They spend hundreds of hours with your child every year. They prepare vibrant classrooms and thoughtful lessons, give warm hugs and priceless words of encouragement, celebrate birthdays and countless achievements, and shine a light on all the possibilities in your child’s world. They contribute to the development of your child’s personality and devote themselves to creating a safe learning environment.
They remember who knows how many names and not just that… They speak to the hearts of each individual child in a way that makes them feel connected and propels them to learn. They are everyday superheroes: your child’s teachers.
You may struggle to find the perfect words to express how grateful you are for the teachers who provide endless support for your child and family. Teacher Appreciation Week provides an opportunity to express your gratitude in unique and magical ways.
Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas
In 2022, Teacher Appreciation Week begins on Monday, May 2, and ends on Friday, May 6. This special week is your opportunity to shower teachers with gifts, cards, and lovely notes of gratitude. You can find meaningful ways to acknowledge your favorite teachers.
Start by brainstorming ideas to honor your kids’ teachers (or your own!). Think of each of them individually. What are their hobbies? What are their favorite snacks or stores to shop at? Just as teachers pay attention to the small details of your child’s life, you can show appreciation by honoring the small details of their lives.
Teacher Appreciation Activities for Every Day of the Week
Teachers show up every single day for their students. During Teacher Appreciation Week, there are so many ways to show up and celebrate teachers. Here are a few if you need some inspiration:
- Handwritten notes are one of teachers’ favorite gifts to receive.
- Printables! One blogger created an adorable printable worksheet for students to tell their teachers why they love them. (For something less traditional, pair this stress relief printable with a small sheet of bubble wrap.)
- Record a video of your child reciting a poem, song, or message for their teacher. Send it in an email or text message.
- Bring your teacher’s favorite morning drink to school. What a great start to the day!
- Plan a ceremony for 15 minutes in class & present your teacher with gifts, cards, and kind words.
- Older students can put together a video montage or digital presentation for a special teacher.
Best Teacher Appreciation Gifts & Cards (For Every Budget!)
Whether you want to splurge for a special teacher or find something small for all of your child’s teachers, we want to help you find just the thing!
Consider how many gifts you intend to purchase and decide whether you are looking for low-range, mid-range, or blowout gifts! Remember: no matter how much you can afford to spend, your thoughtful gift and kind words will bring a smile to your teacher’s face.
Here are some of the very best gifts your budget can buy for your favorite teachers:
Best Low-Range Gifts
- Teachers love gift cards because they can indulge in a guiltless treat. A $5-$10 gift card to Starbucks, Sonic, or Target will make your teacher’s day.
- Order a cute pair of socks and deliver them with a handwritten note saying, “You knock my socks off!” You’ll warm your teacher’s toes… and heart.
- If you suspect your teacher may have a green thumb, give a small plant with a kind note, “Thanks for helping me grow!”
- This handmade “Teacher’s Last Nerve” candle is a hilarious personalized gift.
Best Mid-Range Gifts
- Make a bouquet of flowers out of paper, or give her an adorable premade wildflower bouquet.
- Express pages of your gratitude with this sweet little book.
- This Artistic Thank You Pop-up Card is sure to make your teacher smile.
- A personalized beaded lanyard is a cute everyday accessory.
Best Blowout Gifts
- The average teacher spends $750 per year on school supplies, so anything makes a huge difference! Create a gift basket with sticky notes, dry erase markers, Clorox wipes, gel pens, Sharpies, Kleenex, notepads, etc.
- An extravagant flower bouquet is always a special treat.
- Or, give a bouquet of handmade paper roses that will last longer than a couple weeks!
- A gift card to their favorite restaurant and movie theater will provide much-needed relaxation. If you have several gift cards, make a fun gift card bouquet.
Teacher Appreciation Quotes & Sayings
No thoughtful gesture is complete without a lovely note. Teachers everywhere agree that handwritten notes and letters of gratitude are incredibly meaningful because “they are things I look back at and remind me it’s worth it,” as one teacher from Austin, TX, said. “I teach high school, but I’ve taught elementary. I have letters going back to 2008 that my second graders gave me that I still read. I just found a stack the other day from some of my high schoolers and they were so powerful.” Your words of gratitude and affirmation are inspiring and a motivating force for teachers.
Whether you love writing or struggle to find the right words, we have you covered with these teacher appreciation quotes and sayings.
These famous quotes will inspire your favorite teacher:
- “If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” –Guy Kawasaki
- “Your heart is slightly larger than the average human heart, but that’s because you’re a teacher.” –Aaron Bacall
- “The fact that you worry about being a good teacher means that you already are one.” –Jodi Picoult
- “Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.” –Charles Kuralt
- “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” –Fred Rogers
These unique sayings will add a meaningful touch to your Teacher’s Appreciation card and gift:
- I will always be grateful for your time, encouragement, and inspiration this year.
- I look up to you and appreciate all that you have taught me.
- I don’t know where I would be without you! You have made me a better person and encouraged me to be who I am.
And a couple of kind notes from parents:
- Thank you for making a difference in (child’s name)’s life this year. Your encouragement, compassion, and time have been gifts to our family.
- We know you have faced a lot of challenges this year, but you have handled them amazingly and helped (child’s name) so much!
Virtual Teacher Appreciation: Saying “Thank You!” Remotely
If you have a virtual teacher, there are more unique ways to say “thank you!”
- If they don’t mind sharing their mailing address, send a nice postcard with one of the above quotes or notes. Or, send a virtual postcard to your teacher’s email address, like these fun options from Punchbowl.
- Surprise them with DoorDash one day for lunch.
- Since you already have your teacher’s email address, send a gift card from Amazon, Teachers Pay Teachers, or Etsy.
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week shows special consideration for all that teachers give. Your gifts, your kind words, and your encouragement to teachers makes them feel celebrated, appreciated, and helps to sustain them during the difficult moments they face as teachers.
The impact that teachers have on their students and communities is immeasurable. We are so thankful for all of the ways that teachers provide support for our children and families, and we appreciate who they are and all they give.
There are so many ways to say thank you, and sending a card from Lovepop’s Thank You Card collection is one of our favorite ways to make the best teachers feel extra loved.
