Boston's Best Ways To Celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Day

While there aren't many National Teacher Appreciation Day parties open to the public in Boston, there are still a variety of ways to celebrate the day and to give meaningful thanks to Massachusetts teachers. Whether you are a parent of young students, a student yourself, or if you graduated many years ago, there are some truly thoughtful ways to honor special educators during this year's National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 5. Here are five tips that will surprise and honor favorite teachers!

Write A Letter

Teachers do so much for us. They help shape our minds, our children's minds, and often do this without much thanks. No matter how old or young you are, it is never too late to look up a past teacher and write a thank you letter. There is really no better way to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Day than to express gratitude to all of the teachers in your life. This is also a fun weekend or after-school activity for young children. Without a doubt, any teacher will appreciate the thought on National Teacher Appreciation Day.

Give A Gift

While a letter is a truly genuine way to give thanks, a gift wouldn't be a bad idea either! Whether its baked goods, school supplies, or a small trinket of thanks, a gift is a great way to give back to a teach on National Teacher Appreciation Day in a small way. Since in Boston, and across the country, there are an increasing number of peanut-free classrooms, make sure to check what the school's policy is on bringing in baked goods to your classroom before whipping up a batch of grandma's famous recipe peanut butter cookies for your favorite teacher.

Make A Donation

Another way to honor a teacher on National Teacher Appreciation Day is to make a small donation to a education-related cause or charity, preferably one near and dear to your teacher's heart. There are some really great Boston-based groups that are doing some meaningful work in the field, so give a donation in honor of your favorite teacher! Some great organizations in Boston include: Junior Achievement, Tenacity, Boston After School and Beyond, Boston Partners in Education and many, many more.

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Volunteer

Another option is to make a donation of time rather than money. Hundreds of education themed nonprofits in the greater Boston area are constantly seeking reliable volunteers. Especially in the summer months, when kids are out of school, there are many programs that could use some extra help. Ask your favorite school teacher which organization they recommend, and tell them you are inspired by them to do some volunteer work!

Be An Informed Citizen

No matter which political party you prefer, one great way to celebrate teachers is by getting educated on the issues before voting in any election. There are a variety of opinions and initiatives in the field of education that are voted on at the municipal, state, and national level. Ask a teacher what they think of each education-related issue, and take their thoughts into account when making your final decision in the ballot box. From budget, to curriculum and standardized testing, there are many political-seeming issues that teachers must deal with in a very real way.