As National Teacher Appreciation Day approaches in May, all of us should pause and reflect on important teachers in our lives. Everyone has that favorite teacher who made an impression on us while in school.
For Jayden Mills, a junior at Chickasha High School in Oklahoma, Diane Drum is that special teacher. In an article in the Huffington Post, Jayden shared her thoughts on Ms. Drum. “What is Ms. Drum to me? She is not only a teacher; she is an example, she is an advice column, she is an encyclopedia full of information about any topic in which you may have an interest, she is a thinker, she is a debater, she is a mom to all of her students.”
The National Education Association will sponsor National Teacher Day on May 3. It will be held during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6, sponsored by the National Parent Teacher Association. Although in the past each organization separately held its own celebration of teachers, as of May 1985, these two organizations merged their appreciation events to coincide during the first full week of May.
How do people show appreciation to a teacher who has forever changed their life or the life of their child? The National PTA and the NEA have some suggestions.The National PTA offers an Event Toolkit. This great collection of media provides ideas and resources you can use to honor teachers. Some of the resources included in the kit are printable appreciation certificates and thank you cards. The PTA website also suggests activities to show your appreciation such as supporting teachers by volunteering in a classroom or writing about a teacher who had an impact on your life and sending it to the PTA via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The NEA also offers some suggestions to celebrate teachers. Besides their National Teacher Day Artwork Kit on their website, NEA suggests you try one of the following on social media during Teacher Appreciation Week: send a picture of yourself with your favorite teacher, past or present; share a picture of your child with his or her teacher; post a picture of you holding a “Thank You Note” to a teacher. Be sure to use the hashtag #ThankATeacher when sharing.
HitTrophy.com also has six suggestions on how to show your gratitude to a teacher, coach, or anyone in the field of education. Our crystal Teacher Apple award (item # CRY412) is the perfect “thank you” gift to a teacher of any grade. Over the years, it has become a popular item with our customers. Our newest version of the teacher’s apple is item #CRY510, our Crystal Apple Award on a Black Base.
This fantastic, 5”, three dimensional representation of an apple has a red interior with a green stem and curling leaf. Our graphic artists will engrave your words of gratitude on the black base, and any educator will admire this gift for years to come.
Another popular and classic gift we offer educators is our Book Clock, item BC69. Designed to open like a book, the right page contains a clock that features a gold spun dial with a three hand movement. The left page displays a black brass engraving plate for your personal expression of appreciation. Our Book Clock measures 5.3″ x 4.25″, but if you would like a larger version, we also have the Large Book Clock (item #BC57) which stands 6.8″ x 9″ in size. Both make excellent gifts to recognize the hard work and dedication of your favorite teacher.
Finally, we have two new ways to thank any instructor who has made a difference in your life. First, our latest Book Award (item #P4834) offers twice the space for your thoughts on that life changing educator. Both sides of the open book hold black brass engraving plates, so there is plenty of room for a school mascot or professional organization’s logo. Our graphic arts department will duplicate any symbol you send us, and we will engrave it and all text for free.
Our second new gift comes in crystal, our Crystal Book Award. The front cover of the award acts as an engraving area for artwork, mascots, and more, as well as having room for your personal message. Available in two sizes (CRY1555M = 3.75″ x 5″ and CRY1555L = 4.5″ x 6″), this incredible crystal book will allow your favorite educator to read your words of admiration over and over again.
How do you show appreciation to a teacher who has forever changed your life or the life of your child? Many possibilities exist, so please remember to thank those terrific teachers in your community this May during National Teacher Day and National Teacher Appreciation Week.