Why you should celebrate the teachers in your life
This is why teachers deserve appreciation every day.
USA TODAY
It’s Teacher Appreciation Day and the celebration marks the perfect occasion to honor an educator in your life.
For those a little late to the party, there’s no need to fret. Falling on the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week, Teacher Appreciation Day is a small part of a week-long celebration of the impacts of teachers. So there’s still plenty of time to do something thoughtful. Here’s what we know.
US Teacher Appreciation Week: When is Teacher Appreciation Day 2024? Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with deals, gift ideas
When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2024?
2024 Teacher Appreciation Week began on Monday, May 6 and concludes on Friday, May 10, according to Teachers of Tomorrow. It always takes place during the first full week of May.
Is it US Teacher Appreciation Week?
Forks. National Teacher Appreciation Week began on Monday and concludes on Friday, May 10.
When is Teacher Appreciation Day 2024?
Teacher Appreciation Day is on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, according to the National Education Association, during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts
Plants or flowers: Plants and flowers are a fun and easy gift for Teacher Appreciation Week. According to Greendigs, many plants are good in a classroom setting because they reduce stress and increase productivity. Low-maintenance options include Peperomia and Monstera. A variety of planted herbs like rosemary, sage and basil are also good choices. As for flowers, ode à la rose recommends daisies, orchids, dahlias, carnations, chrysanthemums and peonies.
School supplies: According to the National Education Association, educators spend around $500 to $750 out of pocket on school supplies each year. Cost of school supplies is also on the rise, increasing nearly 24% between 2021 and 2023. Raymond Geddes, an online schools supplies shop, recommends buying items in bulk for a teacher’s classroom. These include pencils, dry-erase markers, coloring supplies, loose-leaf paper and tissue boxes. Other items like grade books, post-it notes, paper towels, glue sticks and index cards are recommended by Classful.
Something thoughtful: According to Teaching Traveling, the best gift a teacher can receive is a thoughtful letter from a student, whether handwritten or an email. Including specific details of how the teacher has impacted a student during the academic year, like a favorite classroom memory or lesson plan, helps them feel appreciated. Making homemade baked goods for your teacher is an alternative.
Another way to come up with a thoughtful gift is by gathering groups of parents to contribute to school or classroom needs, according to the website. For example, parents could pool donations to replace classroom items like a printer or old textbooks. A larger group of parents could help with landscaping needs or donate student lunches.
Gift cards: There are plenty of gift card favorites for teachers, with Amazon at the top of the list, according to We Are Teachers. Others are Target, Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. More practical gift card ideas include places for school supplies, like Staples or Teachers Pay Teachers, as well as gas stations and grocery stores.
Teacher Appreciation Week Deals and Freebies
There are plenty of Teacher Appreciation deals out there for 2024. Some confirmed sales include:
- Golden Corral: Get 20% off one adult buffet purchase during Teacher Appreciation Week with identification or proof of employment at participating locations. The restaurant is also offering a “grads eat free” promotion until May 10.
- Staples: Get 20% off your in-store purchase when you show your teacher ID at checkout from May 5-11. Free teacher supply kits will also be available while supplies last with a valid ID.
- Zaxby’s: Get one free boneless wings meal when you order one boneless wings meal on May 7. It is available at participating locations and redeemable through the Zaxby’s app or website.
- McAlister’s Deli: Teachers can get a free 32-ounce tea from May 6-12 with a valid ID.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Until May 12, teachers and school staff get 20% off their orders with valid IDs on dine-in, call-in, and walk-in orders.
- Insomnia Cookies: Teachers and school staff with a valid ID get a free Classic cookie in-store with no purchase necessary all week. The offer varies by location.
- Huddle House: Teachers get a free meal until May 10 and students can also nominate a teacher to win free meals for a year at participating locations.
- Raising Cane’s: 10 teachers will win an all-expenses-paid summer vacation. Teachers can enter the contest on RaisingCanesTASweepstakes.com until May 10. Winners get two round-trip tickets to any US destination, a two-night hotel stay and a $200 gift card.
- Potbelly:Teachers can get a free cookie or fountain drink with the purchase of an entrée and valid ID through May 12.
- TGI Fridays: Teachers get a free entrée on May 7 at select locations. Entrée options include a cheeseburger with fries, a half rack of ribs with a choice of the side or a Caesar salad with chicken.
