Teacher Appreciation Week kicked off yesterday, and that means today, the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week, is National Teacher Day!

We’ve all had teachers who have made a difference in our lives either through their unique teacher style, personalized encouragement, or caring heart. Regardless of the last time you were in a classroom, you’re never too old to thank a teacher!

Take a moment this week to express your appreciation for a special teacher you had growing up or a teacher who’s currently working wonders with your child. Saying thank you is free, but the value is priceless!

Here are four ways you can say thank you on National Teacher Day:

1. Send an ePraise. Our free ecard system is perfect for sending a note to a former teacher. All you need is their email address and a quick personal note from you. We even have Teacher Appreciation designs! 

2. Post a Tweet. The National Education Association is encouraging both current and former students to send tweets with the hashtag #thankateacher.  They recommend these sample tweets:
o If you can write your name, #thankateacher
o If you followed your dreams, #thankateacher
o If you can read, #thankateacher 

At this point, there are only two weeks of left for Teacher Appreciation Week 2012 planning. Teacher Appreciation Week 2012 is May 7-11, and National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 8.
Are you ready? In honor of the upcoming holiday, I’ve created this High Five for Friday post of my favorite resources, ideas, and gifts for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.

1. Gifts for Teachers on Pinterest
There are lots of great gifts ideas on Pinterest for teachers, and we’ve created our own board of gifts for teachers. Browse over 40 gift ideas and repin your favorites here.    

2. 60 Teacher Appreciation Ideas eBook
One of the hardest part of Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up with great ideas. Download our free eBook for 60 appreciation ideas you can use in the spring and year round. Download the eBook for free here. 

August is here which means kids will be heading back to school very shortly! Start the year off right by welcoming back teachers, students, and staff with a small gift and welcome celebration. We’ve compiled our top ten choices for back to school gifts to make your planning easier! 

I just attended a couple of creative writing workshops in one of my favorite places to visit: New York City! When I enrolled, I wasn’t totally sure what I would get out of the experience. I had done my research and found that the school had a great reputation; but it also seemed from the reviews that overall student satisfaction had more to do with the individual instructors than anything. Of course, I hoped I would get good ones.  

Despite a little hesitation, I was excited about the workshops and, like a big nerd, actually giddy about being given a homework assignment to complete before one of the workshops started.

Happy about homework? Crazy talk!

It’s that time of year! Students will soon be packing their bags and moving back to colleges and universities across the country. Many of those students will also begin or resume jobs and leadership positions on campus.

To get the year started off right, we’ve put together some back to school ideas for Student Affairs Administrators. Some of these ideas are great for the first few weeks of school, to help everyone get back into the groove, and others you can use throughout the school year!