Amber Chandler: Pandemic Times Call for Unconventional Teacher Appreciation
At the Share My Lesson blog, Amber Chandler offers some teacher appreciation ideas for these challenging times.
I know that there are those who don’t like “appreciation weeks,” as teachers should certainly be appreciated year-round. However, while I’ll agree that we should be appreciated, I’ll also argue for an intentional celebration, particularly during what I’ve taken to call “pandemic times.” With remote learning, Zoom calls, hybrid learning, ordering groceries online, putting our mail in the freezer (for the record, I didn’t do that, but I know a bunch of people who did), and drive-by birthday parades and virtual gender reveals, it is no wonder that our common sense and courtesy might have taken a hiatus, thus leaving our love of teachers on the long list of niceties that may have faded away. This teacher appreciation blog is also a mea culpa that I’ve likely taken my own kids’ teachers for granted since I’m too busy surviving, and I owe them thanks every single day. I’m guessing that other mostly responsible adults have also lost sight of the amazing work that teachers have been doing all year, so here are my unconventional ideas for appreciating teachers during these pandemic times.
Sing It from the Rooftops
Remember when teachers were popular? Remember when everyone was calling educators heroes? Let’s go back to that. For every post you see complaining about a teacher, write a positive post. For every sideline conversation you have where teacher bashing is happening, go hard and defend us. Share your positive story. Write a letter to the editor. Call your local news channels and ask them to run a story about the amazing teachers still showing up in big ways for your kids. Email the principal, superintendent and school board, mentioning teachers by name. Go to a school board meeting; during the community comment period, simply state that you are happy your children have great teachers. I’m not above asking for a billboard, but that seems complicated. You get the point. Talk teachers up!