Be kind to your teacher

It's the PTA's annual Teacher Appreciation Week. And the National Education Association has chosen today as National Teacher Day.

Some groups are putting together a giant thank-you card for teachers. Web sites like this one abound with all sorts of ideas of how to appreciate your teachers. There's even a "thank a teacher" group on Facebook (you have to join to participate).

But we like the simple suggestions from National Board-certified Lee County teacher Kathryn McKinnon, as published in today's Fort Myers News-Press. Here's a sample (see the News-Press story for the full list):

• For at least one day, all of my 150 students will address me by my correct name, "Mrs. McKinnon." Not Mrs. Martinez, Mrs. Lackey or any of the other various teacher names I am referred to as on a daily basis.
• No one will chew bright green or blue gum and try to act like it's not there when they're instructed to put it in the trash. (Hint: it's hard to miss the neon gum, guys. Even when you think it's hidden, it sort of stands out ... a lot).
• My students will realize that being a teacher doesn't mean you know everything. And while I love the many discussions we have as a class, let's face it, if I did know everything I'd be busy curing diseases and solving miscellaneous global crises.

Have any other suggestions for how to appreciate a teacher? We'd love to hear them.

(Times photo, 2007)

Comments

[retired]

Be a school volunteer. Let the teacher teach the children and you help behind the scene. Elementary teachers don't have enough minutes in the day to prepare the activities for the children. I volunteer for a first grade teacher. She makes a list for me each week. I prepare the pieces that will be needed for activities. I tied the string on the kites they made to get them ready to fly. I cut shapes for them to learn about fractions. I staple writing paper together. I divided the science materials for the 5 teachers. I don't work with the children. I make it easier on her so she doesn't have to stay at school until dark every day getting ready for tomorrow.

Don't wait for the school to call you. Arrange with a teacher. I help the teacher who taught my grandchild 2 years ago.

It is fun. Primary teachers are face-to-face with the children all day! I taught middle school for over 40 years and when the bell rang at the end of class, I opened the door and said goodbye. Elementary teachers line the children up and take them to lunch, PE, art, music, etc. and then go get them.

If you can read this, thank a teacher!

[teacher]

Stop bashing us on all the blogs. Some have called us parasites, drunks, and perverts... 95 percent of us are good people, like any other profession.

If we continue to put teachers down, put more on their shoulders, give less for that hard work, and continue to raise children who are disrespectful and could care less about their education, all the great teachers will leave... because they and their life's work IS NOT appreciated.

They will move on and find great jobs because they are bright, hard-working people. But your children will suffer. With every good teacher that leaves, a less qualified teacher may replace them. 40 percent of new teachers leave in the first three years... Why?

[HS teacher]

HS teachers today spend more time then ever with their students. They work JUST as hard with elementary school teachers.

I have my students come in 10 minutes before the day starts, at 7:05. I teach six 50-minute classes. I stand at the door between EVERY class to monitor the hall, answer questions, and get the next group started on the class. I eat my snack (no time for a real lunch) with my students as they do their make up work, receive tutoring, and take tests. My planning period is a repeat of my "lunch". So, I spend from 7:05-3:00 with my students, every single minute. I take home ALL of my paperwork, lesson planning, emailing, and grading because I can rarely get anything done the way things are for us right now.

Elementary teachers AND secondary teachers are with students 24/7, but HS teachers are responsible for 150 kids a day, so that makes a big difference when it comes to conferences, calculating grades, paperwork, and contacting parents.

HS need more love and support, like many elementary teachers have.

[don't feel sorry for hs teachers]

HS teacher, if you teach 6 out of 6 it is by choice and you get 17% more salary. My children went through high school and I remember the many times that they talked about finding an assignment on the board and the teacher sat and read the paper.

[jwt]

dear don't feel sorry---
I DO feel sorry--for your KIDS! Sounds like they had a couple of slackers, yeah...bet they were a joy to have in class with an attitude coming from home like yours! Oh---wonder where that 17% is.....betcha didn't do so well in math,either, huh?

[over Pinellas HS teaching]

I've been on both sides... the "horrible" civilian jobs and the "easy livin'" teaching side. I'm taking the advice of all the wonderful citizens who suggest we get out of education so we can rough it with the folks who won't read, can't spell, and couldn't do elementary math if their lives depended on it. In 20 days, I'm done with PCS. Forever. Keep the waste of time parent conferences, the "hugs not drugs" claptrap we use instead of education, and the babying, "students and parents are never wrong" we get to do because parents never sucked it up at home. Home school 'em or keep using PCS as your free child care/detention facility. Congrats if your kid is a national merit scholar, succeeds at a magnet, or helps old ladies and baby ducks. There's not enough out there to turn the tide of this lost generation, but at least your kids have a future that doesn't involve welfare or prison.

[another hs teacher]

Wow, even under the "teacher appreciation" blog, HS teachers are getting bashed. Many HS teachers actually teach and are amazing, loving people. I am one of them, but all this hs teacher bashing has me heading for the door. I am tired of defending myself. It is really said how hateful people are.

[JD]

Thank you teachers for helping to make my children productive members of society.
My son graduated last year from a North County HS with 6 AP classes under his belt, went to FSU and did well this first year 3.5 average. He couldn't have done it without you!!!!! My little one a second grader has a ways to go. My big fear is with all the budget cuts and the state of the economy that you will not be able to provide my little one with the same quality education that my older boy had. My job was taken away but luckily I have always worked 2 jobs and have the other to rely on and YES I was a teacher.
We don't need bashing. We need support here!!!!
The public would do well to use their energy constructively and target those that put our economy in the toilet....your state and federal legislators.

[hailey]

bye
bye

[bailey]

thank you for the hint on gum

[byebye]

you rock your unbelieable.

[zachary allen hall]

Dear mrs.Ku,
Middle school is no fun without you. Do you remeber the little kid in your 1st and 2nd grade and who kept helping you till 5th grade was over. I miss you. I go to Osceola Middle School!!!

[Jenna M.]

Be nice to the teachers.
They help us kids.
hehehe
(:

[Desirae]

Thank you teachers for helping me to form productive members of society.
My mom always taught me that teachers are not perfect and that they make mistakes.Thats why I dont let it get to me

[Summer C.]

Dear Mr.Rinnie,
you were my favorite teacher in elementary school:-) thank you for being a good teacher!!!

[Jeremy P., Osceola Middle School, sixth grade]

Dear Mrs.Kephart at McMullin Booth Elementary School,

Middle school is going great for me, but I think it would go easier for me if you were here. You always handled situations against others when they picked on others, including me, but I work hard with my struggles in other subjects like math,reading,and writing including geography without others distracting me from working hard on my work.

At my school, we have laptops to help us learn in different ways. I have had Honor Roll. I was on E-Team, too, because I had so many Excellent conduct grades. My favorite subject is Reading now. I find lots of cool stories inside books, like Somewhere in the Darkness. Mrs. Augustine is my favorite teacher.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!

Sincerely,
Jeremy P.

[Im NoT lEmOn]

I HATE LEMON SO IM NOT LEMON. THANKS FOR THE TIP ON GUM. NOW I WILL ONLY CHEW SLIM JIM. GUM SUCKS IF WITH LEMON.