5 Simple Ideas to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 5-9, 2014! Put it on your calendar so you don’t forget to send a note or gift of appreciation to the teachers in your life.

For inspiration for how to simply and thoughtfully say thanks, check out these ideas from Karen Bantuveris, founder & CEO of VolunteerSpot, an online tool that coordinates parents and volunteers with free online sign up sheets and scheduling:

1. Start Simple–A Teacher’s Gift from You

A heartfelt, handwritten thank you note goes a long way to sharing the love. Make it even more meaningful by including something specific the teacher has said or done that has made a difference to your child, like offering extra guidance in math, helping your child make friends on the playground, or teaching a science or art module that sparked your child's interest and passion.

2. Involve your Kids

Teachers treasure personal notes from their students. Ask any teacher - she'll likely have several stashed away for safe keeping. Here are some sentence starters to share with your kids:

• You’re extra special because…
• Thank you for…
• I love how you…
• This year you’ve taught me…

Make the gesture even more memorable by adding a hand-drawn picture or a photo of your child and teacher together.

3. Involve the Classroom

Have each child bring one flower on a designated day and sign a big heart-shaped poster with small 'love' notes for the teacher. Involve class parents and setup a week of pampering - parents take turns bringing the teacher a treat in the morning (like her favorite coffee), delivering lunch, or supervising at recess so she gets an extra break.

4. Involve your School

Volunteer to coordinate a potluck breakfast for the teachers. Ask parents to sign up to bring breakfast goodies such as muffins, bagels and cream cheese, breakfast tacos, croissants, fresh fruit, coffee and doughnuts (being mindful that teachers are trying to eat healthy, too). Bonus: ask local salons, restaurants and movie theatres to donate discounts and gift cards as door prizes for teachers who attend.

5. Extra Love

Have each homeroom 'adopt' a teacher without a dedicated class so s/he gets recognized, too. Art, music, PE, reading specialists, etc., are "everyone's" teachers but might get lost in the shuffle of Teacher Appreciation Week.

Work with the PTA to bring a small gift each day to each teacher and staff member, e.g.:

Cute Tape measure: It’s easy to measure the difference you make, you’re amazing!
Packet of Flower seeds: Thanks for helping our children blossom this year!
Coffee gift card: Thanks a ‘latte’ for all you do!

If you’re crafty, check out these easy to make DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts.

Find more low/no cost ideas in VolunteerSpot’s free eBook, The Greatest Gifts for Teachers.