Have you ever had a conversation where your parents tell you about teachers from their childhood? Often, people don’t remember all of their classmates, essays, or tests, but they remember their teachers.

Last week’s Teacher Appreciation Week is a great place to begin thinking about educators’ impact, but a celebratory attitude toward our teachers should become a part of daily school life.

A nice gift or words of gratitude can be meaningful, but those are not the only ways to show gratitude and extend grace.

1. Say thank you, and remember to use manners in and outside of the classroom.

2. Greet your teachers in the hallway to foster a kind and conversational relationship.

3. Write thank you notes at the end of the semester, and take the time to reflect on what is memorable from their class.

4. If something outside of the classroom ties into in-class learning, share it with your teacher.

5. Invite your teachers to sporting events, recitals, theater productions, or other celebrations of achievement and learning. Teachers are proud to see students succeed, and all hope to create a love of learning that transcends their subject and the classroom time spent with students.

6. Be an engaged learner and community member inside of school. Every teacher in the school puts great effort into creating an engaging learning environment and lesson plans. Support a learning community, pay attention in class, and visit your teachers outside class to utilize them as a resource.

Celebration can mean many things. Start with simple gratitude, engagement, joyful attitudes towards class, and patience. Share the positives with the school, classmates, and parents to maintain a grateful attitude. Lastly, make sure to carve out time in your busy finals week schedules to celebrate the people working to educate future generations.

Have a teacher you want to thank? Post a compliment in the comments below.