How to Thank a Teacher

An old proverb compares teachers to candles, consuming themselves as they light the way for others. There are so many reasons to thank those who have chosen to dedicate their lives to teaching, yet finding ways to truly thank our teachers can be a challenge.

As a teacher, I can share with you that the most meaningful gifts that I receive from students are also the simplest ones.  There is great power in a thank-you note that is composed with sincerity.

These are a few of the thank-you cards that my daughter will share with her teachers this year. Within each trifold card is room for a heartfelt note of gratitude as well as a gift card -- because even as teachers consume themselves to light the way for their students, they also consume a heckuva lot of coffee!  (They also tend to appreciate bookstores, office supply stores, and donations made in their names to make the future bright for others.) 

To create these cards, I used the "Thanks" sentiment from the "Give Thanks" kit cuts by Lisa Dickinson for JBS Mercantile, and layered it over a gathering of vellum feathers as well as paper feathers cut from the new Christmas 2012 and Red and Black Extension V collections.  I like the idea of feathers being part of a gift for someone who helps my daughter not just to fly, but to soar. 

When it comes to letting the teachers in your life know just how much they are appreciated, just remember that the best gifts are given with gratitude.  Begin with two words -- thank you -- and let your heart take it from there.