Practical ways to encourage your child’s teacher through the school year.
One of the sure-fire ways to build a positive parent-teacher relationship, is to encourage your child’s teacher through the year. Doing just a few of these practical things will make them feel appreciated and taken care of.
A side note: This is all about the heart! It’s not about bribery or getting something out of it for yourself. It’s not about ensuring your child has an easier time at school because you’ve softened the teacher up to him or her. No. If those are your motives, actually just rather don’t!
But if you genuinely appreciate all that your child’s teacher does, the time she spends preparing work and marking tests and books after hours. If you respect her and want to make sure she feels honored for the way she handles the challenges of her profession. And if you want to support her through the tough times, and make her feel super special, then this is how you can do it!
The struggle is real.
As a teacher, I can honestly tell you, we LOVE to get those little notes or messages or gifts that remind us that we’re making an impact. Because sometimes, the going gets flippin tough!
You can get bogged down with paperwork and admin, kids who continue to struggle in spite of all you do to help them, kids who refuse to work hard even though they have every opportunity to excel, and a host of other difficult situations that try to rob you of your passion and joy.
I think, for the first time, during the COVID pandemic, many parents finally appreciated the struggles of educating their kiddos. Among the host of other lessons we learned, we learned that teaching is no easy task!
Special days to encourage your child’s teacher.
Make her birthday something special!
Everyone loves to be spoilt on their birthday.
Work with the other parents in your child’s class to collect funds towards some yummy treats for the class and a generous gift. Or you can go solo and give her something special to brighten her day.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day spoils are always appreciated. Who can say no to a sweet treat or a flower or a handwritten note to remind you that you’re loved and valued!?
Spring day
Send some beautiful flowers, a pot plant or succulent to celebrate the beginning of Spring.
Or get really creative and decorate her classroom with some pretty flower garlands or cardboard flowers for the windows. Each child could write a sweet message of thanks on the flowers.
Thanksgiving
What a perfect way to show your gratitude than to encourage your child’s teacher during thanksgiving.
Sadly, we’re not big on Thanksgiving in South Africa. But it remains one of my favorite to celebrate because we need that reminder of how much we really have!
Christmas time
Christmas coincides with the end of our school year, so often end-of-year gifts are given as Christmas gifts too. It’s a special time and being at the end of the year, there’s a sense of completion before a new beginning.
Giving a small gift, a card with a simple Christmas-tree ornament or even a hand written note, is a meaningful way to show your child’s teacher some love and care during the festive season!
World Teacher’s Day
World Teacher’s Day, on 5 October each year, is a day to celebrate the progress of education and to consider how the remaining challenges facing educators can be addressed. You can check out the origins and significance of the day here.
On an individual level, it’s a day to acknowledge your child’s teachers. All the hard work they do, all the challenges they face. A day to appreciate how they overcome all those challenges to make your child’s education and progress a priority.
It’s the perfect day for a note or card or something to hang up in their class saying what an awesome teacher they are!
Practical things you can do to encourage your child’s teacher.
Now you have a list of days you can do something special for your child’s teacher. Here are some practical things you and your child can actually do for those occasions.
Send a text to your child’s teacher.
This is a SUPER simple way to connect and communicate with your child’s teacher.
When you think about it, act on it!
Next time you think:
- “Wow, I’m so grateful for how she helped my child today with that Maths problem.”
- Or “I think she’s doing such a great job with this online teaching even though it’s outside of her comfort zone.”
- Or “Wow! I know my child can be a real challenge, but she is always so kind and patient.”
Just send a quick text and tell her!
Handwritten notes are still meaningful and relevant.
We’ve lost the art of a good handwritten note; it’s just simply not part of our culture anymore. But when you receive one, it’s really special. Especially if it’s written by a little person whose letters aren’t quite the right size or the spelling is somewhat erroneous.
The fact that that little person took the time to create that note, poured their heart into it, THAT’S what means the most.
So, whenever the opportunity arises, get your child to write a note to show how much they care!
A special gift your child’s teacher will love!
Do teachers love a really nice gift? Yes!
So put some thought into it, do some research (or have your little ‘private eye’ to do it for you). Find out what her hobbies or interests are, find out what colours she likes, if she loves plants or pretty decor. Find out if she loves soaps and pamper-y things or prefers a box of chocolates.
Then find a gift that she’ll really love. And don’t be afraid to give a gift voucher! Sometimes those are actually the gifts I’ve found to be the best because they give me the gift of choice!
A gift she can share with everyone in the staffroom.
Why not find a gift you can share with all the staff?
Send a cake, a batch of cookies, a platter of fruit and nuts, some yummy filter coffee to use in their coffee machine, a box of flavored teas, a bag of sweet treats or chocolates. Send something pretty to hang up in the staffroom – a painting or significant quote or a pretty wall calendar.
Honor your child’s teacher on social media.
Here’s a great way to use your social media account. Find a great post or quote and tag your child’s teacher in it and publicly honor her on social media.
If tagging isn’t possible – I generally don’t have my learners’ parents on my social media – you can still mention them, and even you don’t mention their name, somehow, things often find their way to who needs to hear them! (You’ll be surprised who you’re actually connected to through social media!)
Reach out if she’s going through something really difficult!
Sometimes even your child’s teacher may be going through something really tough. You probably won’t even know about it unless you have a really good parent-teacher relationship! Teachers are often people who are givers, those who want to help others, who will put themselves aside for the sake of others. Even if they’re going through something really sad or traumatic or stressful or challenging.
Bless her by supporting her practically through those times. Send her a meal, a card, a bunch of flowers, a voucher to a spa for a relaxing treat. Find out what would bless her the most and do what you can!
Encouraging your child’s teacher, will have some unexpected advantages for you too!
Right in the beginning, I asked you to consider your motivation; not to even consider if you would gain any advantage by encouraging your child’s teachers.
But, the reality is this: When we give, we often receive too. Especially when we give without expecting to receive!
So here are some things that you’ll gain by being a blessing and encouragement to your child’s teachers:
- You teach your child to respect, honor, appreciate and serve those who serve them.
- You’ll find it easier to connect and communicate with your child’s teacher.
- Difficult interactions are often easier – not because of a bribe or “softening up” the teacher, but because it’s easier to be genuine and hear the other’s side when we’ve made an effort to do so.
The thought that really counts.
It’s not about how much you spend, how often you buy gifts or write notes or send texts. You don’t have to look like the most amazing mom (though if you encourage your child’s teacher – she’ll happily boast that you are!).
It’s about making sure your child’s teacher knows that the hard work they do, does not go unnoticed. Make her feel super special, noticed and cared for. And when we as parents do that, our kids learn how to be a blessing to others too! And that’s something that is completely caught, not taught, by watching it being modelled for them!
I would love to connect with you and include you in this community of Mommies as we support each other and grow together to become the best moms we can be!
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