Teacher Impact

It's that time of the year again – Teacher Appreciation Week is almost here! 🎉 As educators, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we're on and the profound impact we have on the lives of our students.

Think about it: we're not just teachers; we're superheroes in disguise! Every day, we step into our classrooms ready to inspire, support, and empower our students. Whether it's teaching them the fundamentals of reading or advanced calculus (yes, even that! 😉), we're there, giving our all to make learning an adventure and help our students be successful.

In a world that's constantly changing, we're the steady anchors guiding our students through the ups and downs of life. We're not just imparting knowledge; we're shaping the minds and hearts of future leaders, thinkers, and innovators. And that's no small feat!

But here's the thing: sometimes, we forget to pat ourselves on the back. We're so focused on giving our students the best possible education that we forget to take a moment to appreciate ourselves. That's why Teacher Appreciation Week is so important. It's a reminder to us – yes, us! – that our hard work, dedication, and passion are truly appreciated.

We also want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing educators surrounding us.  Our teammates, colleagues, mentor teachers, administrators, also need to be shown how much they are appreciated, not only by the students, but by us! 

As teacher appreciation week quickly approaches, we have collected 6 different ways that you could show appreciation to the teachers in your life! Whether they are coworkers, teammates, a past teacher, or your child’s teacher, these ideas will resonate with every educator.

1. Just Tell Them!

This is free, although sometimes not easy.  One of the very best ways to show your appreciation to a teacher is to simply tell them.  Your kind words and the time taken to speak with them will mean so much. ​

2. Handwritten Notes/Cards

Similar to telling a teacher you appreciate them, a written word can also be a powerful and impactful way of telling a teacher in your life how much you appreciate all that they have done for you or your student. This is free and we guarantee that your card will be treasured. ​

3. Unique Bouquets 

This idea could be for individuals or done as a whole school.  The idea of a unique bouquet is that it is made up of all different flower stems.  Students would get a bouquet of flowers (the cheap one from Walmart or the grocery store) and then give teachers in their building or who they work with a stem from their bouquet.  Teachers in turn would start collecting flowers from students and by the end of the week have a beautifully unique bouquet that was hand picked from students whose lives had been impacted by that teacher. ​

You never know what impact you could make when you take time to do something nice for people you appreciate in your life. 

These flowers were given to me (Meg) from Kara when we first started teaching together in 2013!

​4. Special Treats

Who doesn’t love some tasty treats!  Maybe it is something homemade like a brownie in a jar, or some bags of their favorite candies or snacks, food is always a thoughtful way to show someone you are thinking of them! ​

5. A Break

This idea works really well for administration, or if you are trying to show fellow teachers in your building that they are appreciated. Provide each teacher with a 15-20 minute break. Have them sign up for a time and then go into their classroom to hang out with their students. Bring something for those students to do while you are with them, Better yet, have them create cards or something for their teacher to have them show their appreciation! From personal experience, having this done for us as educators was so thoughtful and so greatly appreciated, especially at a time of year where things can be very stressful and hectic. ​

6. Handmade Gifts

When someone takes the time, no matter the age, to create something for someone else, thinking specifically of that person, that truly shows deep appreciation and gratitude.  ​

​As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, let's remember the incredible impact we have on the lives of our students and take pride in the amazing work we do every single day.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."                                                 – Henry B. Adams

As teacher appreciation week approaches, that also means the end of the school year is near and preparations for a new school year begin!  Throughout the current year were you feeling overwhelmed with tasks, underwhelmed with the curriculum, and wondering if there is a better way to reach your students? We are here to tell you there is!  Be sure to check out the IntegratED Cohort, where we show you how to innovate your curriculum, bring engagement to your students, and you can instruct without feeling overwhelmed and over burdened. 

​                    Be sure to sign up today for the 2024 - 2025 school year!
                                                    Limited spots available! 

Are you looking for more than virtual professional development? IntegratED has multiple PD opportunities perfect for any school or district looking to improve student engagement and student growth.

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TNT Vodcast: Teacher Impact