When people remember individuals who have helped them, teachers are often at the top of the list. Teachers shine a light ahead to places that students can't yet see: a place where students find their unique talents and use them.
Shall we try to count the ways teachers help students reach their potential? A teacher doesn't just provide lessons and grade tests; a teacher is also a cheerleader, a psychologist, a crowd-control expert, a motivational speaker, a nutritionist, a literacy advocate, a nurse, and a recipient of shiny apples and the pure love of a grateful child. Besides the usual note-passing, spitballs, or occasional tongue stuck to a frozen flagpole, teachers need to know how to handle the greater challenges that come with 21st-century living, like the use of social media, family crises, and explaining complex world events. But most importantly, teachers give unwavering friendship and support to the students who pass through their classrooms.
Expressing gratitude can be simple. A warm word, a card, or just a shiny apple can show these dedicated teachers that you care.
Thank a teacher and the Teachers' Day campaign is supported in the United States by the
NEA and PTA.