Teacher Appreciation week is coming up! May 6, 2008

For the past 15 years, communities across the United States have set aside the first full week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week, with the first Tuesday being the National Teacher Appreciation Day. Celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week of May, the actual date varies each year. In 2008, National Teacher Day takes place May 6.  During this special week, students and administration are encouraged to award their teachers with well-deserved gifts of thanks.

History:

The origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.

NEA, along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (Kan.) Local, lobbied Congress to create a national day celebrating teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only.

NEA and its affiliates continued to observe National Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985, when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.

Here are some great heart felt/ low cost ideas to help recognize and appreciate your teachers.

visit the nea website for great downloads and ideas: http://www.nea.org/teacherday/active.html

Plan a small gift or event every day during teacher Appreciation week.  Remember that the attitude of gratitude is contagious.  So make each symbol of recognition as prominent and special as you can.

• Decorate Teachers’ Doors with Construction Paper posters with a positive quote or expression of appreciation.
• Offer Coffee Tea and other special snacks and treats in the teachers lounge all week long.

• Have an appropriate poem or rap ,that expresses Teacher appreciation, recited over the PA System during Announcements

• Deliver goodies and gifts to the teachers in their class rooms for added effect and for other students to see and model
• Have a special message to the teachers from the principal spoken over the PA system during announcement time.
• Call a popular local radio station and ask the DJ to dedicate an appropriate song to the teachers at _________High School.  Have the broadcast recorded and played during PA Announcements.
• Do a teacher scavenger hunt where students find clues about each teacher and are entered in a drawing for getting all the answers correct.

 A Recognition Program that Rewards the Rewarder

Many times a schools’ recognition program responsibility falls on a “select” few individuals who add this project to their other school duties. The “Bravo” program has been very successful in our schools because the programs success is shared among all the staff members.  Teachers and Staff are eager to participate and keep the program going because everyone wins and the program is easy to implement.  We have found that this program builds instant morale and unity as the entire school works together to achieve its goals.  It is also very inclusive and designed to edify the entire student body and not just those students who may regularly receive recognition and other accolades.

Here is the basic “Bravo” program outline:

1. Each Teacher or staff member is given 5 “bravo” note cards at the beginning of the school year or semester. (More Cards are made available for those who need more.)

2. When the teacher or staff member wants to encourage or acknowledge a student he/she writes them a “Bravo” note of recognition. (ex:  Dear Johnny,  I can see that you are making the extra effort to get to class on time.  I am very proud of you….).  This note is mailed home or simply hand delivered to the student at school.
3. The Card is perforated on the bottom and has blank lines that the teacher fills in with the students name, the teachers name and a brief summary of the reason for the recognition.
4. The Perforated tear off is placed in a container for a monthly prize drawing.  The prize can be big or small.  Items can be donated from local business etc. School logo pride gear like tee shirts make a very coveted prize.

Of Course this program can be used to enhance current school recognition programs or modified depending on the need and culture of your school.

Bravo cards can be customized for your school and ordered from National Achiever Services  We can also supply you with school pride wear ( Tee shirts etc.) Contact our office at 1-800-800-4083 for more information.

In additions to honoring birthdays, anniversaries etc.  Here are just a few ideas show your appreciation year round. 

September: Survival Kits (notepads, pencils, red pens, post-its, asprins, gum, etc.).  Make sign names for teacher class rooms.  Make decorated teacher door stops.

October:  Carve pupkins to decorate teachers lounge, Ghost-lollipops using tootsie rool pops, Kleenex and yarn ( Have a boo-tiful weekend! or Thanks for being Spooktacular!)

November:  “Turkey of the Week”  given to staff with a good sense of humor.

December:  Free gift wrapping services for staff, organize photos for teacher’s familiew & pets, personalized ordaments, candy cane reindeers (pipe cleaner antlers, red pom-poms for the nose)

January:  Exam blues reliever, staff buddy program to team build quieter staff, hot chocolate and cider i the teacher’s lounge, tie noe to confetti poppers that read ” Let’s start the year with a bang!”

February:  Hershey kill flowers, Happy Valentine’s day cookies decorated by staff, “Dime-on  d  pin”, Red Hot candies

March:  Hold leuncheon of sup sandwiches ( There is no SUBstitute for you!)

April:  Free car wash for all staff, Decorated boxes filled with candies

May:  Early bird staff breakfast, Package of seeds (”Thanks for helping us grow and learn.”)

June: Book mark the year by taking images and photographs that define the year and make a book mark that is laminated and presented to each teacher along with a thank you note.  Assign a student leader to help teacher clean and pack up their class room.  decorate a bottle of sprkling cider with ribbons and attach a note of “bon-voage” …have a great summer.

 I found the featured book to also be a great source of ideas for easy, low cost, staff appreciation and recognition ideas.