Setting up your new Science Classroom

A well-equipped science classroom is the foundation for engaging and impactful scientific exploration. There have been three  times in my career when I was gifted an empty classroom and told to make it into a science lab for middle schoolers. An empty classroom is like a blank canvas. The great thing about it is that the possibilities are endless. The scary thing about it is that the possibilities are endless. I made some mistakes but also learned a great deal about how to set up a new science classroom.

science classroom layout and design

Safety

  • Fire extinguishers – Depending on local code or law, your classroom may be required to have one or two fire extinguishers. They should be permanently mounted in a location determined by your local fire department and should be easily accessible to adults or students in the room. Be careful not to block access with furniture or supplies!
  • Safety goggles – Place your goggle cabinet in a location near an electric outlet to ensure that they can be sanitized.
  • Lab coats or aprons – It’s much easier to hang lab aprons in a location that’s convenient for students, but you might find that keeping them folded in a drawer is more attractive.
  • First Aid Kit – Your first aid kit should include bandages, antiseptic solutions, gauze, and gloves. It should be easily accessible and its location should be marked so that everyone can identify it.
  • Eyewash and safety shower – These should be prominently identified and easily accessible.

Equipment and Supplies

In general, all science teachers will need glassware. Stock a few extra of everything to allow for a full class set even if there’s breakage! A good amount to start with is:

  • 50 mL graduated cylinders (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 20 mL graduated cylinders (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 10 mL graduated cylinders (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 250 mL beakers (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 500 mL beakers (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 1000 mL beakers (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • 500 mL flasks (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • test tubes (5 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • test tube racks (1 per pair of students or per lab group)

You’ll also need general lab equipment and supplies such as:

  • electronic scales (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • meter sticks (1 per pair of students or per lab group)
  • disposable pipettes (I buy a case of 1000)
  • popsicle sticks
  • straws
  • zipper baggies (I buy a case of sandwich size and a case of gallon sized)
  • glue sticks (holy smokes – you’ll never believe how many glue sticks you need! Plan on 1 per student per month if you’re using interactive notebooks)
  • colored pencils (get the biggest case you can!)
  • scissors (1 per student)
  • metric rulers (1 per student)
  • dish soap

The equipment and supplies you will need for your middle school science classroom will depend on your curriculum. Go through the labs you plan to do this year and make lists of supplies to purchase!

Storage and Organization

science classroom layout and design

Like my kitchen, my classroom never has enough storage. There are three different types of storage necessary in a science classroom:

  • storage of supplies students use regularly – scissors, glue sticks, rulers, colored pencils, etc.
  • storage of equipment – microscopes, beakers, scales, test tubes, etc.
  • storage of chemicals – ethanol, acetic acid, etc.

Equipment and chemicals should have permanent storage cabinets. Some classrooms have built in storage cabinets or shelves appropriate for equipment. If your classroom has a prep room attached to it, the prep room likely has storage cabinets suitable for beakers and microscopes.

how to store chemicals in the science lab

 

Use dedicated chemical storage cabinets or shelves that are specifically designed for chemical storage. These cabinets should be well-ventilated, fire-resistant, and have secure closures. Ensure that cabinets are clearly labeled for easy identification of contents. Chemicals should be stored according to their hazard classes and compatibility. Keep incompatible chemicals away from each other to prevent reactions or accidental mixing. Refer to safety data sheets (SDS) for guidance on storage requirements and compatibility.

 

 

Daily supplies can be kept in a central location in portable drawers. You might find it easier to stash a small supply of supplies in baskets on each lab table.

how to store classroom supplies how to store classroom supplies

Classroom Layout

Likely you will have little input into the furniture in your classroom. Science labs often have permanent furniture and lab desks and there’s not too much you can do with them. Depending on the set up of your sinks and lab desks, you have many choices.

science classroom layout and design

  • Groups or alone – Do you want your students facing forward in rows or sitting in tables or groups? There might even be times when you want them sitting in a circle for a discussion. For whatever flexibility you have, different parts of a unit will lend themselves to group work more than others.

 

 

 

science classroom layout and design

Accessibility and Inclusion

Consider the needs of students with disabilities and create an inclusive learning environment. Ensure that the classroom design, furniture, and equipment accommodate diverse learners.

 

science classroom layout and design

 

Back to School Sale!

Use code BTS23 in the JustAddH2OSchool store for 40% off your entire purchase now through the end of September!

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Summer Games

Summer Spot the Differences

 

Summer Crossword

Summer Word Find

 

More Summer Games

the science of swimmingSwimming

Learn about Newton’s Third Law and Hydrodynamics with these two hands on activities exploring the science of swimming. Includes 2 hands on activities:

  • Marble Marvels – Use marbles to demonstrate action and reaction forces.
  • What a Drag – Test the amount of water resistance on objects of different shapes.

$3.10

 

science of basketballThe Science of Basketball

Use the scientific method to collect and analyze data and apply theoretical physical science to practical situations. 

  • 3 short reading passages on the origin of Basketball, how basketballs are made, and how hang time works
  • 3 hands on activities: How do the player’s senses affect their accuracy? How does the surface affect the bounce? How does air pressure affect the bounce?

$3.10

 

science of runningScience of Running

Learn about lung capacity and how the muscular system works with these two hands on activities exploring the science of running.

Includes 2 hands on activities – measuring lung capacity using bubbles, and learning about muscles and bones by dissecting a chicken leg quarter.

$3.10

 

the science of cyclingThe Science of Cycling

Learn about bicycle helmets and how a wheel and axle works with these two hands on activities exploring the science of cycling.

Includes 2 hands on activities – learn about wheels and axles by building a vegetable go-kart and learn about bicycle helmets by building a container to protect an egg.

$3.10

What type of summer teacher are you?

Everyone handles summer differently. I like to chill for a few days, but I have friends who hibernate the whole summer and others who are out there adventuring right from the start. Which type of summer teacher are you?

What kind of summer teacher are you?

 

‘Twas the Night Before Break

Twas the night before break, in the science class.empty classroom

Excitement was brewing, a feeling so vast.

The students were restless, with minds all astray,

Anticipating the freedom, the end of the day.

 

In the classroom, the buzz was very loud,

As they wrapped up the year, the teacher felt proud.

The whiteboard adorned with equations so grand,

Lessons taught, experiments planned.

 

The periodic table stood proud on the wall,

Elements and compounds, they knew them all.

From atoms to galaxies, they journeyed through space,

Exploring the wonders, at an electrifying pace.

 

But on this last eve, nostalgia took hold.

Emotions ran deep, memories untold.

The teacher looked back, reflecting with grace,

On the journey they’ve shared, the challenges they faced.

 

The classroom, a canvas, where dreams took flight,

Imagination sparked, like stars in the night.

They nurtured young minds, kindling a flame,

Igniting a passion for science’s noble aim.

 

As the final bell chimed, marking the end,

A bittersweet feeling, a message to send.

For in this farewell, a new chapter begins,

As the students move forward, their future wins.

 

So they bid adieu, with hearts full and bright,

Knowing they’ve made a difference, with all their might.

Twas the night before break, a poignant scene,

As the science classroom rests, awaiting the next dream.

Enjoy your well deserved break, Teachers. You’ve made a difference this year.

Try a set of Free Boom Cards!

Are Boom cards appropriate for middle schoolers?

I first tried Boom Cards in my middle school science classroom during the pandemic. We were teaching via Zoom (ugh – I hate to even think of those days!) and I was struggling with engagement (weren’t we all?). I remember asking all of my teacher friends how they were managing, and most of my elementary school teacher friends gushed over Boom Cards but none of my middle school or high school teacher friends had ever heard of them. Primary teachers in particular thought Boom Cards were great, so I kind of forgot about them for a while – after all, middle schoolers and primary students are different animals altogether.

But I continued to be frustrated with trying to engage my students and finally gave Boom Cards a try. (Here’s the blog post I wrote back in May of 2020 when I first starting using Boom Cards).

I was quickly a convert. My students are no longer passive recipients of information but active participants in their own learning. They eagerly explored the digital decks, experimenting with concepts, and gaining immediate feedback on their responses. The self-paced nature of Boom Cards allowed each student to work at their own speed, promoting individualized learning and ensuring that no one fell behind.

What are Boom Cards?

Boom Cards are a digital tool that provides interactive learning experiences with instant feedback. These digital task cards are designed to be self-paced, making them ideal for classrooms, homeschooling, and independent study. By incorporating multimedia elements, such as videos, images, and audio clips, Boom Cards offer an immersive and captivating learning environment.  (Here’s a blog post I wrote a few weeks ago outlining all of the ways you can use Boom Cards in middle school science!)

Try a free set

Don’t take my word for it. I’m sharing my plate tectonics Boom Cards deck with you for free. If your students are like mine, memorizing the vocabulary of plate tectonics is challenging. This deck of Boom Cards helps a lot. Here’s what it covers:

  • Types of boundaries with examples
  • Types of stress on rocks and effects
  • Types of faults
  • Layers of the Earth
  • Pangaea
  • Alfred Wegener

    free plate tectonics boom cards

You don’t need a membership to use these Boom Cards, but a membership allows you to keep track of individual students’ progress. You can save 10% on a membership if you use my affiliate link here.

If you’re already on the Boom Card bandwagon, drop a comment here so we can share ideas!

 

End of Year Activities for Middle School Science

You’ve finished your curriculum and your kids are ready to go! How can you keep them busy and entertained and, if you’re lucky, teach them a little science? Here are my top 8 end of year activities for middle school science.

Science activities for the end of the year

Virtual Field Trips

There are times when talking about something just isn’t good enough. Great examples are glaciers, deserts and canyons. There are plenty of places I want my students to “visit” that aren’t possible.  An interactive virtual field trip allows students to learn about a remote location without leaving their desks. Incorporating videos and interesting articles to read along with some guided questions allows students to experience places they would ordinarily not be able to go. One of my favorite interactive virtual field trips is this trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History  Among its truly fantastic exhibits, this museum’s presentation of the evolution of life on earth is engaging and easy to follow. The National Aquarium‘s virtual tour is a fun way to see still images of their huge collection. They also offer live webcams of coral reef ecosystems and jellyfish. Monterey Bay Aquarium offers 10 live web cams of jellyfish, sharks, and penguins, among others. My students also loved visiting Death Valley and the Galapagos.

STEM Challenges

There are a lot of great ways you can challenge your kids and get them solving problems. A perennial favorite is the Insulation lab – Keep the ice cube, or ice cream, from melting in the sun. When I do this, I have students mass their ice cube before and after solar exposure and calculate percent loss. I also have them “purchase” insulating materials from a “budget” – maybe they’re allowed to “spend” $1.00 and I charge 50 cents per 12″ square of aluminum foil or handful of cotton balls. Another favorite is designing a container to hold a beanie baby safely while it descends on a zipline. Once, I used painters tape to tape various pieces of candy to the wall just above the reach of my tallest student and had them figure out how to get the candy down.

Sports

While I’m not keen on taking the kids outside to play kickball, I do indulge their summer minds with a little science of sports. Learn about the science of the summer sports. How do helmets help cyclists? How do a runner’s muscles work? How does swimming demonstrate Newton’s 3rd law?

Escape Rooms

My kids never, ever have enough escape rooms. They love solving puzzles and finding clues. The key is to make the escape room hard enough to be challenging but easy enough to be rewarding. Once you find that sweet spot, you could do a different escape room every day for those dog days of summer. Here’s a link to a blog post on how to create your own escape rooms.

Problem Based Learning

Once the state tests are over, let the kids stretch their minds and get creative with a problem based activity. Here is a museum exhibit PBL I use for simple machines but it could easily be adapted to demonstrate mastery of anything from ancient Egyptian culture to the development of the space program. You could have your students research an endangered animal and design a habitat for a zoo to protect the animal. Students can research alternative energy sources and choose one for the imaginary island they’ve just inherited.

File Folder Games

Let your students create review games. A simple game is a file folder game. Open a file folder and draw a game board on one side. Write the directions on the other side and staple in zipper baggies to hold game pieces of question cards. Read more here.

Genius Hour

With no more state tests, your students can unleash their curiosity and work on their own passion project. Have students select a topic they’re curious about and create a podcast or TED talk, write a blog or pamphlet, create a poster, a cartoon, a game, or a 3D model, or build a website. Read more here.

Citizen Science

Your middle schoolers can participate in real science collaboration by collecting data and contributing to citizen science. Participating in citizen science with middle schoolers gives them a sense of how big the scientific community is and how important making observations and reporting what you know is in the real world of science. The goals of citizen science includes engaging the American public in addressing societal needs and accelerating science understanding. Students as young as middle schoolers can participate in addressing real world problems. Most projects take 5-10 minutes and actually contribute data that real live scientists can use. Here are some citizen science projects suitable for your middle schoolers.

 

 

How are you spending these last few weeks of school?

End of Year Science Awards

End of year science awards

End of year science awards are tradition in some schools, and just a nice “feel good” moment in other schools. I print certificates with the color copier, although I have occasionally sprung for mini trophies or medals that I doctor up with my Cricut. Use school colors, add your official signature, and maybe even a gold seal.

Who gets an award? Some schools like to give every student an award. That’s not my style – if everyone gets one, then an award loses its value. By this time of year, you know which students will value an award and which will throw it away – I try to make sure the kids who actually will care always get something.

What awards do you give? I avoid awards that are insults (i.e. the Sulfur Award for the smelliest kid) for obvious reasons, but I’m ok with a little tongue in cheek. I think it’s great if you can name your awards after something scientific. Here are some clever ideas for end of the year awards you can give to your middle school science students.

Scientist Themed Awards:

  • Albert Einstein Award: For the student who demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities in science.
  • Marie Curie Award: For the student who consistently adhered to safety protocols and demonstrated responsibility in the laboratory.
  • Nikola Tesla Award: For the student with the electric personality.
  • Rachel Carson Award: For the student who actively promoted environmental awareness and sustainable practices in the classroom.
  • Alan Turing Award: For the student who demonstrated exceptional skills and enthusiasm in utilizing technology for scientific research and presentations.
  • Galileo Galilei Award: For the student who excelled in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data accurately and effectively.
  • Charles Darwin Award: For the student who showed a strong connection and appreciation for the natural world and its scientific wonders.
  • Tycho Brahe Award: For the student who consistently maintained well-organized and comprehensive science notes.
  • Neils Bohr Award: For the student with revolutionary ideas.
  • Thomas Edison Award: For the student who consistently displayed determination and resilience in overcoming challenges in science.
  • Isaac Newton Award: For the student who demonstrated inertia – always (or never) in motion.
  • Jane Goodall Award: For the student who took care of the class pets (or saved the bumble bee that accidentally got in the window).
  • Leonardo daVinci Award: For the student whose drawings were exceptional.
  • Louis Pasteur Award: For the student who demonstrated persistence and perseverance.
  • Alexander Graham Bell Award: For the student with excellent communication skills.
  • Edwin Hubble Award: For the student who shared creative ideas.
  • Rosalind Franklin Award: For the student who saw through challenges and found solutions others couldn’t see.
  • Carl Sagan Award: For excellence in creative projects.
  • Watson and Crick Award: For exceptional partnership
  • Dmitri Mendeleyev Award: For the student with tremendous organizational skills.
  • George Washington Carver Award: For the student who cared for the class plants.
  • Mae Jemison Award: For the student who bravely led the way into uncharted territory.
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson Award: For the student who creatively expressed ideas in a way that everyone could understand.

Download your copy of the awards here –> 50% off now until June 30th!

end of year science awards

 

Chemistry Themed Awards:

  • Hydrogen Award: For the student whose uplifting energy brightens up any room.
  • Oxygen Award: For the student who was essential to his/her lab group.
  • Carbon Award: For the student that was the building block of every class discussion.
  • Silicon Award: For the student who was able to make the technology work.
  • Iron Award: For a strong science student.
  • Sodium Award: For the most dramatic and creative student.
  • Copper Award: For the student with excellent communication skills.
  • Gold Award: For the student with the highest GPA.
  • Silver Award: For the student whose lab reports are polished.
  • Titanium Award: For the most reliable student
  • Neon Award: For the student who always stands out.
  • Fluorine Award: For the student with the friendliest smile.
  • H2O Award: For the student that everyone depended on.
  • Sodium Chloride Award: For the student that made every day a little better.
  • Sucrose Award: For the sweetest student.
  • Nitrous Oxide Award: For the student who makes everyone laugh.
  • Sodium Bicarbonate Award: For the student who could bring everyone’s mood up.
  • Acetaminophen Award: For the student who made everyone feel better.
  • Covalent Bond Award: Given to two students who are always together, best friends.
  • Proton Award: For the student with the most positive attitude.
  • Periodic Table Award: For the student who showed great organizational skills all year.
  • Evaporation Award: For the student who’s a gas to be around.
  • Condensation Award: For the student who brings others together.

Download your copy here50% off from now until June 30th!

chemistry end of year awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s talk about this – what’s your policy on end of year awards? What’s your favorite award to give?

Have your science classes outdoors!

 

It’s definitely spring here in the northeast! Daffodils are up, forsythia are blooming, and the kids have (just a touch of) spring fever! Here are some ways to take advantage of the warmer weather and have your science classes outdoors!

go on a nature walk6 reasons to go on a nature walkNature Walks

Take your students on a nature walk around your school or in a nearby park. Encourage them to observe the plants, animals, and other natural features they see along the way. Have them record their observations in a notebook. Provide them with field guides or identification apps to help them identify the different species they encounter. Give them scavenger hunt bingo cards (yellow flower bud, crawling insect, segmented worm, animal track, burrow, exposed root, evidence of erosion, plastic water bottle…)and challenge them to find 5 things in a row.

Soil Science

Check out the soil in your community. Is it light or dark colored? Does it feel sandy, loamy or clay-like? Is it fine or coarse? Compacted or loose and crumbly? Dig a small hole and observe the change in profiles. How does the color, water, and root content change as soil gets deeper? Take the pH of the soil or any body of water you have nearby.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is a fun and easy way to introduce your students to the world of ornithology. Provide them with binoculars and field guides to identify the different birds they see. Have them take notes on the birds’ physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat. Connect what they see to natural selection, animal habitats, or genetics.

Weather Observations

Set up a weather station in your schoolyard and have your students record the daily weather conditions. Have them track temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, and precipitation. Give them pictures of the different types of clouds and see if they can identify the clouds today. Over time, they can analyze the data they collect and look for patterns and trends.

Water Quality Testing

If you have a nearby pond or stream, have your science class outdoors and let your students test the water quality. Have them measure pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and other parameters to determine the health of the ecosystem. This is a great way to teach your students about the importance of environmental conservation.

astronomy nightAstronomy Night

Take your students on a stargazing adventure! Teach them about the constellations, planets, and other celestial objects visible in the night sky. Set up telescopes or binoculars to get a closer look at the moon and stars. For a quick overview of what’s up in the sky tonight, check out the AstroGuy Podcast.

 

Any way you design it, a lovely spring day is a perfect day to have your science class outdoors!

Try Boom Cards!

As technology continues to advance, more and more educators are looking for ways to integrate it into their classrooms to enhance the learning experience for their students. One such tool that has gained popularity in recent years is Boom Cards. When I decided to try Boom cards, it was with the intent of creating fast and easy digital flash cards for my middle school students, but they have grown to be much more than that.

What are Boom Cards?women in science boom cards cover and thubms (3)

Boom Cards are an innovative, interactive digital tool designed to enhance the learning experience for students of all ages. They are essentially digital task cards that can be used by teachers to create engaging, interactive learning activities for their students.

Boom Cards are designed to be used on digital devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. They can be accessed through a web browser, and they are compatible with many learning management systems such as Google Classroom and Canvas.

The cards are created using a platform called Boom Learning, which allows teachers to create custom decks of cards that can include text, images, audio, and video. The cards can be used to teach a wide range of subjects, from math and science to language arts and social studies.

What can you use Boom Cards for?

Here are my 5 favorite ways to use Boom cards in my 7th and 8th grade science classrooms:

food webs digital escape room using boom cards

  1. Practice and review – Great for rote memorization and practice, Boom cards have the added benefit of providing instant feedback both to my students and to me.
  2. Bellringers and Exit tickets – Boom cards are great for those 5 minutes at the beginning or end of class when you want a quick formative assessment.
  3. Assessments: Teachers can create assessments using Boom Cards. The immediate feedback feature of Boom Cards allows students to receive feedback as soon as they complete a task. This means that teachers can use Boom Cards for formative assessments to see how well their students are understanding the material.
  4. Centers or Stations: Boom Cards can be incorporated into center or station rotations. Teachers can create decks of Boom Cards that are focused on specific skills or topics and assign them to a center or station. Students can work through the decks at their own pace while the teacher works with other students.
  5. Interactive Notebooks: Boom Cards can be used as interactive notebook activities. Teachers can create Boom Cards that require students to input their responses directly into the card, and these can be downloaded and printed out as part of a student’s interactive notebook.
  6. Escape rooms – Boom cards can be set to act like a series of puzzles guiding students through a digital escape activity

Benefits of Boom Cards

These interactive digital task cards offer many benefits for middle school science teachers and their students.

  1. Engaging and Interactive Learning  – Boom Cards are designed to be interactive and engaging. Students are presented with a question or task, and they must use their critical thinking skills to come up with an answer. The cards can include images, videos, and audio, which makes learning more exciting for students.
  2. Self-Paced Learning – With Boom Cards, students can work at their own pace. They can repeat a card as many times as they need to understand the material or move on to the next card if they have a firm grasp of the content. This self-paced learning is particularly beneficial for middle school students who may have varying levels of knowledge and understanding.
  3. Immediate Feedback – Boom Cards offer immediate feedback to students. They are notified if they have answered a question correctly or incorrectly, and they are given an explanation of why their answer was right or wrong. This instant feedback helps students to learn from their mistakes and to reinforce their understanding of the material.
  4. Personalized Learning – Boom Cards can be customized to meet the needs of individual students. Teachers can create decks of cards that are tailored to a particular student’s learning style or ability level. This personalized learning approach can help to ensure that every student is challenged and engaged in their learning.
  5. Easy Assessment – With Boom Cards, teachers can quickly and easily assess their students’ understanding of the material. They can see how many cards each student has completed, which cards they struggled with, and which cards they aced. This information can be used to identify areas where students need more support and to adjust lesson plans accordingly.

Want to read more? Read my earlier blog post on basic Boom cards and Advanced Boom cards.

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is an annual event that takes place during the first full week of May. It is a time to show our gratitude for the dedicated and hardworking teachers who play a crucial role in shaping the future of our society. During this week, we have the opportunity to recognize and honor the contributions that teachers make to our lives, our communities, and our world.

The idea of Teacher Appreciation Week was first proposed by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1953. At that time, the National Education Association (NEA) and other education organizations were lobbying Congress to declare a national day to honor teachers. In 1984, the NEA finally succeeded in getting President Reagan to proclaim the first full week of May as National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teacher Appreciation Week

I remember the teacher that made me want to be a teacher. Her name was Ms. DiCandia and she taught biology. She was funny and cared about us as people. I wanted to be just like her. I still do.

Miss DiCandia made it look easy. She was able to explain complicated processes like the Krebs Cycle in a way that everyone could understand. She never got tired of answering questions.

She must have been exhausted. Now I know how fiercely she was paddling under the surface to keep up. Now I understand the early mornings and late nights and piles of lab reports to grade while your friends are playing volleyball in the sand.

teacher appreciation week

 

 

 

I’ll never be able to find words that adequately express my appreciation not only for Ms. DiCandia but for all of the teachers that have inspired me, helped me, and challenged me.

From today through May 31st, coupon code THANKS will get you 30% off everything in the JustAddH2OSchool store.

Why should we appreciate teachers?

So why do we need a week to appreciate teachers? The answer is simple: teachers do more than just teach. They inspire, encourage, and guide us in our personal and academic growth. They challenge us to think critically, to question assumptions, and to learn from our mistakes. They provide a safe and nurturing environment where we can explore our interests, develop our talents, and discover our passions.

Teachers also play a critical role in our communities. They help to build the next generation of citizens, leaders, and innovators. They instill values such as respect, empathy, and responsibility in their students, and they model these values in their own behavior. They work tirelessly to create a better future for all of us by equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life.

How should we appreciate teachers?

So how can we show our appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week? There are many ways to do this, depending on your resources and your creativity. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  1. Write a thank-you note. This is a simple but meaningful way to express your gratitude for all that teachers do. You can write a note to your own teachers, or to teachers in your community. I still have every thank you note ever given to me in 37 years of teaching.
  2. Send a small gift. This could be something as simple as a homemade card, a bouquet of flowers, or a box of chocolates. It doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate; the thought is what counts.
  3. Donate school supplies. Teachers often have to spend their own money to purchase supplies for their classrooms. Consider donating pencils, paper, markers, or other supplies to a local school.
  4. Say thank you in person. If you see a teacher in your community, take a moment to thank them for their hard work and dedication. A kind word can go a long way.
  5. If you’ve got a teacher to thank, stop by our Facebook page and shout them out!

Teacher Appreciation Week is an important time to recognize and honor the contributions that teachers make to our lives and our communities. Whether through a small gift, a thank-you note, or a volunteer opportunity, there are many ways to show our appreciation for these dedicated and inspiring individuals. Let’s take this opportunity to thank the teachers who have made a difference in our lives, and to support them in their ongoing work to educate and inspire the next generation. A week is not enough so I’ll say – Happy Teacher Appreciation Month!