Video Roundup: National Teacher Appreciation Week Student Dedications 2015

Teacher Appreciation Week—or month depending on the way you celebrate—is a time for students to recognize the educators who help mold them into the next generation of great thinkers and doers. Though there are students who don’t express their appreciation on the regular, there are many who have taken the time to publicly thank those who have been a positive influence in their life.

Teacher Appreciation Week once started as just a single day but blossomed into a week to month long celebration of educators. The origins of National Teacher Day began in Arkansas according to the National Education Association.

“Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers,” according to the NEA. “Woodridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.”

Enjoy the below compilation of videos where you'll see students and one preservice teacher express their appreciation and, in some cases, share why they believe teacher appreciation is necessary.

1. Say Thank You: Teacher Appreciation Day Rant Source: BeautyGirly624 YouTube Channel

Grade Level: For All Teachers

Run Time: 5:01

Description: One student challenges her followers to say thank you to their teachers. She outlines why teachers are important and all of the hard work they put into lesson plans to meet student’s needs.

2. TC TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK—TUESDAY

Source: ACPSTV

Grade Level: All Teachers

Run Time: 1:25

Description: Students at TC William High School spend special shout outs to their favorite teachers. Some include why they are shouting out the specific educator showing that educators do leave a mark on students.

3. Teacher Appreciation 2015: McAuliffe Source: Andrew Leiser YouTube Channel

Grade Level: All Teachers

Run Time: 3:31

Description: Students of McAuliffe Elementary School in Hastings, Minnesota says thank you to their teachers. They highlight what their teachers are able to give them and most answers far exceed knowledge.

4. Teacher Appreciation Week 2015 Source: Kent School District YouTube Channel

Grade Level: All Teachers

Run Time: 1:55

Description: The Kent School District celebrates their educators with student commentary on how they have been positively affected by their teachers.

5. #TeachersCantEven Source: Teachers Count YouTube Channel

Grade Level: All Teachers

Run Time: 2:47

Description: A touching video that was recently released showing teachers response to a phrase often use by the younger generation. The clip starts out by asking regular people to talk about things they can’t even. It quickly transitions into the same individuals reading emotional responses from teachers who were asked the same question.

Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor