Honest Reflections on Teacher Appreciation Week (My 1 Ask)

I’ve been sitting on this Teacher Appreciation Week post for a while. Because the 1 thing I want for Teacher Appreciation Week is so simple and so expensive all at the same time.

On one hand, I love all the treats and gratitude that arrive during Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s nice to feel special for a week. Last year, our PTO hosted a Wicked themed week, and this year’s theme is Space Jam. I’m down for all that fun! I appreciate our community making an effort to reach out to every school employee.

On the other hand, while I appreciate the goodies, I really just have one request for Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s both very small and incredibly important. It’s free and costly. It’s nothing-at-all and also everything.

I want your time.

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The Number #1 Best Way to Support Teachers

It’s easy to send teacher a gift card, candle, bouquet, or (personal favorite) kid-made gift. Teachers are always grateful for any token of recognition.

But teachers need more than a high-five. We need support.

Since actions speak louder than words, the best way to support teachers is with your time.

Take the time you would spend wrapping a gift and, instead, research educational bills at the state and federal level. Educate yourself on the trends, tropes, and traumas associated with teaching. Learn what you can about the challenges teachers and schools are facing right now. Stay informed about the issues in your community.

If you have more time, choose an issue related to education and write to your school board or elected officials. Explain how they can better support teachers and what specific actions, reforms, or changes would benefit public education. Because children are at the heart of education, everyone can find at least one topic about which they feel strongly: school lunch, bus routes, banned books, extracurricular activities, tenure.

Better yet, insteading of spending time on Amazon, spend that time in the voting booth. Off-cycle elections often get overlooked, but they are crucial. My town just elected new school board members and voted on a tax levy to support local schools; the turnout was extraordinarily poor because there were no “big ticket” items on the ballot. But voting is free; it’s a right promised to every American adult; and it’s an absolute privilege. (Plus, usually, there’s a sticker.)

The very best way to support teachers is to vote for leaders that understand Teacher Appreciation Week isn’t enough. Vote for leaders who value learning and support public education. Then, share on social media; model civic engagement for your peers and for your children. That’s a time investment that pays dividends over and over again.

Beyond Teacher Appreciation Week

I understand that no one has enough time. Everyone is juggling in their own way, and teachers are no exception.

That’s why it’s important to support teachers with your time. We know how valuable time can be, so there is no gift or gesture we treasure more than your willingness to dive in.

Here are some ways to spend more time supporting teachers during and beyond Teacher Appreciation Week:

• Join the PTA/PTO! These organizations do so much in the local community that there are a variety of jobs for everyone. The number of events PTA/PTO organizes support teachers and students.
• Volunteer to chaperone a school dance, field trip, pep assembly, classroom party, or similar event. These kinds of events can be high-stress for teachers, but more hands make less work. This is also a great way to step in a teacher’s shoes for a moment.
• Support extracurricular activities by being a local sports referee, score keeper, concessions worker, debate judge, or club sponsor. Teachers wear a lot of hats, and trying some of them on is another way for you to see the world from a teacher’s perspective. Plus, these are the kinds of tasks that never end; there’s always another game!
• Sign up to mentor a student through programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Scouting America, or Boys and Girls Club. The very best part of being a teacher is working with students. Mentoring programs are a positive way for you to give back to the community while experiencing some of the joy (and probably a few challenges) related to teaching.

None of these opportunities costs money. They are all time investments, and they mean far more than any Teacher Appreciation Week cupcake.

Nothing is more valuable than time, but nothing is more precious than our students, so it makes perfect sense that you can give up a little of one to support the other.

Traditional Gift Ideas