Teacher Appreciation Week: Small Ways to Show Teachers Your Gratitude
Teacher Appreciation Week is a wonderful chance to pause and recognize something that often goes unspoken: the daily, steady work early childhood educators do to create environments where children feel safe, welcome, curious, and ready to learn.
This work is joyful. But it’s also demanding. It asks for patience, emotional presence, flexibility, and endurance, often all at once. And while appreciation is best when shared often, Teacher Appreciation Week offers a powerful moment to show teachers and team that their effort is noticed and valued.
And meaningful appreciation doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate! Often, it’s the specific, thoughtful gestures that resonate most.
Low- to No-Cost Ways to Show Appreciation
1. Write specific, personal notes
A generic “thank you” is easy to overlook. A specific note like “I’ve noticed how you help shy children feel comfortable during circle time” lands differently. It shows you’re paying attention to your teachers’ craft and talents, not just their roles.
2. Cover a classroom for short breaks
Even 20 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time can feel like a gift. Step in, manage the classroom, and give teachers space to reset, without asking them to “use it productively.”
3. Invite families to participate
Encourage families to write short notes or share a quick story about how a teacher has impacted their child. Compile them into a simple packet or email. Hearing directly from families can be deeply affirming.
4. Highlight teachers publicly
Use your center newsletter, bulletin board, or internal communications to spotlight teachers. Keep it authentic. Share what they do well and why it matters.
5. Ask—and listen
A simple question like “What would make your day feel easier right now?” can surface small but meaningful changes. When possible, act on what you hear, even if it’s incremental.
6. Create a moment of calm
Set up a small, quiet space in the staff room with coffee, tea, or simple snacks. The idea is to give teachers a place to pause and enjoy some quiet, if even briefly.
7. Adjust expectations for the week
If you can, ease non-essential tasks. Fewer meetings, less paperwork, or lighter administrative demands signal that you value teachers’ time and energy.
8. Name the impact of their work
Take a moment in a meeting or a note to connect what teachers do each day to its larger meaning: children building confidence, forming friendships, developing early learning habits. This reinforces purpose, not just effort.
Bonus: Use this week to explain your efforts and the reason behind them to your students.
We at Highlights are big believers in kindness. To us, it’s one of the most important skillsets children can gain in their precious early childhood years. Kindness learning is foundational to school readiness on several levels. One is how to helps children connect and form friendships, and relationships are just as essential to school success as academic skills are.
Let Teacher Appreciation week be an opportunity to model and discuss kindness in action, perhaps in a Morning Meeting or during Circle Time. Invite children to express their appreciation for their teachers, which is sure to warm everyone’s hearts.
* * *
Appreciation doesn’t require a large budget. It requires attention, intention, and a willingness to notice the details of what teachers do well. When educators feel supported and valued, it shapes not just their experience but also the experiences they create for every child in their care. A small act of kindness goes a long way.
And we’d like to take a moment to thank you, Directors and Administrators! The care and consistency you bring to your centers shape the experience of the children, their families, and educators in your care. The environments you create, where learning is joyful and purposeful, matter. You are helping children become their best selves. For this, you have our endless gratitude.