Teacher Appreciation Day

The what and why of why we should gift on teacher appreciation day!

While we should appreciate the work our teachers are doing every single day, teacher appreciation day is a great excuse to drop them a little thank you to show them you see all the awesome work they’re doing with our kids.

But what on earth do you buy a teacher who probably gets a billion little gifts every year and maybe all you really know about them is what your child tells you about them? Let’s find the perfect gift for the teacher in your life!

What is Teacher appreciation Day?

National Teacher Appreciation Day or even week in some schools is usually on the Tuesday of the first full week in May. The National Education Association uses this day every year as an opportunity to show the lasting impression teachers have on their pupils and how everyone is very thankful for the amazing work they do every single day.

History of Teacher Appreciation Day

The history of Teacher Appreciation Day dates all the way back to 1953, when the first lady at that time, Eleanor Roosevelt, suggested that there should be a day to recognize the untiring services of all teachers. Apparently, Roosevelt was approached by a couple of teachers, who convinced her to raise her voice for this cause. Some sources state it was either a teacher from Arkansas or Wisconsin who wrote letters to Eleanor Roosevelt and urged her to actually go on and win recognition for the teachers nationwide. There are even a few sources that say that a few states already practiced a day for teachers; however, there is no actual documented evidence to support these claims.

The supporters of the Arkansas theory say that it was a woman by the name of Mattie Woolridge who started this campaign and had been in touch with prominent figures and dignitaries in the education system. Ultimately, she sought help from the first lady to use her influence for this worthy cause. Eventually, Woolridge was successful in attaining the attention of the first lady and convincing her to work for this cause.

Roosevelt presented the idea before Congress to appreciate the vital role of teachers in nation-building. It took almost 27 years for this cause to finally convince Congress and ultimately get a designated day, at a national level, established for it. The State Boards of Education from the states of Indiana and Kansas worked together with the National Education Association (NEA), and they combined all their efforts to get unanimous recognition for all teachers all over the nation.

In 1980, March 7th was observed as Teacher Appreciation Day for the very first time. However, from 1984 onwards, Teacher Appreciation Week in May replaced National Teacher Day in March. The National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association were behind this change, as they wanted a whole week to recognize the role and efforts of teachers. Hence, they nominated the entire first week of May to appreciate teachers. In 1985, the National Education Association decided to opt for Tuesday, during the first week of May, to celebrate National Teachers Day. Most of the states now follow the same whole week to recognize and appreciate teachers, however, some instead celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day instead rather than the full week.  There are also a handful of states or local school districts that choose to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day or week at different times.

It is not necessarily a requirement to gift during this celebration but many teachers are thrilled to receive a small thanks during this time as it really is a holiday for the educational staff!

Gift Cards

Everyone loves gift cards! This a safe option if you have no idea what to buy for your teacher on teacher appreciation day. Grab a gift card for somewhere like amazon or a local coffee shop and give your teacher the power to choose whatever they would like for their gift!

Classroom Supplies

With the cost of living crisis and many teachers funding their classroom necessities out of their own pockets, why not grab a bulk box of something your teacher can use every day in the classroom? Think big boxes of pencils, crayons, erasers, and cleaning wipes! No more sticky situations with this huge pack of Elmer’s glue!

150 pre-sharpened pencils with erasers! If you have a kid who always loses their pencils definitely consider saving your teacher’s sanity by grabbing this gift!

800 wax crayons make a useful gift for any kindergarten teacher! Show them you appreciated their awesome work by purchasing them enough crayons for the whole year allowing your teacher to save their dollars!

If your teacher’s class have graduated to pens then consider this giant package of BIC pens! You’ll save your teacher a bunch of cash and the chaos of trying to find extra pens right before the test starts!

Practical Gifts

Most teachers love a practical gift. The organization needed to be a teacher means they can sometimes forget the little practicalities that make their own life easier. Consider the weather in the state you live in or the age of the teacher’s car when picking a gift. Perhaps your teacher drives a classic and would appreciate coupons to the garage they go to or get them a car wash! Maybe you know a teacher who is a technological fanatic who loves their laptop? Why not grab them a new case or BlueTooth mouse?

We love this silent wireless mouse as a great pick for any classroom. Allow your teacher to avoid the distracting mouse clicks when they set up the next presentation for their class!

A shockproof laptop case with pockets that comes in a bunch of colors? The perfect gift for any modern teacher! What about a huge Thermos mug to keep their coffee hot in the classroom without any spillage risks?

If you live in a state that gets pretty hot in May you might consider grabbing your teacher a USB desk fan to keep cool in the classroom. We love this one that comes in loads of colors, is silent and USB chargeable!

After the pandemic, we are all using a lot more hand sanitizer! Why not grab your teacher this huge pack of fun-scented ones?

Fun Gifts

After a long day with noisy kids and then grading papers your teacher might need a little pick me up when they get home. Why not pick a gift that is aimed towards their sense of humor or something that is just so cheesy they will have to smile?

A great idea is to make a little hamper featuring a super cheesy DVD, a bottle of wine, and a few fun snacks too. You can even add some fluffy socks or a face mask to turn it into a real evening of relaxation!

How about this hilarious blanket designed to look like a giant tortilla?

It is a ridiculous gift but sure to brighten up any desktop! This is a mini wacky waving inflatable tube guy! Yes as in the ones you get outside used-car dealerships just this one is small enough to fit on a desk!

This is a great gift for any art teacher! A tiny Bob Ross bobblehead! Now let’s go paint some happy little trees! Check out even more gifts for art teachers on my other post.

If money is a little tight this teacher appreciation day then why not offer your time? You can volunteer for a field trip, after-school event or club or even classroom tidying. Most teachers would be happy to let parents know where they can use an extra pair of hands so go ahead and ask!

You can also enlist the help of your child and make something for your teacher together. A card is the best option here as many teachers are left with hundreds of amateur art projects whereas a card is nice and easy to store!