1. tbf
  2. group thank you card
  3. Thank a teacher

Thank a teacher.
What to write.

Thank them for one thing they taught, not for teaching in general. Teachers keep the cards that noticed the work.

The thank you messages are sorted by who is writing. Pick your group, name what they did, then sign.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

Two-colour printed lettering. Thank you for looking after them. They talk about you at tea.

Thank you for making him like school. That is no small thing.

From Joe

Thank you, Miss. I will miss your class.

From Priya

Thank you for this year. Have a restful summer.

From Kofi

Pick a design

  • A bunch of flowers. Thank you for this year.
  • A book. Thank you for teaching them to read.
  • A star. Thank you. Gold star, no notes.
  • Botanical thanks card. Thank you.
  • A teapot. Thank you. The kettle's on for you.
  • Stilllife thanks card. Thank you.
  • A star. Thank you. You're a star. We checked.
  • Blue stitching on linen. Thank you.
  • Marker lettering. Thank you for saving us. "helping" is crossed out and "saving" written above it.
  • A wrapped present. Thank you for the present. We use it every day.

The question

Each writer gets a question.

One at a time, about Sam. They answer in their own words, or write without one.

Who they are to you
  1. The thing Sam did, as you would tell it.
  2. What it changed for you.
  3. Something Sam did that they probably thought was small.
  4. The moment you realised what Sam had done.
  5. How Sam helped, and not only what they did.
  6. What would have happened without Sam.
  1. The moment you knew you had a proper friend in Sam.
  2. Something Sam did that only a friend would.
  3. A thing you still laugh about together.
  4. The time Sam turned up when it mattered.
  5. Something Sam knew about you before you said it.
  1. Something Sam did for the family that went unsaid.
  2. A habit of Sam's that you have caught yourself copying.
  3. A memory of Sam from when you were younger.
  4. Something Sam put up with from you.
  5. Something Sam taught you, mostly by example.
  1. A small thing Sam did that you noticed and never mentioned.
  2. The moment you knew.
  3. Something Sam did this year that made things easier for you.
  4. A thing about Sam you would not change.
  5. Something Sam carried that was yours to carry.
  1. The thing you go to Sam for.
  2. Something you picked up from working beside Sam.
  3. A bad day at work that Sam turned round.
  4. Something a new starter should be told about Sam.
  5. Something Sam did that made the job feel worth doing.

Or write without one.

Thank you messages for a teacher

Pick who is writing, name what they taught, and sign.

From a parent

  • Thank you for teaching our daughter to read, and for the patience it clearly took.

  • Thank you for a wonderful year. He talks about your class at dinner, which says everything.

  • Thank you for seeing what she needed before we did. We are grateful.

  • Thank you for making him like school. That is no small thing.

  • Thank you for the extra help before the exams. It showed in the results and in her confidence.

  • Thank you for a great year. Enjoy the summer. You have earned it.

From a pupil

  • Thank you for being my teacher. You are my favourite. From Lily, age 7.

  • Thank you for teaching me times tables. I know them all now.

  • You are the best teacher I have had. Thank you.

  • Thank you for reading to us every Friday. I liked the dragon book.

  • Thank you, Miss. I will miss your class.

End of term

  • Thank you for this year. Have a restful summer.

  • End of term, and what a year. Thank you for all of it.

  • Thank you for getting them through the year with smiles on. Enjoy the break.

  • Another year done. Thank you for everything you put into it.

  • Thank you for a lovely year. See you in September.

For a retiring teacher

  • Happy retirement. Thirty years of pupils, and every one of them lucky.

  • Thank you for a career of teaching. Enjoy every morning from now on.

  • You taught two generations of this family. Happy retirement, and thank you.

  • Happy retirement. The school will feel the gap for years.

Short

  • Thank you for a great year.

  • Thank you for everything.

  • Best teacher. Thank you.

  • Thank you. You made a difference.

  • Grateful. Thank you.

What to leave out

Do not write about the school, the fees or the politics. The card is for the teacher.

Do not give a gift with no card. Teachers remember the words longer than they remember the wine.

Do not write a joke about the holidays. They have heard it from every parent since June.

One card from the class

Every parent, every pupil. One link, and it opens on the last day of term.

  1. 01

    Add the last day of term.

    The card opens that morning and not before.

  2. 02

    Share one link.

    In the class chat. Each family writes once, in a browser.

  3. 03

    They read it after assembly.

    Each family's message signed with a name. They keep it for years.

Create a card

Questions

What do you write in a thank you card for a teacher?

One thing they taught your child, and thanks. The specific thing proves you noticed, which is the whole gift.

Should the card be from the parent or the child?

Both. Each in their own words. A parent's thanks and a child's drawing fit on the same card.

Do teachers keep thank you cards?

Yes. Teachers keep the specific ones for years. Ask any teacher and they will show you the drawer.

What do you write for a retiring teacher?

Say what they gave the school over the years. A retiring teacher's card is from everyone they taught.

Part of group thank you card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.