Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 and Teacher Appreciation Day Resources
Popular ideas, printables, clip art, and planning tools to help you celebrate teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (and all throughout the year).
When it comes to parent group tasks, teacher appreciation activities are some of the most rewarding. In fact, it’s sometimes hard to tell who enjoys teacher appreciation more—the staff members who receive expressions of gratitude or the PTO leaders who have so much fun putting together the plans. We’ve rounded up information, ideas, and tips to help make your efforts the best yet.
When Is Teacher Appreciation Week 2025?
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated during the first full week of May each year. In 2025, it’s May 5-9.
When Is Teacher Appreciation Day?
Also called National Teacher Day, it falls on the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week—May 6, 2025.
First, the Plan
It’s worth taking some time to think about the big picture—what does your group want to do for teacher appreciation? Consider the overall personality of your community. Would the teachers like one big luncheon celebration (costumes, props, etc.) or a low-key approach with a small gift for each staff person?
Join the PTO Today community (it's free) for access to resources, giveaways and more
Next, the Budget (or Not)
Some groups have a line item on the budget for teacher appreciation expenses. But many don’t have any extra funds for it. No worries—teacher appreciation lends itself to homemade gifts and acts of kindness that have no cost but a person’s time.
Get Creative
Teacher appreciation is a time to let your artistic side shine. For those who need some help motivating that inner creative genius, we have you covered.
-
Teacher Coupon Book (bring on the jeans passes and emergency desk snacks!)
-
Teacher Treat Trolley Cart Ideas (includes Canva templates and shopping list by theme)
-
Stock the Teachers' Lounge: Meme Edition (includes printable memes)
-
Teacher Appreciation #WaterTok Hydration Station (includes free printables, like teacher-themed drink recipes and signage)
-
54 Ways To Show Teacher Appreciation (our best planning tools, tips, and ideas; free with email)
- Classic Movie Themes, like Wizard of Oz or Willa Wonka
@ptotoday Shout to Weyerhaeuser Elementary PTA in Eatonville, Washington for an insanely creative Hollywood movie themed #teacherappreciationweek! 📸@sixfootsub #PTOlife #ptomomsoftiktok #ptamom #ptopresident #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media
-
Open vending machine: display a variety of free snacks, candy and treats for teachers to take!
@ptotoday Open Vending Machine for #teacherapprecationweek 90s style 📸 Brazosport Christian School in Lake Jackson, Texas #ptopresident #ptapresident #teacherappreciation #ptolife #grwm #fypage #ilovethe90s ♬ 90s game music(874437) - S_R
Go Big
If you have the time and money for a larger effort, impress everyone with a staff lounge makeover or a supply cake with all the supplies your teachers will need.
-
Go big with a decades theme! Mountain View School PTA celebrated all week long with a different decade each day. We can't decide which we loved more - the 50s, 80s, or the 90s!
@notyouraverageptamoms Flash dance back to the 80s for #taw ! #teacherappreciationweek #pta ♬ original sound - MVS PTA
Last-Minute Ideas
It’s not a problem if your group hasn’t planned out its appreciation activities. Many people thrive when a deadline is looming and get great results.
-
15 Easy Teacher Gifts for Your Teacher Appreciation Goody Bags
-
Themed Teacher Treat Trolley Cart Ideas (includes printables)
Printable Forms: Organizing Your Teacher Appreciation Activities
Our free, customizable files can help you request volunteers, promote your event, and show teachers you care.
Appreciation Poems
Consider providing teachers with sweet poems that express how special they are.
-
Marvelous and Magnificent Teacher Poem (works with M&M candies)
Fun Gift Tags, Treat Tags, Signs and Labels
Download and customize our free gift tags and attach them to small gifts to give teachers a virtual hug and a chuckle.
-
A Year's Worth of Appreciation: Gift Tags and Signs (Free Mega Bundle)
For a complete list of all our downloadables, including even more gift tags for erasers, scissors, iced tea, and more, check out the Teacher Appreciation File Exchange.
Clip Art and Other Images
Bring a little something extra to cards, notes, and emails with clip art and graphic quotes.
Event Themes
Teachers really love a teacher appreciation celebration with a fun theme. Plus, having a theme helps organizers because it simplifies planning and purchases.
-
Teacher Treat Trolley Cart Ideas (includes Ted Lasso!): includes Canva template signs and shopping lists for each theme
-
Superhero-Theme Teacher Appreciation Printable Pack (free download with email): event announcement, invitation, poster, table tents, water bottle labels, photo booth props, and iron-on transfers
-
Red Carpet-Theme Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Tools: flyer, invitation, letter, and table tent
-
Western-Theme Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Tools: flyer, invitation, letter, and table tent
-
Fiesta-Theme Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Tools: flyer, invitation, letter, and table tent
-
Luau-Theme Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Tools: flyer, invitation, letter, and table tent
One Final Note: Teacher Appreciation at the Holidays
You don’t need to worry about the holiday season now. But tuck away these ideas for next school year!
Get more Teacher Appreciation Week ideas, tips, and printables 👉
Originally posted in 2014 and updated regularly.
