teacher appreciation week - Boston Moms Blog

We’re heading into the final weeks of the school year, and next week just so happens to be Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8–12)! There are so many ways to appreciate your child’s teacher, and they don’t all have to happen during one week in May. Here are some suggestions — from a teacher’s perspective. 

1. Communicate with your child’s teacher. 

Get involved. Be that parent. Parents often apologize for emailing me too often. I tell them to never apologize for advocating on behalf of their child. Open communication is important in all relationships. Whether your child is in preschool, high school, or anywhere in between, remember that you are their advocate, and you should have a relationship with their teacher. You don’t have to go out of your way to set up meetings. Emails and phone calls (I prefer emails because I do not have a phone in my classroom) are adequate. As a teacher, I appreciate when a parent is involved in their child’s education.

2. Listen to your child’s teacher.

If the teacher suggests a strategy to implement at home, if they suggest a level switch for your child, if they express concern and suggest testing, listen to them. Your child spends, hours each day with this highly-qualified adult. Trust that they know your child and want what’s best for them. When I refer a student to guidance for testing, it’s because I truly believe they may have a learning disability and can benefit from accommodations. If I suggest that a student move from advanced to honors, it’s not because I dislike that student; it’s because I believe they will be better served in an honors-level class. Trust your child’s teachers.

3. Write your teacher a card or letter.

One of the sweetest gifts I ever received was a letter from the mother of my student. Her son was a current student, and her daughter, a former student, was in college. In her letter, she thanked me for the role I played in her children’s lives. She told me the joy she felt when her two children sat at the kitchen table and discussed how much they enjoyed being in my class. Not only was it a wonderful feeling to receive this letter, it was a complete shock. As a teacher, I don’t always know the impact I am making. There are days when the last bell rings and I wonder if anyone learned anything from me. This letter was the ultimate in teacher appreciation — it reminded me why I do what I do, and it renewed my energy in the classroom.

4. Encourage your child to make something for their teacher.

This can be a simple card or letter expressing what they like most about that teacher or his/her class. If your child enjoys art, they can create something for their teacher. Some of the sweetest gifts I’ve received were student created — a drawing of Romeo and Juliet that I still have hanging in my classroom, a painting from a graduating senior, a handmade card and note from a homeroom student. Small gestures can carry the greatest impact.  

5. Offer a gift card.

OK, so this last one is not original, sentimental, or innovative. It is a widely known fact that many teachers spend their own money making their classrooms what they are. A gift card is never the wrong way to appreciate someone. The amount can be nominal — $5 to their favorite coffee shop, Amazon, or Target. I am always so excited when I pull up to Starbucks and remember I have a gift card to buy my morning chai. Yes, I have $5 and can buy my own drink, but it’s nice when a student remembers how much I love ‘Bucks

Teacher appreciation can happen in a variety of ways.

Much like there are different love languages, there are different ways to show your child’s teacher that you appreciate him or her. And while there is a week set aside every May to do so, appreciation can happen year-round too. How do you plan to show your appreciation?

Sarah Casimiro
Sarah grew up in Rhode Island and now lives in West Bridgewater, making brief stops in Quincy, Fall River, and East Bridgewater, along the way. She made the leap from Rhode Island to Massachusetts way back in 1999 when she decided to pursue a teaching degree at Boston University. She chose her career in 1987 and is currently teaching high school English to 10th and 12th graders, fulfilling a 6-year-old’s dream at the age of 22, a proclamation that often brings forth snickers from her students. She became a mother for the first time in 2016 to her daughter Cecilia, then doubled down in late 2018 with the birth of her second daughter, Adelaide. She currently lives with her husband, Jason, their dog, Nanook, their cat, Moxie, and five chickens. They share a home with her parents, who live above them and also provide the most amazing childcare for Ceci and Addie. Sarah couldn’t live without her family, her insulin pump (shout out to other T1D mamas), and Starbucks iced chai lattes. She could live without angry people, essay grading, and diaper changing.

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