Show Teacher Appreciation All Year Long with Little Reminders of Your Gratitude

Teacher Appreciation Day is a great time to let educators know how much they are appreciated for everything they do to make sure kids are safe and sound, happy and healthy…and chock full of knowledge, too. To make teachers feel even more special, their day of appreciation has even expanded into a full week, but we at Hallmark Business Connections think there should be a way to thank teachers for everything they do all year long. That’s why we’ve pulled together our very best teacher appreciation ideas to inspire administrators and school officials as they plan ways to ensure their teaching staff know they are appreciated throughout the year.

Professional Challenges Facing Teachers

Teaching is full of challenges and rewards, and that has never been more apparent than as we enter this new year. This year, teachers will face even more limited funding, a variety of student learning styles, discipline issues, communication challenges, mammoth amounts of paperwork, changing professional standards and, potentially, burnout. With all of these hurdles in front of them, it’s no wonder that K-12 teachers make up the most burnt-out profession in the United States.

Moreover, according to the NEA (National Education Association), many schools are short-staffed, and 74% of teachers say they find themselves doing extra duties because of staff shortages.

74% of teachers say they find themselves doing extra duties because of staff shortages.

SOURCE: Devlin Peck

According to a study by the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics), more than 80% of schools report that student behavior has gotten worse, with significant increases in student misconduct (56%), rowdiness outside the classroom (49%) and acts of disrespect toward teaching staff (48%).

Supporting Teachers Throughout the Year

Whether they teach math, English, history, science or one of the many other myriad options students can choose from, one thing can be said for teachers: they care about their students and want them to succeed. They go above and beyond every single day to ensure that every student can thrive in their classroom…and often that means late nights of grading papers and preparing lessons, early mornings to provide make-up tests and tutoring or phone calls with parents during off-hours to make sure assignments are understood. Teachers are the very definition of “above and beyond”—and they do it all, every single day.

So, do teachers deserve a little recognition and praise? You bet your textbooks they do!

Even though teachers have their very own Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday during the first full week of May, they deserve our gratitude and appreciation all year long. And that’s why we at Hallmark Business Connections have come up with a list of some of our very favorite ways to show teachers the love. From a few simple teacher appreciation gift ideas to handwritten notes to treats and teacher appreciation themes, we think you’ll love our ideas for letting educators know how much they are appreciated for the hard work they do all year long.

Here are some great ways to surprise your teachers throughout the year and let them know you appreciate their hard work and dedication:

Have a teacher appreciation theme week. Just like spirit week for the students at school, but this one’s all about the teachers. Think about things like Silly Sock Day, Crazy Hair Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, Spirit Day and even Jeans Day on Friday. (Talk about TGIF…you’re sure to see some teachers doing happy dances on Jeans Day!) If you’re looking for no-cost teacher appreciation ideas, this is one that’s super popular, and you can get everyone—from administration to subs—involved in the fun.

Stock up on greeting cards you can personalize. At Hallmark Business Connections, you can stock up on greeting cards for every occasion. Be sure to grab teacher appreciation cards so you’ll be prepared for the day, but don’t forget to reach out to teachers on other special days like birthdays and anniversaries, too. Let them know you’re there for difficult life moments by sending sympathy and encouragement cards, along with greetings for other big and small moments throughout the year as well. Celebrate work anniversaries to let teachers know how much of a difference they make every day in the lives of their students. You can even select greetings from our Mail to One selection where you can add a personalized message and have your card stamped and delivered directly from Hallmark to an individual recipient for those occasions that require that extra personalized touch. You’ll be amazed to see how appreciated and recognized greeting cards will make your teachers feel.

Give small gifts as tokens of your appreciation. Teacher appreciation gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful and memorable. At Hallmark Business Connections, you can purchase bulk teacher appreciation gifts like calendars and bookmarks that are full of positive messages to inspire educators and school staff throughout the year. For big celebrations like birthdays, work anniversaries and Teacher Appreciation Day, you might consider a fresh cut floral bouquet to brighten their workspace. After all, there’s nothing quite like flowers to help relationships bloom! If your budget allows, you can also consider ordering matching teacher appreciation shirts and encourage everyone to wear them on the same day. Or create a teacher appreciation basket that’s full of fun supplies to make their everyday classroom life easier (like dry erase markers, sticky notes, a new book for story time, fun pencils and more).

Plan a treat day filled with all their faves. There’s nothing better to keep teachers energized and ready to take on a day full of shenanigans than a good ol’ treat day. Keep in mind that your staff will be coming and going through the break room at different times of day, so when you’re thinking of teacher appreciation snack ideas, be sure to choose foods that can be left out for all-day noshing. Teacher appreciation cookies or a teacher appreciation cake are always a great centerpiece idea, and they’re easy to grab for those who are rushing in between classes. If you’re looking for teacher appreciation lunch ideas, pre-made deli sandwiches, pizza or other local takeout are always popular, and when you have food catered in, it makes setup easy and stress-free. For more individualized, luxury gifts, select Christopher Elbow chocolate gift box sets that offer a variety of artisanal chocolates.

Decorate the school or teacher break room. Nothing says school spirit—and teacher gratitude—like poster paint, glitter and some well-placed masking tape. But if you’re not ready to dig into the art supplies to create your own teacher appreciation banner, there are plenty of places that celebrate teachers and offer teacher appreciation deals on many of their products. It’s a fun idea to stock up on teacher appreciation door decorations, signs and posters so you can decorate along the hallways for a festive effect throughout the school. If you’re feeling creative, consider a teacher appreciation bulletin board that students and staff alike can write on and add thoughts of appreciation, inspiring quotes or doodles.

Whether it’s teacher appreciation decorations or a small token of your appreciation, however you decide to show your appreciation to the teachers on your staff, it’s sure to be recognized and valued. Teachers carry a heavy load, and they deserve our admiration and appreciation…not just for one day or even one week out of the year, but throughout the entire year. It’s easy to do when you make a habit of consistently recognizing your staff with small tokens of your gratitude for all they do. Remember, demonstrating your gratitude doesn’t have to cost a lot of money; it only takes a little bit of your time. And in the long run, you’ll have a happier teaching staff that feels more recognized and appreciated.