grace, a high school math teacher by day and crafter at night wrote on her company blog, a business that sells accessories for teachers. "It's not so much about the price tag but the thought and appreciation that count," Grace shared with USA TODAY.
Thank you for all the love, care, and dedication that you put into teaching our child! We are beyond grateful for your guidance and support. To the best teacher—your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Words cannot capture my appreciation!
Gift cards are always a nice gesture because they allow teachers to spend the money the way they would like. I love receiving gift cards from Amazon, Costco, Target, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Etsy, etc. Letting your child's teacher know they are appreciated by gifting them a fun shopping trip is a kind way to say thanks.
"A good rule of thumb is to spend around $20-$30," Lauren Grace, a high school math teacher by day and crafter at night wrote on her company blog, a business that sells accessories for teachers. "It's not so much about the price tag but the thought and appreciation that count," Grace shared with USA TODAY.
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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