Teacher Appreciation Week kicked off yesterday, and that means today, the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week, is National Teacher Day!

We’ve all had teachers who have made a difference in our lives either through their unique teacher style, personalized encouragement, or caring heart. Regardless of the last time you were in a classroom, you’re never too old to thank a teacher!

Take a moment this week to express your appreciation for a special teacher you had growing up or a teacher who’s currently working wonders with your child. Saying thank you is free, but the value is priceless!

Here are four ways you can say thank you on National Teacher Day:

1. Send an ePraise. Our free ecard system is perfect for sending a note to a former teacher. All you need is their email address and a quick personal note from you. We even have Teacher Appreciation designs!

2. Post a Tweet. The National Education Association is encouraging both current and former students to send tweets with the hashtag #thankateacher.  They recommend these sample tweets:
o If you can write your name, #thankateacher
o If you followed your dreams, #thankateacher
o If you can read, #thankateacher

3. Visit Your Favorite Teacher. Teachers love seeing former students! Take a moment this week to swing by your old school and say hello to your favorite teacher. Learning that you still remember her will be the best give you can gift on National Teacher Day!

If you’re recognizing the current teacher of one of your kids, take a few extra minutes to visit her in person and express your appreciation. Taking the time out of your schedule to say thank her for her efforts will be very meaningful.

4. Mail a Card. Take a few moments to write a thank you note to a special teacher, and mail the card directly to their school. It’s always a treat to receive mail, especially a personal letter! If your special teacher is retired, the school may be able to forward your letter, too.

No matter how you say it, tell your favorite teacher "thank you" during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Want to do something more for National Teacher Day? Get Teacher Appreciation ideas on Baudville.com or browse our gifts for teachers board on Pinterest!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

At this point, there are only two weeks of left for Teacher Appreciation Week 2012 planning. Teacher Appreciation Week 2012 is May 7-11, and National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 8.
Are you ready? In honor of the upcoming holiday, I’ve created this High Five for Friday post of my favorite resources, ideas, and gifts for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.

1. Gifts for Teachers on Pinterest
There are lots of great gifts ideas on Pinterest for teachers, and we’ve created our own board of gifts for teachers. Browse over 40 gift ideas and repin your favorites here.  

2. 60 Teacher Appreciation Ideas eBook
One of the hardest part of Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up with great ideas. Download our free eBook for 60 appreciation ideas you can use in the spring and year round. Download the eBook for free here.

3. Teachers Rock Twist Top Tumbler 
This spring will be my brother’s first Teacher Appreciation Week as a full time teacher, and I think this fun cup filled with gummy candies (his favorite!) will make the perfect gift to celebrate! Buy this Twist Top Tumbler.

4. Gift Books
It’s a no brainer that teachers love books. For Teacher Appreciation Week this year, purchase a few new books for the classroom and add one of these inspirational gift books for the teacher, just because.

5. My Favorite Teachers
Teacher Appreciation Week is all about thanking a teacher who made a difference in your life. What teacher had the greatest impact on your life? I’m thankful to have had great teachers throughout my educational career, so I’d like to send shout outs to Mrs. Coleman, Mr. Kampfschulte, Dr. Forbes, and Doc Nichols for all their support and encouragement!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

August is here which means kids will be heading back to school very shortly! Start the year off right by welcoming back teachers, students, and staff with a small gift and welcome celebration. We’ve compiled our top ten choices for back to school gifts to make your planning easier!

1. Sticky Notes for Teachers. Teachers will love this Flip Top Note Holder and use the handy sticky notes all year. Present this gift to teachers at a meeting before the students arrive to motivate them for the year ahead.

2. Twist Top Tumbler for Student Workers. Colleges and universities have lots of student workers who keep valuable school services up and running all day and into the night! Welcome your student workers back to school with a Twist Top Tumbler. It’s a popular new take on a water bottle that they can use for their favorite hot and cold beverages.

3. Tote Bag for Volunteers. Let volunteers know how important they are to your school. One of our themed tote bags is a practical gift they’ll use every day. Get more volunteer ideas from our Recognition Resource Center, and use VolunteerSpot’s online sign up sheets for easy volunteer coordination.
 
4. Journal and Pen Gift Set for Teachers. A journal and pen gift set provides your teachers with a notebook for staff meetings and conferences that will last months.

5. Pen and Pencil Gift Set for Student Leaders. Recognize your student leaders with a welcome back gift. This sharp pen and pencil gift set will serve as a reminder of the important role they have in your school.

6. Sweet Treats for Students. Place one of these colorful sweet treat candy jars on each student’s desk for a sweet surprise and a warm welcome back to school.

7. Goofy Guy Talking Pen. Just for Fun! Set the tone for fun with a unique talking pen. It will give your teachers and staff a smile and entertain the students.

8. USB Key Chains for Teachers and Staff. Your team will love being able to carry important documents and data with them on a USB key chain. Choose the recognition theme that best suits your team for a memorable welcome back to school gift.

9. Perpetual Calendar for Administrators. Your administrators and leaders will be “perpetually” on top of things this school year with a beautiful perpetual calendar to keep track of the days for them.

10. Themed Lanyards for the Whole School. Make safety and security a priority this school year by outfitting the school with themed lanyards. The lanyards come in a breakaway option great for kids and will keep ID cares prominently displayed.

Looking for more teacher appreciation ideas? Download our Teacher Appreciation Ideas eBook for 60 ideas for back to school, holidays, and year round appreciation.

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

I just attended a couple of creative writing workshops in one of my favorite places to visit: New York City! When I enrolled, I wasn’t totally sure what I would get out of the experience. I had done my research and found that the school had a great reputation; but it also seemed from the reviews that overall student satisfaction had more to do with the individual instructors than anything. Of course, I hoped I would get good ones.  

Despite a little hesitation, I was excited about the workshops and, like a big nerd, actually giddy about being given a homework assignment to complete before one of the workshops started.

Happy about homework? Crazy talk!

But, along with the assignment, the instructor had taken extra time to introduce herself and tell us a little about what we could expect from the class and what she would expect from us. Her message was infused with humor, heart, and energy. I couldn’t wait to get started.      

That’s the power of good teachers: they don’t just contribute to the quality of your education, they also inspire you. They make you want to work. They fuel your desire to learn. They feed your hunger for knowledge.

And, as with this creative writing institution, they also help build a school’s high standing in the educational community.

Whether you’re a student, parent, or school administrator, if you’re starting back to school in a few weeks, there’s no better time to show your appreciation for your teachers. Every day, they put their passion and energy into providing the best education possible to their students – and go the extra mile to motivate their students to care as much they do. These are the gifts our teachers give to us and our communities. What do you think about giving back?

Because they make a difference…

Because they’re essential…

For all they do, say thanks!

What are your favorite ways to recognize and appreciate teachers? Click the button below to share your ideas in the comments section!

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for two years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 17 years. Before becoming a professional writer 10 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!

The back to school season is here! Stores are stocked with notebooks, backpacks, pencils, and more getting students ready to return to the classroom. Teachers are already hard at work preparing lesson plans, prepping classrooms, and getting to know the names of their new class. Help ease the transition from summer to school by using a few of these back to school teacher appreciation ideas! Your teachers will love these small surprises and be motivated to jump back into the classroom!

1. Get to know your teachers. Prepare for teacher appreciation throughout the school year by having teachers complete a Tell Us About You form. The form will gather valuable information about how teachers like to be recognized that staff, students, and parents can access all year!

2. Choose a recognition theme for the year. To jump start your year-long teacher appreciation events, choose a recognition theme. Your theme will tie all your appreciation events together and make it consistent and effective. Introduce the theme to teachers by giving them a themed lapel pin they can wear.

3. Welcome teachers back to school with a gift. Put together a gift bag of items the teacher can use in the classroom and around school, like a tote bag, classroom supplies, coffee mug, and new pens.

4. Decorate the teacher’s lounge. Make sure the lounge gets a thorough cleaning before school starts. Add an air freshener, bouquet of fresh flowers, and a blow of mints for an extra touch of hospitality.

5. Give them a big “welcome back.” Express your appreciation for teachers by saying “welcome back” all over the school! Use chalk to decorate the sidewalks with your encouraging messages. You can say: “We missed you!” “It’s going to be a great year!” “Thanks for teaching here!”

6. Send teachers on a scavenger hunt. Send teachers on a hunt around the school to discover new resources, become familiar with room changes, and work as a team. Reward everyone with a small reception at the end.

7. Throw a welcome back party. Celebrate the beginning of the school year with a small party for teachers and staff. Have refreshments and give teachers a chance to catch up from the summer. This is great for building camaraderie!

8. Provide lunch during training. Teachers often have long days before school even begins. They go through training, orientation, and classroom set up. Provide some relief to the long days by putting on lunch for everyone. Host a potluck or have a local company cater. Your teachers will thank you!

9. Create stress relief kits. Being an educator is a stressful job! Give teachers a stress relief kit to start the school year that includes a stress toy, fragrant candle, coupons to a local salon or masseuse, and of course, chocolate!

10. Send a note on the first day of school. Write a personal note to your child’s teacher or the teachers in your school and deliver it on the first day of school. In your note, express how excited you are for the new school year, how you’re looking forward to working with the teachers, and thank them for their dedication. Your note will get the school year started on the right foot!

Bonus idea! Appreciate teachers with the gift of time! Create an online class volunteer signup sheet on VolunteerSpot.com and invite parents to help.

Like these teacher appreciation ideas? Get more in our Teacher Appreciation Ideas eBook! The eBook is full of ideas for back to school, Teacher Appreciation Week, and year round recognition your teachers will love!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.