Teachers are incredible people, and we can celebrate them with Teacher Appreciation Week! It takes extraordinary people to dedicate their lives to educating the future generations. They are real-life heroes, and while they should be honored and appreciated all year long, one week is specifically dedicated to them in May.
When Is Teacher Appreciation Week?
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated the first full week of May each year. According to We Are Teachers, this week originated in 1984. In addition, there’s Teacher Appreciation Day, which is celebrated on the first Tuesday in May. World Teacher Day is another day to honor educators and it’s celebrated in October each year.
The honor and celebration of teachers became more prominent thanks to Eleanor Roosevelt. In the 1950s, she addressed the need to recognize educators with Congress. She wrote about how important teachers are as they prepare the future citizens and how she felt they didn’t get enough recognition. She also wrote, “Next to parents, they are the most important people in our communities.”
Roosevelt truly saw how much teachers do and acknowledged that there was no monetary compensation that could repay them for their dedication to young minds. Her goal was for people to become more conscious of teachers and their importance in our communities.
Because of Roosevelt’s passion, Congress declared a National Teacher Day in 1953. Unfortunately, it would be years before the holiday truly caught on. In 1980, March 7th was deemed National Teacher Day by Congress, but that was only for the year. Five years later in 1985, it was the National PTA that established Teacher Appreciation Week in the first full week of May. They also deemed that Tuesday as Teacher Appreciation Day.
What Do Teachers Want?
It’s no secret that most teachers don’t make a lot of money. And often, they use their own money to provide items for their classrooms. There are many other things we’re sure teachers would love, including support, equipment that works, supplies to fully be able to do their jobs, and overall, to feel valued and respected. We might not personally be able to compensate our teachers monetarily, but there are still ways we can show our appreciation for all they do.
A few ideas from We Are Teachers on ways to show your appreciation:
- Collect thank-you notes from students and parents.
- Record thank-you videos.
- Volunteer to help with various tasks: organizing, making copies, gathering supplies, etc.
- Advocate for local business support with discounts or freebies.
- Give gift cards! Generic cards can be great so the teachers can purchase any items they want or need. Food and coffee gift cards are often favorites for teachers too.
Businesses That Are Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week:
We’ve gathered some deals and specials for teachers to enjoy during this week. Deals may vary by location. It’s always best to confirm ahead of time. If you know of any local businesses that are offering deals, discounts, or freebies for teachers, please send us an email!
