Get out the kazoos and balloons! Teacher Appreciation Month is HERE, y’all! It’s that time of year when we remember and celebrate all the great teachers shaping students’ lives.
While it’s easy to gift a mug with an apple or ruler on it (not recommended), this year we thought it would be nice to ask teachers what they need. Here’s what we learned:
1. Treat teachers as professionals, because that’s what they ARE!
Trust them to make instructional choices with their valued expertise. They want to serve kiddos in a way that works best for each child.
2. Time is a huge stressor.
Provide more time for planning, working with colleagues, and reflecting on teaching. Also, give ample time to recharge. Burnout is a real thing!
3. Give teachers autonomy over the decisions of the classroom instead of scripted teaching.
Allow teachers to bring themselves to school, and trust (see #1) they will seek out coaching, a mentor, or other professional development opportunities to make themselves better.
4. Don’t add more work.
Adding tasks and unrealistic expectations to teachers’ already full workload is frustrating, and frankly, untenable and unsustainable.
5. Practical and immediately applicable professional development.
No more sitting in rooms with everyone looking at the same slide presentation.
6. Teachers crave relationships!
Connecting to colleagues, administrators, families, and students is their forte! These relationships are essential for collaboration and continuous reflection on teaching and learning (see #2).
7. (The big one) Equitable pay and access to materials are necessary.
Daily tasks are so much harder when you don’t have the proper materials or compensation.
8. (The biggest one) They love their students.
They love their students and want to see them grow socially, emotionally, and academically. It’s why they became teachers! They want to do meaningful work, through sustainable systems and mindful practice, to avoid burnout.
Betsy Butler (she/her) is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in English, a Master’s in Education, and has been teaching since 1992. Betsy uses her three decades of teaching experience to write and revise our courses while selecting the perfect accompanying texts. Her specialty areas include ELA, special education topics, behavior management, and mental health.
Fun Fact: Betsy’s daily conquest is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle!
