4 Books to Help You Celebrate Teachers

In The Thank-You Project, Nancy Davis Kho acts on her belief that gratitude leads to a deeper happiness. Research shows that when we actively appreciate the people in our lives that helped shape us, that act of gratitude leads to a more joyful life. And Kho decides to act on this by sending thank-you letters to the people who influenced her, helped her, and inspired her throughout the years. This book is about Kho’s personal journey, but it also acts as a roadmap to finding your own path to gratitude. If you want to reach out to the teachers in your life who have helped shape you, influence you, and make you into the person you are today, these steps in The Thank-You Project are a great place to start.

If you’re getting ready to send your kids off to school, start preparing your children for academic success now. This is one of the best things you can do to help your child’s future teachers and to show gratitude for the work they do. Sesame Street: Ready for School! offers a user-friendly guide to prepare children, ages 2-5, for success in the classroom. This book is divided into eight chapters that all help your child prepare and develop in different areas: language, literacy, math, science, logic & reasoning, social & emotional development, healthy habits, and the arts.

Ever wanted to know more about what teachers experience on the job day in and day out? Go See the Principal is a humorous and inspirational account of elementary school life from the perspective of former principal Gerry Brooks. From temper tantrums to parent-teacher conferences, elementary school is no walk in the park. If you’re a teacher, this book is just want you need after a hard day at work to add a little humor to some of the more difficult parts of the job, and Brooks offers sound advice as well. If you’re just looking to appreciate your teachers more, you certainly will after reading this book!

Kyle Schwartz, the author of I Wish My Teacher Knew, returns with I Wish for Change, a book that’s all about helping children make a difference. Schwartz is a third-grade teacher who tells his students, “You are not here so you can make money in a decade. You are here so you can make a difference now.” This book helps make this idea a reality by showing teachers and parents how they can empower children to stand up for what they believe is right. Good teachers genuinely care about their students and what their dreams to be realized. And so the absolute best way to celebrate teachers is to effectively encourage their students to make value-driven decisions and work to change the world.