Aug 14, 2023 — With the nation’s four million teachers opening their classrooms, we thought we’d propose a few well-chosen words you might use in encouraging notes to educators you may know. First, though, let’s offer a little prayer for the residents of Maui: “Me oe ko makou naau,” Hawaiian for “Our hearts are with you.”
Our Educators card was written by Contributing Cardie Kristen Caminiti, author of eight popular Cardthartic designs so far. This one was inspired by her son Zach who, at six, wisely told his mother that he believed “teachers have the most important job of all because, without them, no one anywhere would know how to do any job.” Wow.
Zach’s Mom tells us she sends a good many of the Educators cards, so we asked if she’d share what words of admiration and appreciation she writes in them so that others in our community might do likewise. Kristen offered, “Every year on Meet the Teacher Day (which, in our schools, is called Sneak a Peek at Your Seat! :) I give each of my four kids’ teachers a note in which I’ve written something like:
We don’t know each other yet. But I know you’ve already put in so much time preparing for your students. I am so grateful for what you’ve done and what I know you’ll do! Here’s to a wonderful year! And if there is anything I can do to make your life easier, to support you, or to help out, don’t hesitate to reach out.
“It’s relatively short and sweet,” says this totally supportive mom, “and conveys my appreciation for them and my desire to be their partner. Our educators need to know they are valued and supported, and I try to start off the year making sure they hear that from me.”
Indeed! You may recall seeing, back in May, a Cardie Newsletter featuring the important work Kristen is doing with her not-for-profit Kindness Grows Here. In connection with Teacher Appreciation Week, she posted on the organization’s website a Teacher Tribute submission form. There, the organization’s followers entered messages of praise, which Kristen then printed out and sent on to the respective teachers. (A true Fairy Cardmother, she is!)
Reading of Kristen’s initiative in that Cardie Newsletter inspired Cardie Madeline Stockbridge to comment, “My mom spent her whole career teaching math in our local high school. Our daughter and son-in-law are educators in an American school in Lima, Peru.” The next part of Madeline’s message sounded so encouraging to us that we’re going to switch it up a bit in case you wish to make it your own in a note to educators you know:
I read recently that principals and teachers have double the stress of other professions. I don’t doubt that. We need to support you every day, shining a spotlight on this noble and much-needed profession you’ve chosen!
That feels so good to read, doesn’t it?! And right after Madeline posted her comment, another was posted by Contributing Cardie Candy Clausell. Now we just happen to know from this Cardie Newsletter, these two have been besties since second grade! Candy’s is another great message that we can imagine you penning and sending to a teacher friend or family member. And being the giving sort, Candy would be honored. She wrote:
To thrive, a child just needs one adult to believe in them, to listen to them and encourage them. Many of us were lucky to have more than one, either in family members or teachers. However, some children only have a special teacher that fills that role. When that is the case, it’s clear the difference those teachers make in the lives of our most fragile young. HATS OFF to teachers like you.
Not that you need a homework assignment from us, but we’re betting you have a blank note card or two around there, and who needs AI when you can copy messages with permission from these eloquent Cardies?! Go to it! And on behalf of all the educators who will receive your kind words, thank you.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Aug 14, 2023 — With the nation’s four million teachers opening their classrooms, we thought we’d propose a few well-chosen words you might use in encouraging notes to educators you may know. First, though, let’s offer a little prayer for the residents of Maui: “Me oe ko makou naau,” Hawaiian for “Our hearts are with you.”
Our Educators card was written by Contributing Cardie Kristen Caminiti, author of eight popular Cardthartic designs so far. This one was inspired by her son Zach who, at six, wisely told his mother that he believed “teachers have the most important job of all because, without them, no one anywhere would know how to do any job.” Wow.
Zach’s Mom tells us she sends a good many of the Educators cards, so we asked if she’d share what words of admiration and appreciation she writes in them so that others in our community might do likewise. Kristen offered, “Every year on Meet the Teacher Day (which, in our schools, is called Sneak a Peek at Your Seat! :) I give each of my four kids’ teachers a note in which I’ve written something like:
We don’t know each other yet. But I know you’ve already put in so much time preparing for your students. I am so grateful for what you’ve done and what I know you’ll do! Here’s to a wonderful year! And if there is anything I can do to make your life easier, to support you, or to help out, don’t hesitate to reach out.
“It’s relatively short and sweet,” says this totally supportive mom, “and conveys my appreciation for them and my desire to be their partner. Our educators need to know they are valued and supported, and I try to start off the year making sure they hear that from me.”
Indeed! You may recall seeing, back in May, a Cardie Newsletter featuring the important work Kristen is doing with her not-for-profit Kindness Grows Here. In connection with Teacher Appreciation Week, she posted on the organization’s website a Teacher Tribute submission form. There, the organization’s followers entered messages of praise, which Kristen then printed out and sent on to the respective teachers. (A true Fairy Cardmother, she is!)
Reading of Kristen’s initiative in that Cardie Newsletter inspired Cardie Madeline Stockbridge to comment, “My mom spent her whole career teaching math in our local high school. Our daughter and son-in-law are educators in an American school in Lima, Peru.” The next part of Madeline’s message sounded so encouraging to us that we’re going to switch it up a bit in case you wish to make it your own in a note to educators you know:
I read recently that principals and teachers have double the stress of other professions. I don’t doubt that. We need to support you every day, shining a spotlight on this noble and much-needed profession you’ve chosen!
That feels so good to read, doesn’t it?! And right after Madeline posted her comment, another was posted by Contributing Cardie Candy Clausell. Now we just happen to know from this Cardie Newsletter, these two have been besties since second grade! Candy’s is another great message that we can imagine you penning and sending to a teacher friend or family member. And being the giving sort, Candy would be honored. She wrote:
To thrive, a child just needs one adult to believe in them, to listen to them and encourage them. Many of us were lucky to have more than one, either in family members or teachers. However, some children only have a special teacher that fills that role. When that is the case, it’s clear the difference those teachers make in the lives of our most fragile young. HATS OFF to teachers like you.
Not that you need a homework assignment from us, but we’re betting you have a blank note card or two around there, and who needs AI when you can copy messages with permission from these eloquent Cardies?! Go to it! And on behalf of all the educators who will receive your kind words, thank you.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
With every child whose life I have touched I try to make them know ‘You are valued. You are special’.
It is like watering a flower. You try your best and hope they grow big & strong.
Teachers do that every day so their garden of flowers is as far as the eyes can see.
In some states we read about political leaders making teachers jobs even more challenging and restricted.
Those actions must stop before more great teachers leave our classrooms.
Thank you, teachers.
I agree with Candy’s comments. We should be doing everything we can to make a teacher’s job easier & less stressful. They’ve dedicated themselves to our students’ wellbeing, what are we doing to safeguard their wellbeing?