Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

Depending on your available time and budget, you might like to do something nice for them, hand make or DIY a gift, or buy a token of appreciation.

Do Something Nice

There are several nice things about service based appreciation. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. It often means a lot to show up and take action. Also, it’s generally cheap or free. If this meets your time and budget allowances, you might try to:

• Write heartfelt letters, cards, or messages of appreciation
• Create artwork, poems, or video messages
• Recognize teachers with self-made certificates or awards
• Decorate the classroom door or the staff lounge
• Pick some flowers from your yard and send a nice bouquet
• Volunteer in classrooms to help teachers
• On Thursday, upload a #TBT of you and your favorite teacher and thank them using the official National Parent Teacher Association hashtag #ThankATeacher.

DIY Gift Ideas

If crafting is your game, you know there are a trillion things you can make. Pinterest is an amazing place for this type of idea. Here are some things I’ve made in the past:

• Tote bag with a stamped quote filled with treats or supplies
• Clipboard with a vinyl quote
• Candy jar filled with treats or supplies. Don’t forget the punny note!
• Flowerpot painted with a nice sentiment or design
• Quote Art on canvas or a chalkboard
• Notecards / Stationary
• A personalized jar for extra desk storage or organization
• A crayon or pencil covered vase
• A recipe in a jar including the ingredients
• A crayon wreath or monogram

Daily Theme Ideas

As a military family, we’ve been in a lot of school districts. I really like it when they send home an agenda for the week. It helps me organize my ideas and take care of the teachers they way I’d like to. If it helps you like it does me, here is an agenda you can use for daily treats / surprises.

Monday : Blooms of thanks. Bring in flowers or plants. They can be grown from the garden, bought from the store, or crafted.

Tuesday : Treat the teacher. You can give them fresh fruit. It can just be one piece, a bag, an assortment, or just a recipe. Or, of course, you can delight them with something sweet or salty.

Wednesday : Create something personal or customized. Try a personalized DIY project with their name, draw them a picture they’ll love, or use their hobbies/interests as inspiration.

Thursday : Give them an experience. I think experiences are better than things. Maybe you want to give them a gift card to a restaurant, a movie night basket, or a gift certificate to a paint and sip event.

Friday : Make it noteworthy and from the heart. Write a note and tell the teacher why you like them and/or their class. It’ll be the favorite thing they get all week. You can even make a short movie with praise for the teacher and post it on the school’s social media site.

History of Teacher Appreciation Week

National Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated annually in May. It began in 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt convinced members of Congress to set aside an official date to honor and recognize educators. In 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association designated the entire first week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week.