Teacher Appreciation Week 

Adults have been teaching children, whether formally or informally, since history began. While it started out as the job of parents, eventually, as society developed, it was made clear that getting the kids together under the tutelage of one knowledgeable (and highly patient!) person would be a great idea. And so, the role of teachers began. 

While education was originally only available to the wealthy, in the majority of countries today children do have access to at least some sort of publicly funded education. And when the kids get to school, who is it that does the bulk of the work? It’s the teachers, of course!

Teacher Appreciation Week is here to celebrate the hard work, dedication, support and care that teachers provide to their students on a daily basis.

History of Teacher Appreciation Week

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is one of the important people to thank for using her influence to convince Congress that a time is needed to be set aside to show appreciation to teachers throughout the nation. Mrs. Roosevelt spoke before Congress in 1953 to advocate for such an event, but it took another 27 years before it became an official national holiday in 1980.

National Teacher Day was celebrated in the month of March until 1985, when it was moved to the Tuesday of the first full week of May to coincide with the newly established Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teacher Appreciation Week is an event that is supported and promoted by a number of different organizations and agencies, including the National Education Association (NEA) and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), as well as a large number of teacher and education associations that are in states throughout the country.

Those who are interested in celebrating other days that go along with the topic of teachers may want to get on board with National Teacher Day observed on May 7th, Elementary School Teacher Day on January 15th, or World Teachers Day which takes place on the October 5th. 

How to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

Looking for some fun and interesting ways to observe and enjoy Teacher Appreciation Week? Get involved by making plans and considering some of these ideas:

Thank a Teacher

One of the simplest ways for anyone to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week would be to say ‘thank you’ to someone who works in the field of education. This might be particularly important for those who have school-aged children, but it certainly isn’t limited to that! Anyone can thank a teacher who is a neighbor, a friend, a family member, or even just a fellow member of a yoga class. This week is a time for everyone in a community to show appreciation for those teachers who work hard every day to educate and help raise up the next generation for the future.

A show of appreciation during this week might come in the form of a greeting card, whether store bought or hand made, as well as small gifts such as a favorite kind of chocolate or a gift card for a coffee treat. Groups of students and parents who are in the same class or grade may choose to combine their efforts, getting together to provide a party or another type of collaborative celebration to make this week extra special on a small or large scale.

Become a Teacher

Young people who have been deeply impacted by a teacher can often remember their name and the way they were many decades later! Of course, this job isn’t for the faint of heart as it comes with all sorts of challenges. But for some people, being a teacher can also be a valuable and important part of living out one’s purpose in life.

In most states, to be a teacher of kindergarten and above the requirement is to earn a bachelor’s degree and also complete a teacher preparation program or licensure. Those who are looking for more resources about becoming a teacher might check with a local board of education, or could also check out the Teach For America non-profit organization.  

Create a Custom Teacher Appreciation Week Playlist

A free and simple way to show some support and love might be by making a Spotify playlist for a favorite teacher. Choose songs they like or that represent the kind of work they do in making an impact on the future of the world. Consider adding some songs like this to a playlist especially curated for Teacher Appreciation Week and passing it on to a friend who is a teacher:

• Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1969)
• Teacher I Need You by Elton John (1973)
• To Sir With Love by Lulu (1967)
• The Teacher by Paul Simon (2000)