[Action Requested] It’s Teacher Appreciation Week 2014!

On the very first day of new teacher training, they handed out a massive tome of rules, regulations and other knowledge. I will always remember the commanding thud the book made as it hit the table, reiterating the heavy responsibility I was about to undertake as a teacher.

I turned to the first page ready for the tiny, dense writing that would surely be the cornerstone of my training, and was surprised to see a blank page with a single sentence: “Teaching is a position of trust.”

It’s easy to lose sight of this simple truth, especially when teachers are at the epicenter of so many passionate discussions: how should teachers teach, how much should teachers be paid, are teachers teaching to the test, how many teachers do we need, are teachers effective, etc. But is a truth we should all remember. And we are so lucky at Ed Elements to work with so many teachers that we trust so deeply.

We appreciate our teachers for their ability to wear so many different hats - manager, cheerleader, artist, computer technician, nurse, mediator, secretary, event planner, therapist, referee, maid, designer, disciplinarian, coach, director, librarian, listener – and all this while providing an education to each student!

Teachers: thank you so much for the hard work you do, the long hours you put in, the dedication and energy you provide on a daily basis, and the sacrifices you make for your students. Thank you for the difference you make in the future.

Everyone who knows a teacher: let Teacher Appreciation Week 2014 allow you to reflect on the teachers in your life. Take a moment to recognize the trust placed in your teachers. Acknowledge the respect teachers give and encourage in their classroom. Celebrate the kindness teachers show to each and every student.

Here are 5 simple things you can do this year to appreciate the teachers in you and your child’s life:

1. Write a note of sincere appreciation.
Whether from parents or student, all teachers save (and treasure) the notes of thanks and acknowledgment they receive. Kind words feed our soul and keep us going on the rainiest of days!

2. Show your appreciation by volunteering.
Lunch breaks, coffee breaks and restroom breaks are a foreign concept to teachers. Time is their most valued resource. In honor of Teacher Appreciation week, offer to take a lunch, recess, or carpool duty for a teacher you know. The teacher may say no, but will love that you recognized the value of her time and offered.

3. Reach out to a teacher past.
Teaching takes energy and passion, and teachers pour every ounce hey have into their students…only to see them graduate and never hear from them again. Find a special teacher from your past and let them know how you’re doing. Remember - it is because of those special teachers that you are where you are today.

4. Replenish classroom supplies.
School supplies run low as the school year is wrapping up. Many teachers buy their own copy paper, tissues, paper towels, markers, pencils, glue, rulers, etc. Appreciate your teachers by remembering that wish-list from the beginning of the school year and donating a couple items.

5. Food is a quick way to a teacher’s heart.
A genuine note is something teachers can enjoy for a lifetime, but breakfast or baked goods send a heartfelt message, too. Most teachers wouldn’t say no to a home-cooked dinner either!

While I hope you take me up on one of my suggestions and make a teacher’s day, in the end, Teacher Appreciation is so much more than putting an obligatory apple on an educator’s desk. Take some time to reflect on all the teachers in your life – not all teachers have a classroom! Show teachers past and present your appreciation, admiration and respect this week and every week of the year.

Have more ideas for Teacher Appreciation? Let us know on Twitter @edelements!