This is Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7).  Parents across the country are busy sending notes, flowers, and gifts emblazoned with a shiny red apple.  Expressing thanks to teacher, I am sure, does more than we will ever know, so I am delighted there is an official week to pay tribute to and show appreciation for teachers.  If teachers had time to keep track (which they don’t), I am certain that over a school year they hear “thank you” many times.  However, while in the busy day to day focus on the task at hand, it’s hard to reflect on the words and gestures of appreciation. 

This year I say let’s really get down to the “nitty-gritty” for Teacher Appreciation week and when expressing thanks, let’s say specifically what we are grateful for.  Just a heads up, this is going to require reflection and vulnerability on your part, but I know you can do it.  

Let me share my “nitty-gritty” example.  Just this past week, I watched a teacher, social worker and principal become a circle of support for a little second grade girl whose anxiety was on the rise.  They also included in that circle of support the little girls’ mom who was beside herself with worry.  What I noticed while observing the tender loving care they gave to the little girl and her mom, was that when a child hurts the teacher hurts.  The irony was not lost on me that this is one of many things parents and teachers have in common.  When our children hurt, we hurt.  While I knew this, I don’t think it would have resonated so deeply without this close up observation.  If it hadn’t been teacher appreciation week, I probably would not have taken the time to reflect and stay with the vulnerable feelings long enough to write a note of appreciation.

Since the pandemic hit, it would be hard to find someone who says teaching is easy.  By now, we all recognize and can appreciate the special gift a person has if they can teach.  But this profession goes way beyond helping a student learn their ABC’s or geometry.  Educators embrace the whole child and they excel at getting down to the nitty-gritty of how students learn and what keeps them from learning.  This is why they have a hard time not taking their work home with them.  They put in a lot of thought over how to reach their students.  So how about this week, we collect our thoughts, get down to the nitty-gritty and thank a teacher for something specific that you observed, admired and are grateful for.  This authentic, heart-felt expression of gratitude will be one of the greatest gifts a teacher can ever receive.