Yesterday during our elementary school’s annual “Chalk the Walk” to thank our teachers, my nine year-old son drew this picture near the school entrance. I must admit I was a little nervous when he started drawing the man with the funny teeth. I know he loves his teachers, but he also loves to be the funny guy. When I reminded him that we were there to say thank you and the pictures should be nice, he smiled up at me and said, “Don’t worry all the time, Mom. I am drawing a nice picture. This is to make my teachers smile, not get mad.”
And in the end, it was his version of nice and I think it pretty much says it all. Saying thank you to our teachers is something we should do every day – I ask my children to say it when they leave the class room and I try to say it when I pick them up after school. Saying it during this National Teacher Appreciation Week is a non-negotiable.
Yesterday there were swarms of kids at every school door, busily drawing pictures and writing messages to welcome their teachers to school on Monday morning. Walking around the school I saw rainbows, hearts, peace signs, flowers, cartoon people, and tens of signs saying “Ms. or Mr. Y Rocks!” These kids love school and it is because of the teachers who will read these signs Monday morning and then spend the week nurturing, instructing, and supporting students and their families.
So make sure you thank the teachers in your life this week – or else!