10 ways to be generous to a teacher this week

This school year and the last have been unlike any before them, filled with struggles and unknowns. Through it all, teachers around the world have stepped up to lead through a crisis and help re-imagine the future. This week, we share 10 ideas for how you can show them your gratitude.

Did you have a favorite teacher growing up? Is there a teacher (or school full of teachers) now cheering your student on? October 5th is World Teachers Day. So, let’s think through all of the teachers we know and consider encouraging them with words, supplies, or surprises this week.

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
– Romans 12:8 (NLT)

Here are 10 ways you can be generous this week:

1. Brighten someone’s day. Consider setting time aside with your children or grandchildren to help them write notes to all of their teachers. One kind word can impact a teacher’s heart greatly. Pro tip: If you have younger kids, get creative with note cards and add some glitter, stickers, or a surprise inside! Older kids? Let each family member write a few words or sign the card.
2. Use your business. Do you own a small business or have a creative hobby? There might be an opportunity for you to donate some of your products/resources to teachers. Whether it be a smoothie shop bringing in smoothies for all the teachers, a donation of yarn-knit products, or a gift card for services, let your resources and your creativity drive your generosity this week.
3. Want to go big? Figure out how much it would cost to buy ALL of the supplies on the wish lists of every teacher in your child’s (or grandchild’s) school, then partner with some other parents or grandparents to get it done. Do the shopping, or contact the school to learn the best way to fund the teachers’ wishes.
4. Use your Giving Fund. If you want to use your Giving Fund to fulfill a teacher wishlist, you may be able to grant to the school’s parent-teacher organization. PTOs often know the needs of teachers better than anyone, and they’re usually made up of people who love to help. Consider making a financial gift to the PTO itself and inviting them to decide what they’d like to do for the teachers.
5. Be generous with words. Maybe you don’t feel so positive about the school situation right now. Many struggle with their kids’ teachers at one time or another. If your kids are hearing negative words about their teachers from friends or at home, consider making a plan with your family about how you will speak only positive words about teachers for the rest of this school year.
6. Feed the teachers. Arrange a teacher brunch or lunch – or support one that is already planned. Though you may not be able to participate in person during this season, you can send your encouraging notes on the day of the event. If you want to take it to the next level, ask school leadership if students can be waiting to cheer their teachers on as they return to their classrooms afterwards.
7. Support with prayer. If you aren’t doing so already, consider praying each day this week for the teachers you know. Pray for renewed strength and creativity, for their classroom needs to be met, for parents to be peaceful in their interactions with them, for God to provide for all of the needs of their families, and for all of the kids they serve every day. (Consider writing your prayers on paper and sharing these with them.)
8. Support a teacher project. If you’re feeling generous but not sure about a teacher to help, you can go online and search the project options in donorschoose.org. Select one, and surprise a teacher by making a wish come true.
9. Support a teacher far away (or go become one of them). Interested in supporting those who use teaching to reach people with the gospel around the world? Through TeachBeyond, you can support a project or teacher from one of more than 60 countries around the world. Or you can join them on mission, long-term or short.
10. Blast from the past. Did you have a favorite teacher as a kid? Is it possible you could still reach this person to say “thank you?” If you know where your favorite teacher from long ago is, send a note, send some flowers, or even go visit to say “thank you” in person. If all else fails, search for them on social media and send a message.
    

If you try one of these ideas, we’d love to hear about it. Write us at Saturday7@ncfgiving.com and tell us about the experience.