As I’m sure you know by now, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. In more normal years than this one, I’m sure you remember thanking your teachers for all they do, and/or remember your parents thanking them, with expressions of gratitude such as cards, flowers, other gifts, or even celebrations, depending on what your school allowed you to do or had as a part of its traditions. Since most of you are back in class at least some of the time now, perhaps you have been able to do some of these things this year, even though I am sure it is not quite the same as it was before. If you are not back in class, or if you are only there part-time, or if the limits placed on you are such that you are not able show appreciation for your teachers in the ways you once would have, try to find new and different ways to thank them. Whether you are back in school full-time or not, whether you have the opportunity to participate in a larger show of gratitude for your teachers or not, the most important thing to remember about making your teachers feel appreciated is that ultimately, the size and scope of what you do doesn’t matter nearly as much as the sincerity behind it. What matters most to your teachers is that instead of simply showing them appreciation, you make them feel appreciated. Show them you care, and that your appreciation for them is from the heart, so that whether large or small, your show of gratitude will make a positive difference – not just for them, but for you as well.
The first way to increase the sincerity of your appreciation for your teachers is to make thanking them a habit – not just this week, but throughout the year. Whether you thank them at the end of a class period for the class itself, or thank them for help they give you during class, teachers appreciate hearing the words more than you might think. Since they don’t hear “thank you” from every student, and they don’t hear it all the time, they notice and appreciate it when they do hear it, especially when they can tell that it is sincere. If you resolve to get into the habit of thanking your teachers more often, take care not to make it seem automatic or rehearsed. Instead, look at them when you speak to them, smile (especially when masks are no longer required, or if you are thanking them remotely), and try to sound enthusiastic. This is easier to do when you like the teacher or the class, of course, but if you make the effort to sincerely thank the teachers who challenge you, too, they will not only appreciate it, but will be more willing to work with you and help you through your challenges than they already were.
In addition to making thanking your teachers a habit, another way to show you appreciate them is by taking advantage of the times they go out of their way to assist you. In addition to thanking them at the end of such sessions, try to be as positive as possible during them, too. You may think teachers don’t realize how hard it is to give up your free time in order to receive extra help, or to feel different from your classmates when you are taken out of class to receive support, but they do. If instead of complaining about what you are missing, you focus on what you are gaining, and thank them for it to boot, they will only appreciate your gratitude all the more, because they will recognize just how hard it was for you to react positively to a challenging situation. Try to remember, too, that when teachers go out of their way to help you, they often do so during their own free time – they might be missing their lunch period, just as you are, or need to start their planning or grading later so they can help you after school, which means they will either stay even later to finish it or need to bring it home with them. Realize that when you are thanking them for their help, you are also thanking them for their time, and show them that you do not take their time for granted, and they will feel even more appreciated.
In addition to showing teachers you appreciate them by making thanking them a habit and recognizing when they go out of their way to assist you, try to show your gratitude by making your actions speak louder than your words. What teachers appreciate even more than hearing your thanks for their help and their time is seeing the effort you make to show you care in everything you do, as well as to recognize that even when you don’t like something or find it challenging, you should still be willing to do it to the best of your ability and get the most out of it that you possibly can. Remember that teachers don’t choose to teach so they can be honored during a special week, or even so they can hear you thank them for all they do throughout the year – they choose to teach because they want to believe they can reach every one of their students and make a difference in their lives, day in and day out. As they approach their work each day with that goal in mind, so they wish that you recognize and accept it, and the more you strive to do that, the more appreciated they will feel.
Just as this has been the school year like no other, so this week is the Teacher Appreciation Week like no other as well. Whether you are back in school full-time or not, whether your school has found a way to celebrate your teachers or not, take this opportunity to find ways to appreciate them and show you care that will mean more to them in the end than any celebration ever could. By expressing your sincere gratitude, especially when they have gone out of their way to assist you or things are particularly challenging for you, as well as by striving every day to do your best, just as they do, you will show your teachers how much you care, and the more you show them you care, the more willing they will be to help you along on your path to success.