Celebrate Teachers – 18 Books for Teacher Appreciation
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! And in my humble opinion, we should always appreciate and celebrate teachers. Now more so than ever after having to adapt to a completely different world of teaching!
Like in any career, not every teacher out there is cut out to be a teacher. But when you get a good one, you’ll never forget them. Teachers often see the kids that are trying their best to stay invisible and can draw them out of their shell with such loving support.
Teachers In My Life
I’m a product of teachers, both of my parents are university professors. I grew up in a college setting dropping into my parents’ offices over the years and was lucky enough to go to school on the same campus for a few years.
It’s probably no surprise that the teachers I had growing up are most remembered by what they read aloud in class. My sixth-grade teacher read aloud regularly and I fell in love with books even more in her class. I had a tenth grade English teacher that also read aloud in class and I remember her fondly as well.
My significant other is also an adjunct instructor at a few local universities as well. I was working in the office while he was on a conference call a week or so ago. And I told him, if students realized how much their professors cared about them – not just passing the class, but really cared, I think it would be eye-opening.
The team of teachers discussed access to technology, grading, students who were working to pay the bills and were getting work in late, and really just how to manage connecting in a completely digital world. It was touching to hear just how much they worried, stressed, and reached out to each and every student to make sure they were doing okay not just in class, but also in handling this world we’re all living in right now.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite teachers portrayed in children’s literature! You can also check out a quick list I pulled together last year for the Blogging From AtoZ Challenge!
Celebrate Teachers Book List
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
- Fish In a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
- A Letter to My Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson
- Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
- The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body by Joanna Cole
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard
- My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown
- Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
- The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
- The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
- Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio
- Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes
- The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
There are plenty of teachers out there that don’t have the “teacher title”. But that might just be another post, because I can think of dozens of really amazing “teacher-like” adults in kid lit!
Bookroo has a massive list of additional titles to check out!
Do you have a favorite teacher from childhood? What made them so memorable?
