What do you do to express appreciation for your chilren's teacher & school staff

Initially inclued this in elementary school section, but felt it applied to all age levels. Also exceeded the 1000 character limit for a question, so I am posting under "advice", because of the lenght, but it is really "food for thought".

We are all interested in ensuring our children receive a great education, and share a lot of thoughts about how to solve problems, but what do we do to show our appreciation for the great teacher, to whom we have entrusted our children's educational, emotional, social, and even a degree of their spiritual growth?

We have been blessed beyond measure by the dedication and hard work of our local public elementary school. We have great leadership, highly qualified and responsive teachers, and efficient and friendly support staff.

I am very expressive of my appreciation, on a regular and continual basis. Not a week goes by that I don't express my thanks in some way. I honor their class room teachers with a small gift and card for Holidays, teacher appreciation day, and make it a point to know and recongize them on their birthday. This year, we gave their classroom teachers restaraunt gift certificates for Thanksgiving, along with a card which expressed my heart felt appreciation. Each of the girls also wrote a Thanksgiving note to their teacher; the kids and teachers all love it. I chose Thanksgiving, so they could enjoy a special meal during the hectic time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For Christmas, I brought my children's teachers, principal, and office staff a large portion of an egg and potaoto breakfast casserole.

I also love educational software, and can purchase it very inexpensivly on e-bay. I was especailly impressed with GeoSafari math software (add & subtract, multip & div, & ratio's and proportions). I purchased several software titles for each of my two children's classroom teachers. I sent a note telling them the gifts are for their personal library, and I was thinking of them. Before purchasing the items, I loaned my copy to them and asked what they thought of them, whether or not they already had the item (don't want to waste time and money).

I believe my children's teachers are some of the most important people on the planet, and I want them to know I appreciate and support their efforts. I frequently ask them what I can be doing at home to enhance my children's education - they usually tell me to encourage a life style of reading, work with them on math facts, and stay connected to what is going on in their world. We do all these things and play a lot of educational games (yahtzee, scrabble, smath - math scrabble).

Would love to hear from others on this topic.

Parent Comments on "What do you do to express appreciation for your chilren's teacher & school staff"

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Wendy,my daughter and me do the same thing for her teachers and her principal and Secretaries.she makes them cards on the computer to send to them.

This Christmas, I have asked my daughter (age 12, seventh grade), what does her teacher's like. Her homeroom teacher loves food so I will get her cup filled with candy-treats and a card stating how much we appreciate her. I will also be sending an e-card to her teachers as well.

Ahh, field trip mom. :) My son is a senior and that's been my role since second grade. It's always easy to get the parents of the little ones to go to the zoo or the park, but when they get older, the kids stop wanting their parents to go. I kept thinking he'd die of embarrassment with me going, but he's oblivious to that kind of stuff. So since my kid doesn't mind me going, he volunteers me first. I know the teachers appreciate knowing they don't have to call a bunch of parents to get enough for the bus. I'll go on any of them, and I've been to all sorts of plays and museums, but I can't say I was sorry when the field trip to the Beowulf movie fell apart. :)

Our PTA's sponsor events for the teachers including breakfast buffets. When my twins were in 2nd or 3rd grade, along with my potluck dish, I delivered a letter to all of the teachers my girls had worked with, mentioning something special we appreciated about each of them. I'm told that it was xeroxed & place in every teacher's mailbox.

As my girls were diagnosed with various learning disabilities, the number of teachers, administrators, and specialists involved became too great for me to do that again. So ironically, the more intense help my kids have gotten, the less likely it's become for anyone to get my personal thanks.

My sons are in 8th and 12th grade, so the time were parents could volunteer to help the teacher is long passed.

At the end of the year, the PTA collects money to give teachers a present. There is also an appreciation night where parents are asked to give special recommendation to teachers they think exceptional.

In addition, we sometimes volunteer to chaperon classes for school trips.

On a more personal note, my younger son brought a valentine card to his teachers this year (all women) as a token of appreciation. It is the first time he volunteered to do that and to write individual Christmas cards, so we are very happy even if the idea of a valentine card looked weird at first. He also volunteers to help teachers after school. The great thing when kids get older is that they can start to show their appreciation on their own, and I have learned that often, the teachers that we preferred were also the ones they prefer.

I personally believe this kind of involvement and these expressions create an awesome atmosphere for learning, and our children's lives are enriched. Teachers are definitly deserving of our honor and admiration, and to know that parents are there to help lighten the load by lending a helping hand allows them more quality time with their families.

During the holidays, the PTA gives each teacher, teacher's aide, and staff member roughly $100 in gift cards to their favorite stores (Starbucks, department stores, restaurants, whatever). In February, the PTA holds a schoolwide "Teacher Appreciation Potluck" and families bring a variety of diverse dishes for the teachers to enjoy. During teacher appreciation week, each day has a theme, where one day the kids bring a flower, another day is a handwritten note, and each of the other days has some memento for thanks.

In each classroom, the room moms collect money for a class gift for the teacher, which is optional. Personally, we prefer to bake our thank yous at the holidays and at school's end.

I'm able to help one day a week in the classroom, so I am able to thank her by assisting with small projects (cutting, sorting) or assisting with different reading groups.

I also adore my children's public school teachers. Contrary to the great schools comparision of public and private schools, public school teachers are experts in their field IN ADDITION to being experts at teaching. Teachers always seem to appreciate snacks. Healthy snacks for their classroom, or yummy not so healthy snacks for themselves. It's nice to leave a pie or chocolate or cheese & fruit in the teachers lounge. Gift cerficates for the local coffee shop seem to go over big - I've noticed the teachers all seem to head there after school for a well deserved pick me up.

Those are very thoughtful and generous ways of expressing gratitude. So many teachers have to buy supplies out of their own pockets, so giving them things to use in their classrooms wherever they go is a great idea. Having your children involved in expressing appreciation is also important.

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