How to Show Appreciation to Your Child's Teacher

Partnering with your child's teacher is the best way to ensure your child's educational success. There is an enormous amount of hard work that goes into educating children, and oftentimes the resources are limited. Having a wonderful teacher is truly a gift that can leave a lasting impression on the children they teach. Here are some helpful suggestions on how to show appreciation to your child's teacher throughout the school year.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. If you are a room parent, give the teacher a little survey to complete at the beginning of the year. Ask simple questions about the teacher and include a spot for favorite things, places or restaurants.
2. Volunteer some time to help the teacher in the classroom. There are always bulletin boards and hallways to decorate. Offer to make copies, do cut-outs or tear pages from books as handouts. These extra activities can take a lot of a teacher's time outside of instruction and class time.
3. Have your child create a homemade card to tell the teacher what he or she likes about the teacher. Artwork and heartfelt thoughts let a teacher know how you and your child appreciate the value they add to your child's life.
4. Communicate! Many teachers have their own email address that is issued through a school website or network. This is a quick and easy way to drop little notes of thanks or as a means of transferring information.
5. Don't wait for birthdays or special recognition days to say thanks. Send the teacher a card that tells them how grateful you are for the effort they put into your child's emotional, educational and social well-being. Send these monthly or at report card time as a good reminder.
6. Donate supplies to the teacher and the classroom. Ask if there is anything in particular the teacher needs for the classroom such markers, facial tissue, stickers or hand sanitizer. These relatively inexpensive supplies are usually out-of-pocket purchases for the teachers to buy themselves. These can quickly add up for the teacher, so having some supplied by thoughtful parents would be greatly appreciated.
7. Make a contribution to the school library or classroom in honor of the teacher. Some schools do book fairs throughout the year, so ask the teacher if they have a wish list for books to be available in the class.
8. Gift cards can be purchased in small denominations for coffee shops, book stores and teacher supply stores. These are also great ways to just say, "Thanks for all you do!"

Tips & Warnings

• Get involved in your child's education and participate in the activities that are provided at your child's school.
• If you are a room parent, distribute the teacher's "favorite" list to all the parents.
• Thank you gifts don't have to be big or expensive to show the sentiment.
• Don't forget other school staff that contribute to your child such as resource teachers, gifted teachers, librarians, school nurses and cafeteria staff.