Teacher Appreciation Week is a special time to celebrate the amazing people dedicated to educating children. Here are ten fun ways to show your appreciation!
Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show how much we appreciate all that our teachers do for us. They shape the minds of our future generations and help instill a love of learning in all of their students.
It’s essential to celebrate teachers this week in recognition of their profound impact on students and the entire education system. Administrators, parents, and the community all play crucial roles in ensuring that teachers feel valued and appreciated during this special time.
Read on below for some great ideas to recognize teachers:
1. "Thank You for Being a Great Teacher" Printable
Thanking our teachers is one of the best ways to show them how much we appreciate all they do for us. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in ensuring that our teachers feel appreciated. This Teacher Appreciation Week, take the time to say “thank you” with this printable.
Have students fill out the below printable for their teachers. Collect them all and display them in the teachers’ lounge or in the hallway for everyone to see. This is a great way to show your staff how much they are appreciated.
2. Staff Spotify Playlist
What better way to celebrate your teachers than with music? Spotify playlists are a great way to show your teachers how much you appreciate them. With Spotify, you can create custom playlists for your teachers that include all of their favorite songs.
Ask teachers to share their favorite songs via a Google Form. You can even make more than one playlist based on themes. For example, you can have a “90s Hits” playlist, a "Motivational Songs” playlist, and a “Songs to Get You Through the Day” playlist.
Share the playlist with your staff and let them enjoy it, or even play it over the intercom! Check out this article on sharing and also collaborating on a Spotify playlist.
3. School Leader Tag-Out
The school leader 'tag-out' is a creative and meaningful gesture that allows school leaders to step into the classroom, giving teachers a well-deserved break. By temporarily taking over instruction, administrators not only offer support but also send a powerful message of appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week.
This is also an excellent opportunity for principals to get some more face time with the students in their buildings.
For the school leader tag-outs, administrators will "tag out" a teacher so they can take a quick break. Breaks could include but are not limited to going to the lounge for a snack, grabbing a coffee, or taking a walk.
4. Thanks for Holding it Together!
Thank your teachers for holding it together even when they have felt like falling apart during this crazy year with cute teacher bookmarks. Teachers are turning pages in their students' lives every day.
**Purchase bookmarks here.
Have each teacher take a bookmark or two and help remind them that you couldn't hold it together without them! Customize this Canva template and include a card with each bookmark as well.
Don’t have Canva?
Sign up for a FREE Canva Educator account here.
Let them know how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication with these bookmarks.
5. Staff Trail Mix Bar
Who doesn’t love a good snack attack? A DIY staff trail mix bar is the perfect combination of thoughtful and tasty—fuel for their day and a little sprinkle of appreciation all in one. It’s a simple way to say, “Hey, you’re doing an amazing job... now go nuts (literally)!”
Photo Courtesy of Sally Skowronski, Principal, Nativity of Our Savior School
A trail mix bar can include various items such as nuts, seeds, dried fruit, granola, and chocolate. We also recommend going with snack bags so that your staff can take their snack to go.
Food is always a crowd-pleaser when it comes to showing appreciation! Make this celebration festive with these trail mix bar signs.
6. Room Service for a Day
Who says teachers can’t get the VIP treatment?
This Teacher Appreciation Week, bring a little luxury to your staff with a fun and thoughtful room service experience! Teachers rarely have time to step away during the school day, so why not bring the treats to them?
Start by having each teacher fill out a Room Service Request Form in advance—this free printable makes it easy for them to choose their favorite snacks and drinks. Then, load up your staff snack cart, decorate it like it’s straight out of a 5-star resort, and get ready to roll through the hallways, delivering joy (and caffeine).
🎉 Bonus: Students will love seeing their teachers treated like royalty—it turns an ordinary day into a celebration.
This simple but meaningful gesture is a powerful way to say, "We see you, we appreciate you, and you totally deserve this snack on wheels."
Kerri Wortinger, Principal, Westview Elementary
Kerri Wortinger, Principal, Westview Elementary
7. Heartfelt Video Messages from Students and Their Families
In this digital age, video messages are a powerful way to share love and gratitude. Using free tools like Padlet, Canva Video, or even a simple Google Drive folder, students and families can record short, sweet clips thanking their teachers for everything they do.
These video messages are like a virtual hug—perfect for reminding teachers of the impact they have every single day. Admins can also join in to celebrate the magic happening in classrooms.
Play them at a staff meeting, surprise teachers in their inboxes, or turn them into a mini “Thank You Film Festival” during Teacher Appreciation Week. (Popcorn is optional but highly recommended.)
How-To Guide for Families
How to Share a Heartfelt Video Message with Your Teacher
💻 Easy-to-Use Tools
- Padlet – Create a board where families can upload video clips.
- Canva Video – Families can record and edit short thank-you videos.
- Google Drive – Set up a shared folder where families can drop in their recordings.
- WeVideo – A user-friendly editing tool for families to record, edit, and share personalized videos.
- YouTube (Unlisted) – Families can upload videos and send you private links.
📝 Simple Steps for Families
- Choose a Tool: Use the platform your school recommends (e.g., Padlet or Google Drive).
- Record a Short Video: Have your child or your whole family share a quick thank-you message (1–2 minutes is perfect).
- Keep It Personal: Share something specific the teacher did that made a difference.
- Upload or Share: Follow the provided link to upload or paste your video in the designated spot.
- Smile! You just made a teacher’s day. 💛
8. Thanks for Keeping Us "A-Float" Treat
Say thanks with a treat that keeps everyone afloat! 🛟✨
Show your appreciation for the amazing educators in your life with this simple, fun, and memorable staff gift. All you need are mini drink floaties, soda cans (or any canned beverage), and these ready-to-print tags to bring it all together.
Just attach the printable label to each drink holder, pop in a can, and you’ve got an instant smile-worthy gift! It’s an easy way to bring a little joy and refreshment to your team during Teacher Appreciation Week, the end of the year, or just because.
This thoughtful gesture reminds teachers that you see their hard work, value their dedication, and want them to feel celebrated for keeping things afloat all year long.
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Armstrong, Principal, Garfield Elementary in Clay Center
9. Stock the Fridge
We all know how important it is to fuel our bodies with healthy food—but let’s not forget our teachers need that fuel too!
One easy (and much appreciated) way to show your love is by stocking the staff fridge with healthy snacks and drinks. It’s a thoughtful gesture, especially for teachers who are constantly on the go and often eating between bells.
All you need is your staff lounge fridge, some snacks, and drinks. Fill up your staff's fridge with yogurt, string cheese, fruit, water, tea, and other beverages.
And hey, while you’re at it… Toss in a few sweet treats, too! Because sometimes, what a teacher really needs is a cold drink, a protein bar, and a surprise cookie to power through the day. A little fridge love goes a long way!
10. Inspirational Stickers
Everyone needs a little inspiration now and then—and what better way to lift your teachers’ spirits than with some fun, motivational stickers?
These little gems are perfect for decorating laptops, notebooks, water bottles, or anything that needs a pop of positivity.
Check out these great sticker sets:
- Inspirational Quote Stickers 100pcs
- Positive Motivational Stickers for Students and Teachers 300pcs
- 200 Pcs Inspirational Words Stickers
Encourage each teacher to grab one for themselves and one to share with a friend—because inspiration is even better when it’s passed on. Just be sure to flip through the packs ahead of time to remove any misprints or sayings that don’t quite fit the vibe.
They may be small, but these stickers are guaranteed to bring big smiles!
Administrators, parents, and community members—Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to shower your educators with the love they deserve! These ten fun and thoughtful ideas are easy to pull off and guaranteed to make teachers feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
From small gestures to sweet surprises, these ideas are sure to bring smiles and remind teachers just how much they’re appreciated.
Please let us know if you have any of your favorite teacher appreciation week ideas!
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