Teacher Appreciation Week Is a Time to Honor Yourself

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In Praise of Teachers | Ways to Celebrate Your Work

Attend a Conference

Conferences can be a fun way to advance your career, learn new teaching techniques, make connections, and earn continuing education credits. There are conferences all over the country covering just about every subject and grade level. You can travel to attend a conference, or attend online. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening this year.

Apply for a Grant or Enter a Contest

There are many grants available to help teachers obtain funds for their schools and classroom supplies. Grants often are large enough to make a significant difference in your classroom or school.  Here are five to consider. There are more grants for teachers in this guide.

Grab a Freebie or Discount

You don’t have to wait until May to receive an education discount. There are businesses that offer discounts for teachers throughout the year. You’ll find discount programs available at many clothing brands and other retailers.

Discounts are available on larger purchases too. For example, teachers can receive 60% off Adobe software products and a discount on new vehicles through GM.

You can use ID.me Shop to take advantage of thousands of discounts for teachers. You can search for local deals or by category to find teacher-only discounts on everything from travel accommodations to tax software.

Get Social

Social media can help you connect with teachers beyond your local community. It’s a great way to share stories, classroom ideas, successes, frustrations, and more with educators around the world. Teachers are talking on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.

You can join in by searching hashtags such as:

#teachersofinstagram

#teachersfollowteachers

#teachergram

#teacherlife

During Teacher Appreciation Week, you can celebrate with the hashtag #teachersweek.

Encourage Community Support

Schools are essential to the communities they serve, and so is active community support for schools to be successful. Family involvement can make a big difference in student success. Community support can ensure teachers are better equipped to deliver quality education and that students are ready to receive it. 

Unfortunately, teachers often find it difficult to get much-needed support. Busy parents and caregivers might not know how to pitch in, and teachers might not know how to ask for help.

Family involvement can make a huge difference in student success, and community support can ensure teachers are better equipped to deliver quality education and that students are ready to receive it. 

Experts suggest that starting small can make the school year less overwhelming for you and your students’ caregivers. One way to begin is to make a list of supplies you need or tasks family members can do. You can send these lists home with your students, email them out to families, or both. Some tasks families can take on include:

You can find more ideas for parent engagement from fellow teachers in the NEA’s resource library.

Advance your Credentials

You probably already know there’s a high demand for teachers with advanced degrees. If you don’t have a master’s degree, now could be the right time to look at graduate programs. If your schedule is tight, an online program can offer the flexibility you need to work and study.

If you already have a master’s degree, a certification or endorsement can be a smart next career step. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) offers national certification for teachers in 25 subject areas for K-12 teachers. NBPTS certification shows your professional dedication, and it has the potential to increase your salary and advance your career. 

Take Time for Self-Care

Teachers have a demanding schedule, so it’s no surprise that they often have difficulty making time for themselves. However, self-care is important. It can help you stay healthy and focused and improve your teaching performance.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

There are several resources to help you manage your work-life balance.  For instance, the Resilient Educator has a free self-care toolkit for teachers with resources on exercise, wellness, stress management, and more.  Similarly, Mindful Teacher offers a self-care library with videos, meditations, articles, and more to help teachers take time for themselves. 

For more help with mindfulness, mediation, sleep management, and other relaxation techniques, look into the Headspace app. It’s free for teachers and offers a full range of guided self-care activities.

Keep Yourself Healthy

Taking care of your health is another important aspect of self-care, especially when you’re in a classroom full of kids every day. Teachers are exposed to every sniffle and cough that comes into their classroom. They’re also under the stress of teaching and managing a bunch of children. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to stay healthy. You’ve no doubt heard them many times, but it’s hard to overstate how helpful they can be:

• Get enough sleep
• Eat a balanced diet
• Find time to exercise
• Drink plenty of water
• Wash your hands frequently or carry hand sanitizer

Take the Summer Off (if You Can)

While many people may think of summers off as one of the best perks of being a teacher, you probably know that an actual summer off is rare for many teachers. While students get a break, the NEA says many teachers “spend summers working second jobs, teaching summer school, and taking classes for certification renewal or to advance their careers.”

But if you can, taking the summer off can be a much-needed break and a huge stress reliever. Even taking it slower over the summer can help. And even if you’re working or in school, making time for a vacation can help you recharge for the coming school year.