A few years back, when I first dipped my toes into the Twitter pool, I felt compelled to engage with a local journalist who had just tweeted a trio of downbeat stories about teachers and education. Didn’t she realize it was Teacher Appreciation Week? Couldn’t she sprinkle in a bit of positivity alongside the negativity?
Her response? The good stuff doesn’t make headlines; it’s the bad news that grabs attention.
But there’s so much good out there! So much!
Last year, I penned an open letter to our local paper urging everyone to highlight the positive aspects of education. I wanted folks to look for the meaningful stories that truly resonate with students, teachers, and the community. It’s essential to rise above the test scores and talk about how students are stepping out of their comfort zones, how educators inspire creative thinking, and the countless ways teachers go the extra mile to provide a holistic educational experience for every child.
This week, countless educators will receive tokens of appreciation—homemade cards, crafts inspired by Pinterest, heartfelt poems, mugs, sweets, and even complimentary meals. Parents and students will do their best to express their gratitude, acknowledging our hard work and commitment. We cherish these small gestures and the thoughtful tokens left for us in classrooms and teacher lounges.
But this year, I’m craving something more profound. I want to spark a change that doesn’t cost a dime and requires minimal time and effort.
I want the narrative to shift. And I need your help to make it happen.
This week, I encourage you to take to all your social media platforms and share something uplifting about a teacher you know. Ideally, if you’re a parent, it’s your child’s teacher. Perhaps it’s a teacher who left a mark on you in the past or someone you admire today. Share your photos on Instagram, quick anecdotes on Twitter, and updates on Facebook to help transform the often-negative portrayal of our profession. Help illuminate the true impact teachers have in the world.
Stories are powerful—they unite us, inspire us, and compel us to do better. If the media predominantly focuses on the negatives, it’s our responsibility to showcase the positives and affirm that there’s so much more to celebrate.
Share a teacher’s story. Share your stories. Our journeys. Highlight our expertise, compassion, creativity, and ingenuity. Celebrate our small victories and our grand triumphs. Share them always, but especially this week. Use hashtags like #TeacherStories and #ThankATeacher to amplify your message.
Let’s change the narrative. Let’s reshape the dialogue. That’s how you can truly honor a teacher.
This originally appeared on my blog, Home Insemination Kit.
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In summary, during Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s make a collective effort to highlight the positive contributions of educators by sharing uplifting stories on social media. Together, we can shift the focus from negativity to celebration.