May 7th National Teacher Day, and May 5-11 is 2019’s Teacher Appreciation Week. PTA launched a campaign, #ThankATeacher. They are urging students and education advocates to thank teachers on social media. PTA created cards that can be personalized and sent to teachers online, or printed out and handed to teachers in person.
On May 8th, the National Education Association (NEA) is urging everyone to wear #REDforED to show solidarity for NEA members and teachers who are fighting for school funding, professional pay, and better learning conditions for their students.
Materials to show support for teachers, such as flyers, thank you cards, social media graphics, and certificates are available for free at
https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Teacher-Appreciation-Week
The PTA also had these suggestions for celebrating teachers:
- Send heartfelt letters, cards and messages of appreciation
- Create artwork, poems and video messages
- Recognize teachers with awards
- Decorate schools and teacher’s lounges
- Host surprise assemblies and other events
- Volunteer in classrooms to help teachers
- On Thursday, upload a #TBT of you and your favorite teacher and thank them using the official hashtag #ThankATeacher.
Read about more ways to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week on the One Voice blog and PTAOurChildren.org.
According to the NEA, U.S. teachers on average, teachers work more than 52 hours a week, including 30 hours on instruction and 22 hours on tasks like preparing lessons and grading papers. At the same time, teachers work with an average of more than 20 students per class; as well as work with new students each school year.
How Can Families Effectively Partner With and Support Teachers
- Develop a relationship with your child’s teacher and keep in touch with him/her often
- Ask the right questions
- Set goals with your child and his/her teacher and foster the achievement of those goals
- Review your child’s data to ensure he/she is on track
- Look in your child’s backpack every day
- Frequently view the parent portal (or whichever tool your child’s school uses)
- Actively participate at school when possible
