Small Things Count

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. It’s a day to remember that teachers care for our kids a large portion of the day, keeping them safe and helping mold them into good, productive, caring adults.  To remember that their day doesn’t end at 3:00 and their work year isn’t just 9 months, because they spend so much outside-school-building time on such things as lesson plans, grading homework, creating projects and activities, working individually with students who need extra help, conversing with parents in person or on the phone, attending classes and in-services to improve their teaching, serving on school-improvement committees, planning open-houses/back-to-school nights, completing applications for government grants, then paperwork in compliance with those grants, preparing for accreditation, and shopping for supplies for their students.  And the money for those supplies comes out of their own pockets.

Today, remind teachers that they are appreciated.  Send a thank-you note with your child.  Bring a treat to the faculty room.  Call the principal to say how much a certain teacher has helped your child.  Use #TeacherAppreciationDay to post on social media.  I’m sure you  can think of something special to do today.