Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week. When I was in college, this was the week I always looked forward to when I became a full blown teacher. The schools that I student taught at would have amazing spreads for breakfast and lunch that the parents would put together for the teachers.

 

Parents would send in presents and acknowledge all the work they did for the students and the care that we give each and every scholar that walks through our doors. That’s at least what happened when I was student teaching.

 

Teacher Appreciation Week in my District

While the experience I had student teaching was a positive week of actual teacher appreciation, my real world experience as a teacher has been quite different. I understand teaching in a suburban district is a different dynamic than teaching in an urban setting, but man the differences are stark.

The superintendent sends us these sweet emails. He states that without us, none of this is possible. He tells us of how much we are valued and that everything we do helps the students. He will also say that he sent us donuts or bagels to every school.

 

Seeing that email and 6 am brightens my day. Then I go to work and look for these treats for breakfast. Turns out, the principals liked to hide it in the administrator’s office, and takes it from the staff. I mean come on, where’s the appreciation.

 

No, it’s not just about food. It’s just during the appreciation week, it would nice to feel that if we weren’t there, someone would miss us, or someone would care. Just knowing that we actually do make a difference.

 

 

Appreciation in Unexpected Ways

I can see the difference I make in the students, whether or not they want to actually acknowledge it. While many of us enjoy the external perks of teacher appreciation week, the internal perks are almost the best part.

Seeing growth in a student from August through May is an amazing feeling. Seeing that you actually made a difference in this young person’s life is a great feeling.  In my district, the students take assessments throughout the year so that we can monitor their growth in reading and mathematics. Seeing the growth from month to month and quarter to quarter is quite amazing.

 

It is amazing to see students that struggled in one area begin to accel and know that you had a hand in helping this child realize what they are capable and helping them get closer to achieving whatever goals they have set for themselves in the future, or helping the reach for even higher goals than they thought was initially possible.

 

This feeling is one of my favorite feelings of being a teacher. So for teacher appreciation week, while we will always love gift cards to Starbucks, Chipotle, or Panera Bread, how about showing us appreciation by showing how we have truly changed a child’s life. How about showing us that we do matter, and we do make a difference.

 

Show me that I do good in the world, and I will truly feel appreciated.

 

 

 

I’m only one call away

I’ll be there to save the day

Superman got nothing on me

I’m only one call away