Teacher appreciation week is coming! Who should I profile?

We all know one -- or many: the great teachers that change our lives. Or are helping shape the lives of our kids right now.

To honor the time and dedication of these teachers, National PTA celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week on May 6-10, 2013.

“Much like a parent, a teacher’s work is never done. We know that teachers go above and beyond the call of duty today, and we want to recognize that by sharing simple, yet thoughtful ways to thank a teacher in your child’s life during PTA Teacher Appreciation Week,” said Betsy Landers, National PTA President. “We also encourage parents and families to look for ways to remain involved in their child’s education throughout the school year by working with teachers to create a positive learning environment for both students and staff.”

So the National PTA is suggesting a few ways we could honor a teacher:

Host a breakfast – gather other parents and staff to join you in showing appreciation for teachers.

Dedicate a book – have a copy of your teacher’s favorite book donated to the library in his/her name. Say thank you – sometimes a simple, but personal notecard or email is all it takes to make a teacher’s week. Or have students and parents create a giant thank you card together for display in the school lobby. Make sure teachers hear the value of their work from the students themselves by sharing thank you messages through art work, videos or poems.

Help stock a classroom – contribute classroom materials such as paper, stickers, chalk, ink pads or any other little extras.

Encourage your child to interview his/her teacher and write a short story. Publish stories throughout the year in the school’s paper.

Decorate the teacher’s lounge – place flowers, notecards or snacks to make the lounge a teacher’s retreat.

Coordinate a car wash and invite school staff and teachers to get their vehicles washed for free.

Organize student contests that will help them get to know their teacher better such as a “guess the baby picture” game.

Encourage participation – make sure students serve on the planning committee for your Teacher Appreciation Week pep rally, assembly or other events.

Enter your teacher in Promethean’s Thank A Teacher Contest – grand prize winners will be awarded a trip to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference in San Antonio, TX, June 23rd-26th, 2013. The contest will kick-off May 1.

To enter, click here.  For more ideas and other resources to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, click here  or the PTA's new Pinterest page here

Do you know a fabulous teacher in Monterey County? Nominate her for a profile in the Herald! Send me a note telling me why you think the teacher is great and deserves to be recognized in the paper! Email me at cmelendez@montereyherald.com, or post it on the blog! I'll give you a deadline. May 1. How's that?