Thank a teacher

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Teacher Appreciation Day is on Tuesday May 6.

What have you done to thank your child's teacher lately? One way you can help is to look up the school's wish list at wishlists.azcentral.com which is a partnership between the Arizona Republic, azcentral.com and Arizona schools to match up school needs and donors.

Reporter Meghan Moravcik writes about how kids thank a Glendale teacher in her article at

http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2008/05/05/20080505...

The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association are honoring teachers with a public tribute: the Nation’s Largest Teacher Thank-You Card Project. To date, the project has collected thousands of thank-you cards from celebrities, notable public figures and individuals from across the country. The goal is to continue collecting cards to build the largest teacher thank-you card, which will be unveiled next year during this time.

You can participate by sending your thank-you cards by logging onto www.teacherthankyoucard.org to submit an e-card.

Some businesses are joining in to thank teachers. For example from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 6 all Chipotle locations in Phoenix and Tucson will be honoring Arizona teachers for Teacher Appreciation Day. Chipotle will give a free menu item (burrito, tacos, bowl, salad) to anyone who comes in with a teacher identification.

Here are some other suggestions for thanking teachers gleaned from press releases:

Make a homemade “thank you” card. Let the teacher’s student show his or her own appreciation, creativity and personality with a personal card thanking the teacher.

Write a note. Words are powerful, especially when they come from a parent. In the age of e-mails and text messages, handwritten notes show that you took time and effort to show you care.

Bring flowers. Whether bought at the grocery store or picked from your own garden, flowers are sure to brighten a teacher’s day and desk.

Celebrate favorites. Find out what the teacher’s favorites are and commemorate them. Wear their favorite color, bring their favorite food or sing them their favorite song.

Make a donation. Determine an organization that the teacher supports and make a contribution in his or her name.

Stock the classroom. Buy basic school supplies that the teacher can use in his or her classroom.

Help organize. Offer to help the teacher clean and organize his or her classroom.

Capture memories. Compile any photos you may have from your child’s classroom or school activities that the teacher has been a part of and creative a photo album or mini scrapbook.

Award their efforts. Nominate the teacher for an award such as a local or national “Teacher of the Year” or simply honor him or her with your own award.

Lori Baker is mom to two daughters, 21 and 23 years old. She is
editor for the Valley and State section's Education and Environment pages in the Arizona Republic.