Teacher
Appreciation Week
This is officially National Teacher Appreciation Week
2015 – May 4th to May 10th. National Teacher Appreciation Day is May 5th. The history of National Education Week and
Day is not certain. The movement for
such an observance is commonly thought to have begun around the time of World
War II and Eleanor Roosevelt made a major push for the day in 1953.
So what about teachers . . . . .
Great teachers give us a sense not only of who they are,
but more important, of who we are, and who we might become. They unlock our energies, our imaginations,
and our minds. Effective teachers pose
compelling questions, explain options, teach us to reason, suggest possible
directions, and urge us on.
Successful teachers are vital and full of passion. They love to teach as a painter loves to
paint, as a writer love to write, as a singer loves to sing. They have a serious purpose and yet enjoy
enormously what they do. They more than
teach their subjects – math, reading, writing, science, physical education,
music, art, or whatever – they get excited about the topic no matter how many
times they have taught it before. They
push themselves just as they push their students, and their classrooms become
memorable learning experiences.
So what about Defer Teachers . . . . . .
Did you know that our teachers give up their lunch hours
to work with students who are struggling?
Did you know that some of our staff taught Lunch
Enrichment classes this winter even though that meant giving up their lunch
hour?
Did you know that the Defer teachers attend evening PTO
programs to support our school and to build relationships with our Defer
families?
Did you know that the Defer teachers are giving up their planning
periods to help grow leadership in our students?
Did you know that the Defer teachers wrap their loving
arms around our students every day from a warm welcome, to providing a missing
snack, to calling home to say a student did a great job?
Did you know that the Defer teachers worked hard to
organize a Food Drive and are now feeding Defer families in need of help?
Take time to thank a teacher before the
school year ends.. . . . . . .
We have all had teachers in our lives that make a big
difference. For me, it was my high
school biology teacher who planted the important message in me – Keep asking questions. You don’t need to know all the answers; you
just have to be willing to look.
Take time to send your child’s teacher an email or a
quick note whether it is today or before the year ends. Let them know how much you appreciate and
value the impact they have on your child every day. I can tell you first hand – that’s the best
thank you any teacher can receive!
