Teacher Appreciation Week ... Here we go.
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Anonymous
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This is what our school sent in email this week and I like the way they put it.
"Next week, May 5th – 9th, is Teacher Appreciation Week. Here at Lane we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week, as we all celebrate all the wonderful adults who work so hard with our students every day. This includes not only classroom teachers but also specialists (art, music, P. E., etc.), resource teachers (special education, ESOL, etc.), and instructional assistants. Please remember these individuals who work with your child when making your appreciation plans. When honoring staff members, simple tokens are always better than elaborate or expensive gifts. The best way you can thank your child’s teacher is by writing a letter to thank him or her for the many hours he or she puts into working with your child every day. Nothing means more than your – or your child’s – words of thanks. " |
Anonymous
Think of the week as also being a week of teaching your LO the lesson of appreciation. Isn't that something we want to teach our children. Life isn't just about receiving or feeling entitled right? I think it is worthwhile to show appreciation for the teachers who do so much both on and behind the scenes throughout the school year to make learning fun and productive. When I say show appreciation, I mean that from the parents and kids. For us, the students are definitely involved in teacher appreciation week and are happy to be involved. If my DDs did not want to write a letter or do something special, I would have to wonder why. The teachers are a large part of their and our lives at this juncture in life, right? |
Anonymous
+1000 |
Anonymous
Right, BUT my DC is not the one who has to get together multiple flowers on Monday, multiple office supplies for Tuesday, send in multiple tasty treats for Wednesday, +++ I am the one doing this. Now sure DC deliver these items (sometimes helping to select them first) but ultimately this is an assignment that becomes a parent's responsibility. If I'm not enthused about this week it has nothing to do with being ungrateful toward school staff. BTW, what about families who are just getting by? Are we really being fair to make these families (and especially the kids) feel like they're not able to participate? |
Anonymous
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Here's what I'm missing...
How is anyone MADE to take in something? |
Anonymous
They are not. But how many parents willingly put their small children (who can't be expected to do the shopping/buying/whatever on their own) in the position of being the one to show up empty handed while all the other kids are throwing stuff on the teacher's desk? |
Anonymous
Yeah, why make the kids suffer? My kids would be embarrassed if they weren't included in giving their teachers a gift when everyone else was. It sucks. |
Anonymous
Is this how you feel? Kids take their cues from you so remember that when you are suffering your way through getting a flower for the teacher. It will be interesting to see of your LO suffers his/her way through writing a thank you letter. |
Anonymous
Not PP, but I have 3 small kids, and while I am happy getting gift cards for the teachers, getting a different assignment for each day is hard. The elementary school and preschool always have different assignments for each day, and many times the room parents for the two in elementary school assign different things. I tell DC's teachers how much I appreciate what they do for my kids whenever I see them (e.g. if I go to school to have lunch with the kids, science night, field trips...) I think teacher appreciation day would be fine (have a luncheon for the teachers, get volunteers to man recess and lunch, and bring in the thank you cards, letters and gifts that day). Then make sure you voice your appreciation year round. DC1 has a fantastic teacher this year and I plan to write a letter to the principal, have DC write a thank you note and send in a gift card. I have no intention of doing the daily make work assigned and I guarantee you the teacher won't feel slighted in the least because she knows I think she's a fantastic teacher. I have not been at all happy with DC2's teacher, but in the spirit of teaching DC2 appreciation, I will have DC2 write a thank you card. DC3 has great teacher's also, I'll have her write thank you cards and do something nice for her teacher's, but again not the assigned daily make work. |
Anonymous
I am the PP you responded to and agree with you 100%. I feel like people are blowing this whole TAW up. For my DDs, the room moms did not make it stressful but more so meaningful, making sure the kids are involved. The only thing that will really involve a stop before school is the flower which I could just do the night before as well... So no big deal. The key is being creative and doing things that are low stress, but still touching. |
Anonymous
| As for giving supplies, isn't it late in the school year to be doing that??? That is the kind of thing that would've or should've been font at the 100th day mark, which is when supples usu get low for certain things. |
Anonymous
| Elementary teacher here. I'm sorry this is such an issue. After reading this thread it kind of stresses me out. |
Anonymous
earlier pp here. I'm not blowing it up, it has been blown up by the fact that there is a luncheon (all grade levels are assigned a category) PLUS, bring in something every day. I have more than one child. We were assigned flowers and tasty treats and office supplies and artwork and thank you notes for each of the days. Again, are my DC going to manage collecting these items, sending them in on the correct day? No. I am. Then don't do it, right? So now I'm in a position to explain to my young children that we are choosing not to participate. I'm happy to explain when our family has different POVs on real issues, but this feels unnecessary to set up parents like this. How about a Teacher Aprreciation Day and people can do whatever they want. Why is it a week with strong "suggestions" for theme gifts. It's obnoxious. |
Anonymous
Oh dear god give it rest. Maybe you should have had less kids so the whole idea would not have stressed you out too much. Seriously, its one week. |
Anonymous
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1. I'm a teacher. I don't expect anything. Gifts and thanks you notes are nice, but not necessary.
2. Students and teachers don't keep track if who gave something and who didn't. If you want to send something, do so. If you want to send in a nice nite in lieu of school supplies, do it. If you can't send in anything, that's fine. I'll still like you and your child. 3. If it's such a big issue as this thread make it seems then |