Five (Mostly Free) Gifts You Can Give the Overwhelmed Teacher in Your Life

Because we all need a little boost in the midst of this global pandemic.

Image of a stack of notebooks and books, with a cup of pencils in rainbow colors and an apple on top. In the background is a chalkboard.

If you’re lucky enough to be friends with a teacher, then you’re well aware of the exhausted, slightly manic look in their eyes right about now.

On a good year, for a first year teacher, and often for many veteran teachers, October is the steady slip into disillusionment. The fade resistant paper charts hung so hopefully around the classroom walls are starting to look a little less bright. And the battle of keeping those charts up, using every adhesive known to humankind, is lost. (My recommendation: 3M brand masking tape.)

Photo credit: The New Teacher Center, Ellen Moir, 2002

But this year is anything but normal, and the disillusionment was certainly well underway before the year began.

I’m not going to get into what a mess everything is, since all of that has been laid out with much finesse elsewhere, and was likely made abundantly clear in the strained and tearful beginning of the year parent-teacher meetings.

Instead, I offer you a list of gifts you can give the teacher in your life, whether she is the one teaching your child, the one living next door, or you. If you don’t know any teachers, maybe adopt one or find someone who does, and then carry on, do-gooder.

In no particular order: 5 Gifts for the Haggard Teacher In Your Life

1. A hit of caffeine: Not a single teacher I know isn’t burning the candle at both ends. One of my teacher friends said that she’s making everything work (everything being: teaching kids online, teaching her own child at home, eating, drinking, showering, paying bills, being human in the middle of a global pandemic, etc.) by planning from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. every morning. She said it with no sense of self-pity or even sarcasm. More of a matter of fact statement. You know why? Cuz teachers are the magic heroes who get things done, right? No. Because teachers work incredibly hard, far harder than they could ever be compensated for. So if you’re in possession of an extra $5 for a gift card to a local coffee shop or an extra pound of coffee or tea, send some to a teacher you know. You can be that bright light of hope at the 2 a.m. wake up call.
2. A break: “But I’m not a teacher! How can I give my teacher friend a break?” In no particular order: arrange childcare from a COVID safe relative or caretaker, pay for a meal delivery, make a meal and drop it off, ask if their school would let you pop into a Zoom call to read a chapter of their class chapter book, pay for an annual subscription to an educational site that would simplify their life, curate some fun activities they could play with their students and get the materials for them, help them record a video lesson for their students so they can have an hour away. The list can go on and on, and will be dependent on the needs of each teacher. Even teachers who are working remotely are finding themselves in the all-too-familiar situation of not having enough time to use the bathroom. And for those teachers lucky enough to be teaching in person and remotely (this is two full time jobs, for the record) they’re probably in need of a hug, too. But at a socially distanced 6 ft.
3. Stand up for them: There’s a lot of talk about how remote teaching isn’t working for parents. As a parent, I really get this. I, too, have had two children wrapped around my body, one screaming, as I tried to make a very important point to our board president about the vision for our organization. It isn’t working. And also, that isn’t your child’s teacher’s fault. It’s not working for them, either. So when you hear people talking about teachers in ways that call into question their commitment to their job, remote learning, or ensuring that children have what they need during COVID, take a deep breath. Remember that that teacher is probably, right now, not able to go to the bathroom because they are trying to get the attention of my child who is somehow managing to play Roblox and Minecraft while also doing his word of the day problem. With that deep breath try the phrase, “We’re all doing the best we can in the middle of a global pandemic.” Then carry on with the rest of what you were about to say or do.
4. A School Supply Drive: Right now is a great time to go through your house and find all the garbage you aren’t using anymore and donate it to the local teacher in your neighborhood. Right? Well, probably not. Unless you have really amazing garbage. Teachers are also hoping to Marie Kondo their lives (or their roommates/partners are hoping they will…) But it is a good time for you to get a list of supplies your teacher friend needs for their classroom. Think: subscriptions to online programs, sanitizer, pencils, sanitizer, Lysol wipes, sanitizer, Kleenex, sanitizer. You get the picture. Then share that list far and wide with everyone you know. Maybe create a registry at your local store, and give people the ability to purchase off of it, shipping directly to your teacher friend. By October, half the pencils have been lost or broken, and most of the sanitizer has been used (did I mention that?), so it’s a great chance for a refresh. Also, 3M masking tape. No, I am not an affiliate. It just works.
5. Vote: Ah snap. This post would have been so much better if it hadn’t gotten all political. Look, I’m not going to tell you who to vote for, though I have strong opinions on the matter. What I am saying is, ask your teacher friends, or your good friend the internet, which local politicians support educational reform, teacher compensation, and other important education issues. Look into how each candidate feels about learning during the time of COVID. The local races will have far more impact on the state of education for your average teacher, so focus on candidates who have strong plans for better remote and hybrid learning situations that will work for all of us. Cuz that teacher friend is tired. Really tired. And in the end, wouldn’t it be great if we had an education system that didn’t have to be funded primarily from grassroots GoFundMe campaigns?

Everyone is on the struggle bus right now. We’re all doing the best we can in the middle of a global pandemic. You may or may not have the capacity right now to do any or all of the above. (Seriously, though, do vote.)

But if nothing else, send some love and happy thoughts to an educator in your life. They’re working overtime in a brand new way of doing school. And it’s hard.