Virtual Teacher Appreciation Week: How to Celebrate Remotely

Teachers inspire curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. They’re experts at boosting confidence through the right mix of motivation and instruction. They serve alternately as student-squabble mediator, supportive listener, and all-around problem fixer. 

National Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance to thank educators for all they do to ensure that students succeed in school and in life—and by making it virtual you can thank teachers no matter where they are. Perhaps you've been inspired by a online homeschool teacher, or a teacher went the extra mile when classes were temporarily moved online. Maybe your mentor moved away but still want to express your appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week. Whatever your circumstances, we have plenty of ideas for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week remotely.

Virtual teacher appreciation ideas

Below you'll find ideas on how administrators, parents, students, and even teachers can show gratitude for educators—during Teacher Appreciation Week and all year long. 

Ways administrators can thank teachers

Show your support

Saying you support your teachers is great. Demonstrating your support is even more powerful. Here are some ideas:

• Don't have the budget for a gift card to help teachers get the resources they need for a class project? Offer to write a grant to fund the project through DonorsChoose.
• Give teachers a break. Take over a teacher’s virtual lesson for one class period. Or, hold a town hall meeting with the class to gauge how kids are doing, how their school work is going, and what changes might improve their learning experience.
• Start a fund to help pay for teachers to attend workshops and conferences.
• Hold a virtual town hall with teachers. Ask them to share challenges they face, how they are working to overcome them, and what you might do to lighten their load.

Launch a thank you campaign

Start a video campaign to thank teachers in your school or district. Begin by posting a call for “thank-you” videos on your school’s website, Facebook page, or Instagram or Twitter account. Your invitation might read something like this: Have a teacher who inspires you? It’s time to let that person know. Record yourself or your child thanking a teacher. Use these prompts if you’re having trouble getting started:

• Thank you, (Teacher’s Name), for ______ .
• (Teacher’s Name) made a big difference in my life by ______ .
• Thanks to (Teacher’s Name), I’m now able to ______ .

Ask those submitting videos to include the hashtag #ThankATeacher when posting their video to social media.

Ways parents and students can thank teachers

Give teachers a shout out

Let your children’s teachers know you recognize their hard work. Give them a shout-out on the school’s social media platform. Your message could point out something you admire about teachers and their work, or it might describe one way the teacher has helped your child.

Write a thank you note, poem, or song

Talk with your children about teachers. Ask: Why do we need teachers? How do they help us? What makes their job difficult? Why do you think someone might choose to become a teacher? Then have them think about a particularly inspirational teacher. Ask: What makes this teacher inspirational? How did he or she inspire you? What could you thank this teacher for?

Have younger students complete the sentence: Thank you, (Teacher’s Name), for _______. Then draw a picture to accompany the note. You could post a photo of the note (or your child holding up the note) on social media or mail it to the teacher.

Older students could write a thank-you letter, poem, or song. If they need help getting started, answering these questions might help:

• What is one way your teacher has helped or inspired you?
• What are you now able to do thanks to your teacher’s help or inspiration?
• What do you wish for your teacher’s future?

Ways teachers can celebrate each other

Pass it on

That classroom management trick that works every time? That simple strategy for helping students understand fractions? Teachers aren’t reinventing the wheel. They’re borrowing best practices from each other. Why not share the best tip or advice you ever got from a fellow teacher on social media?

Honor your favorite teacher

Which teachers from your childhood sparked your curiosity, made you love math, supported your interests, or listened to your concerns? Track those teachers down and send an email or letter describing how they impacted your life. If you can’t find an address, give them a shout-out on social media using the hashtag #ThankATeacher.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

View more Teacher Appreciation Week ideas from principals and administrators.

If you have any additional virtual Teacher Appreciation Week 2024 ideas, please share your ideas with us on Facebook, Instagram, or via email at shaped@hmhco.com.

This blog, originally published in 2021, has been updated for 2025.