By Sarah Maraniss Vander Schaaff (Staff writer for Mindprint Learning)
Note: This was a previously published blog. Mindprint continues to provide FREE accounts for teachers and their families all year long as our ongoing thanks for all their dedication to support to our nation’s future. If you are a teacher and would like a free Mindprint, please contact us here.
6 Key Facts about Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4th-8th is Teacher Appreciation Week. We do not need to wait until this week in May to show our appreciation.
FACT #1: Teacher Appreciation Week was started by the National PTA in 1984. It is always the first full week in May.
FACT #2: The social media hashtag for posts related to Teacher Appreciation Week is: #ThankATeacher
FACT #3: The National PTA Facebook page will post a different question each day of the week. Join the discussion on their Facebook wall and post comments or photos. Here’s the schedule:
- Monday: Name a teacher who’s helped you dream big!
- Tuesday: How has a teacher impacted your life?
- Wednesday: Share the best memory you have of a teacher.
- Thursday: Post a #TBT of your favorite teacher.
- Friday: What’s the best advice a teacher gave you?
FACT #4: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are currently 3.1 million full-time-equivalent teachers in public schools and 0.4 million in private.
FACT #5: The Smithsonian.com traces the origins of giving apples to teachers, looking back to the days of one-room school houses. The cultivation of apples made them less bitter and a special offering for teachers. As the post reminds us, “…on the frontier, (teachers) frequently received sustenance from their pupils.” As in, they needed food and the students and their families provided it.
FACT #6: Among the suggestions for how to express gratitude to a teacher during this week (besides offering an apple), the National PTA suggests a thank you note and volunteering to help in the classroom.
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