We know that the power of gratitude has a huge effect on our key workers. When we say thank you, we often make someone's day. It really makes them feel validated and worthwhile. When we thank doctors, carers or teachers though, they often say "I'm just doing my job". They have chosen a life path that improves the lives of others and certainly don't do it for the gratitude. 

What about all those people who didn't choose a career path that led them into healthcare, social care or education, but found themselves drawn to, or even compelled, to give up their own free time to volunteer freely and help out? 

Our NHS or social care service wouldn't be able to function without the army of volunteer workers. Volunteers undertake practical tasks such as collecting medication from the pharmacy, escorting patients around the hospital, and running tea rounds. They can provide comfort and support for patients who don't have other visitors. Volunteers also support staff by freeing up their time to prioritise clinical care and act as an extra pair of hands or eyes.  

Gratitude is even more important for these volunteers; showing appreciation is the fuel that drives their benevolent actions. Positive reinforcements encourage people to contribute more and work harder, even more so when they are not being financially rewarded for their efforts. 

Josh Maughan from [The Grove Medical Practice](https://www.thegrovemedicalpractice.nhs.uk/) talks about working with volunteers: 

"It was one of those experiences where you really realised the power of working together as a team, gratitude is the fundamental idea you need to have in the healthcare sector and especially with volunteering. It is unavoidable that there may be bumps in the road, you are learning new things, but if we remember that we are all doing it for each other the cycle of gratitude keeps us going. I learnt to feel true gratitude from working with those volunteers on a daily basis; I realised that without these volunteers the vaccination programme wouldn't run smoothly, or at all." 

Obviously thanking people in the moment, is the perfect way to express our gratitude. However retrospective gratitude can be as valid and might be even more powerful. Noting that moment of kindness in time and taking the time to process what the volunteer did and 'go out of our way' to thank them can have a long-lasting effect. 

When we send thanks in traditional ways, not everyone feels that gratitude, due to work rotas, communication issues within departments. 

TAP really helps in these situations by sharing digital messages of gratitude with those very deserving recipients. 

As we change our life/work practices it might be a good idea to make a note of the names of people that have acted in a manner deserving of gratitude. That way, if you don't get a chance to thank them you can always use the TAP thanking platform and thank them retrospectively. 

All humans need to be recognised in a meaningful way for their efforts. This helps to build self-esteem and confidence. Recognition is an important component of volunteer retention. When volunteers feel appreciated and important, they are more likely to feel connected to the programme and continue their involvement. 

Furthermore, gratitude helps hospital patients to feel involved in the practices that are going on around them and give them a sense of inclusion and belonging. 

So, let's continue to spread positivity through the power of gratitude throughout the healthcare and social care sector, to the wonderful staff and the amazing volunteers! 

You can hear more from Josh Maughan on TAP's Healthcare Radio Show: [https://soundcloud.com/thankandpraise/hba-radio-show-july-2022?utm\_source=clipboard&utm\_medium=text&utm\_campaign=social\_sharing](https://soundcloud.com/thankandpraise/hba-radio-show-july-2022?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing)

We know that the power of gratitude has a huge effect on our key workers. When we say thank you, we often make someone’s day. It really makes them feel validated and worthwhile. When we thank doctors, carers or teachers though, they often say “I’m just doing my job”. They have chosen a life path that improves the lives of others and certainly don’t do it for the gratitude.

Gratitude for Volunteers

gratitude-for-volunteers

The end of the school year is a very exhilarating, yet busy time. There is a lot of excitement about moving up a year and being in a new environment, but there is also sadness at having to say goodbye. To help your children with the process of moving class, get them to reflect on their year with that special teacher, and send a message of gratitude to show how much they are appreciated - and do it digitally with TAP! But what to say in a teacher thank you card? Read on to find out more... 

**What to say in a teacher thank you card ** 

The best way to show your appreciation to a teacher is by sending a heartfelt 'thank you'. But rather than a traditional thank you card, the quickest and easiest way to do this is to send it digitally! Using TAP's digital thanking platform makes this process so simple, delivering messages of thanks either on a [public thanking wall](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/wall/sector/education/), or via private message. The [benefits of gratitude](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/blog/the-amazing-effects-of-gratitude-on-those-we-thank/) are many, and receiving a surprise message through TAP will do wonders for the [wellbeing](https://thankandpraise.org.uk/staff-well-being/) of hard-working school staff. But what to include in your message? 

Here are some ideas to make your 'thank you' really special: 

● Make it personal by including memories, such as any funny moments your child has shared. 

● Think about what your teacher helped your child with and what lessons they enjoyed the most. 

● Highlight the qualities and characteristics of your teacher you like the best. 

● Mention what you're going to miss about your teacher. 

● Choose the one important thing your teacher taught your child that they'll remember. 

Here are some examples of what to say in a teacher thank you card: 

'_Dear Miss Smith, thank you for all your help and support this year. You helped me a lot with my spellings! I'm going to miss the colourful displays in your classroom and the fun experiments you got us to do, especially the one where we made circuits! From Emma_' 

'_You've been such a wonderful teacher, Miss Smith! I really enjoyed my time in Year 2 and I improved my maths skills a lot. I'll miss you testing us on our timetables. From Harry_' 

You could also add a nice quote in your thank you message, such as: 

"_A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything._" 

"_The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see_". 

**What to write in a nursery thank you card?** 

And not forgetting our wonderful nursery teachers. Instead of worrying about what to write in a nursery thank you card, why not send a message of thanks digitally using TAP? You can do this either on their organisation's thanking wall so all their colleagues and other parents can see how they are appreciated, or via a personal message if you prefer. 

If your young ones are leaving nursery, then you can get them to help you write your digital 'thank you'. But what to write? Keep it simple, so your child can help you. Think about how much they have grown, and how they've developed during their time in nursery, and write about that. Think about the skills your child has learned and the activities they have enjoyed - did they learn to tie their shoes, zip their own coat up, write their name or count to 10? You can ask your children what memories they have of nursery and how their teachers helped them, and include this. 

Here are some examples: 

"_Thank you Mrs Appleton for taking such good care of Ben. He loved it when you would read to him, and we noticed a big improvement in his language skills_". 

"_Mrs Wood thank you so much for looking after Sacha and encouraging her to be creative. We'd loved all the artwork she's brought home_". 

"_Big thank you to Miss Upton, Rian has told us she will miss you a lot_". 

**Why use TAP to send a teacher a thank you card? ** 

TAP makes it easy to send a digital thank you card to any teacher, teaching assistant or member of staff at your children's school. This means, you don't have to run round finding a card, or multiple cards. You can just use the website or app, and send out messages of appreciation at a touch of a button - completely free. 

The time you've saved looking for the right card, you can spend with your children discussing what to write. Sitting down with them and reflecting on the year will help process all they've learnt and done in the school year. And, it will make them feel involved in writing the card. You can follow our tips above to write a lovely, personal thank you message, and you can help your children type out the message, which will improve their writing, spelling and digital skills. 

Your young one's teacher is sure to receive many compliments and thank you cards. But as any teacher will tell you, it's difficult to find a place for them all and to get back to everyone. But by using TAP, teachers can find all the lovely thank you messages in one place, and keep them together! They can return to these messages at any time, which is a great way to make your messages of gratitude long-lasting. Sending digitally saves paper too. And the money you'd have spent on a card you could put towards a little gift (it's a well-known secret that teachers love chocolate!) 

Send a message of thanks to a teacher using the [education thanking wall](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/wall/sector/education/) or via private message - just add the name of your teacher, their school and your heartfelt message and we'll do the rest. 

If your school or nursery doesn't have a thanking wall, explore how to [become a user ](https://thankandpraise.org.uk/become-a-user-organisation/)[organisation](https://thankandpraise.org.uk/become-a-user-organisation/) and create one here. 

Make sending messages of gratitude even easier with the [TAP App](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/tap-mobile-app/).

Wondering what to say in a teacher thank you card? Find top ideas on what to include, and tips on how to send your message via TAP's digital thanking platform. 

What to say in a Teacher Thank You Card

what-to-say-in-a-teacher-thank-you-card

Here at Thank and Praise, we love the idea of poetry as a way of expressing gratitude. And there's no doubt that sending poems to say thank you to your teacher can be a heartfelt and personal way to show how much you appreciate them at the end of term. So read on to discover our favourite thank you poems from around the web and how to send them to your favourite teacher using TAP's digital [thanking platform](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/). 

**What is the best message for a teacher?** 

We all know that teachers work incredibly hard, their role is pressured, and their time and resources limited - so it's important to [show your gratitude](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-to-a-teacher/). After all, children spend a lot of time with this special person, who not only teaches them academic skills required by the curriculum, but is a [mentor](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/blog/showing-gratitude-to-inspirational-teachers/), role-model and teacher of life-experience too. The best message for a teacher is one that comes from the heart - and capturing that in a work of poetry is perfect. 

A **poem to say thank you to a teacher** is a great way to express gratitude in a more novel and meaningful way than with a traditional thank you card at the end of term. Choose a poem that resonates with you, that celebrates the things about your teacher that you love, or reflects experiences that your child has shared. It can be funny, or sentimental - it's up to you. You can even write your own poem for that personal touch! 

Read more about the [benefits of gratitude](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/blog/gratitude-and-resilience-in-education/) here. 

**How to send a poem to a teacher** 

Sending poems to say thank you to your teacher via TAP's digital online thanking platform, makes it even more special. It's really quick and simple to do - all you need is the teacher's name and school, and your message in the form of a poem, and we'll do the rest! You can either post your poem to the public [education thanking wall](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/wall/sector/education/), so all your friends, family and other teachers can see your words, or you can send a [private message](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/say-thank-you/) if you prefer. Either way, a using a poem to say thank you to a teacher will brighten their day and make all that hard work worthwhile. And this goes for [nursery teachers](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/blog/unsung-heroes-a-special-thank-you-to-nursery-teachers/) too! 

So in celebration of our wonderful educators, here are 5 of TAP's favourite poems to say thank you to your teacher: 

1\. **A Teacher for All Seasons** 

_A teacher is like Spring,_ 

_Who nurtures new green sprouts,_ 

_Encourages and leads them,_ 

_Whenever they have doubts._ 

_A teacher is like Summer,_ 

_Whose sunny temperament_ 

_Makes studying a pleasure,_ 

_Preventing discontent._ 

_A teacher is like Fall,_ 

_With methods crisp and clear,_ 

_Lessons of bright colours_ 

_And a happy atmosphere._ 

_A teacher is like Winter,_ 

_While it's snowing hard outside,_ 

_Keeping students comfortable,_ 

_As a warm and helpful guide._ 

_Teacher, you do all these things,_ 

_With a pleasant attitude;_ 

_You're a teacher for all seasons,_ 

_And you have my gratitude!_ 

By [Joanna Fuchs](https://www.poemsource.com/teacher-poems.html) 

**2\. Teachers** 

_Teachers proudly stand in front of the class_ 

_With knowledge and influence en masse,_ 

_Igniting a flame in curious minds_ 

_Proficiently as the lessons unwind._ 

_Teaching, a calling that burns deep inside_ 

_To instruct thirsty, inquisitive minds._ 

_Installing passion that leads to success._ 

_Inspiring pupils to give of their best._ 

_Encouraging scholars' creative gifts,_ 

_Praising, applauding whatever it is._ 

_Those who are taught well live well, get ahead._ 

_Blessed are the teachers, it has to be said._ 

_It doesn't go unnoticed, the work involved_ 

_Developing great people to evolve._ 

_All humble, nurturing teachers out there,_ 

_Thank you all for your compassionate care._ 

_Those who go on to find their hopes and dreams,_ 

_Remember the teachers who cast the beams._ 

By [Beryl L Edmonds](https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/teachers-3) 

**3\. Ripples** 

_The future of the world_ 

_is in your class today_ 

_So teacher do be proud_ 

_and trust in what you say_ 

_For every word you utter_ 

_and everything you do_ 

_can realign a destiny_ 

_for him and her and you_ 

[By Mark Bird](https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/ripples-3) 

**4\. Gratitude to Teachers** 

_When we stride or stroll across the frozen lake,_ 

_We place our feet where they have never been._ 

_We walk upon the unwalked. But we are uneasy._ 

_Who is down there but our old teachers?_ 

_Water that once could take no human weight-_ 

_We were students then - holds up our feet,_ 

_And goes on ahead of us for a mile._ 

_Beneath us the teachers, and around us the stillness._ 

By [Robert ](https://festivals.iloveindia.com/teachers-day/poems/short-poem-for-teacher.html)[Bly](https://festivals.iloveindia.com/teachers-day/poems/short-poem-for-teacher.html) 

**5\. I Will Strive to be Just Like You** 

_I will strive to be just like you_ 

_A happy smile, contagious to all,_ 

_With a heart of gold that never falls._ 

_As my role model, you set the bar high,_ 

_But you've taught me all I can do is try._ 

_As my friend, you support me,_ 

_Helping me achieve goals I never imagined I could reach._ 

_As my teacher, you motivate me_ 

_To become the best I can possibly be._ 

_You're always there to help others,_ 

_Putting yourself second and acting like a mother._ 

_You're a very admired teacher_ 

_Who's caring, kind, and smart._ 

_Whether I like it or not,_ 

_You're always here for me_ 

_And with my best intentions in your heart._ 

_I always know you'll have my back._ 

_The way you love to help others learn_ 

_Is something for which I will always yearn,_ 

_And one day when I'm a teacher too,_ 

_I will strive to be just like you._ 

By [Cristen](https://postpoetics.org/teacher-poems/)[](https://postpoetics.org/teacher-poems/)[Ottesen](https://postpoetics.org/teacher-poems/) 

We hope you loved all these wonderful poems to say thank you to your teacher, as much as we did. So why not send one to a special teacher today? 

Find out more about [Thank and Praise's mission](https://thankandpraise.co.uk/why-tap/) to help spread messages of gratitude and appreciation to those working in the education, healthcare and social care sectors. 

Explore how to become a [TAP user ](https://thankandpraise.org.uk/become-a-user-organisation/)[organisation](https://thankandpraise.org.uk/become-a-user-organisation/) and set up a thanking wall for your school.

Sending poems to say thank you to your teacher at the end of term is a great way to show your gratitude. Enjoy TAP's 5 favourite poems to express your thanks.

TAP's 5 favourite poems to say thank you to your teacher

taps-5-favourite-poems-to-say-thank-you-to-your-teacher

Introducing practices of gratitude are never actions that we regret; these practices engender positivity and gratitude is the vehicle that opens up more lines of communication. 

Jo Howarth from [The Happiness Club](https://thehappinessclub.co.uk/) says: 

"When we take the time and make the effort to show our gratitude to others for the things they do to help us, it can help to transform their day too. And that, my friends, is what you call a win-win. We feel great because we have gratitude flowing through us and they feel great because now they do too." 

But where do you start? Before we can reach out to others we first need to look inwards at ourselves and think about everything and perhaps more importantly everyone we feel grateful for! 

Gratitude is also a key theme across many religions. 

In Sikhism there are teachings of seva or inner joy, and how that can be used as a starting point to live a kinder life. 

Gratitude is also the cornerstone of Christianity, being thankful for everything, in all circumstances. 

So, take a good look at yourself. At this particular moment in time and think about who and what you are thankful for. 

There are obvious people who we feel we owe a debt of gratitude for; doctors, carers and teachers. 

But if we scrutinise ourselves even more closely, there are many more people we should be thankful to. 

We are thankful for our family members, thankful that they are always there for us when we need them. 

There are our colleagues who put up with us on bad days, helping us through, and they are thankful to us when we return the favour. 

Our friends, who know us on an even deeper level, as they have been on similar journey. Made similar good or bad decisions, cheered us on with encouragement and advice and screamed at us when we ignored the good advice and carried on regardless! 

On a daily basis there are always people we are thankful to, someone holding a door open, a bus driver waiting, someone making space for us in the supermarket, someone who served us with a smile and the list goes on. 

Gratitude marks a moment in time. Before we can express gratitude, we must consciously recognise that someone has acted kindly and deserves recognition for their actions. 

Some mindfulness techniques often suggest implementing practices of gratitude, as we know gratitude doesn't only benefit the recipient of gratitude but also has a positive effect on our own mental health. 

One such practice is keeping a diary of gratitude, maybe at the end of the day, sitting down and reflecting on the day's events, thinking about all the good things that have happened, and how grateful we are for all these events and the people whose actions were responsible for them. 

Even if we had a bad day, we could look at it more objectively and thank the people who made it a little better. 

If we spend more time highlighting the positives and moments of gratitude, we probably wouldn't have enough hours in the days to waste time on all the negatives! 

So, let's start those chains of gratitude by thinking about our own situation and help to turn the world into a more positive place!

Introducing practices of gratitude are never actions that we regret; these practices engender positivity and gratitude is the vehicle that opens up more lines of communication. 

Gratitude starts with ourselves.

gratitude-starts-with-ourselves

Teachers are some of the most important people we come across in our lives. They are not only selfless givers, but they are often mentors. It is more than just the subjects they teach, they can become role models, guiding young people and helping them make the right decisions and the correct life choices. 

Sometimes there are specific moments in young people's lives where a teacher really makes a difference, when their entire direction changes. It might be in the form of encouragement, it might also be in the form of advice, pointing out the paths that are available and enabling students to make a more informed choice. 

One such epiphany happened to Andrew Thomas the Principle of [Al Ain English Language School](https://aaess.org/) in Abu Dhabi after a teacher had taken the time to ask about his ambitions and more importantly, how he was going to reach them; she gave him the confidence to go out and achieve them. 

"It was like a train had just hit me for the better, I felt like a giant, the sense of how proud I felt, believing that I could become a teacher." 

When people have moments like these, life changing and life defying moments, they don't always realise the importance of them, and don't feel the need to thank that teacher until after the event; it could be weeks, months or even years until they understand the true impact of that teacher and there isn't always a way to express that gratitude. 

If we can make our schools become more thankful environments, it makes it easier for students, and their parents, to express gratitude, even if the gratitude is expressed after the lightbulb moment! 

We can go even further though, if our teachers are happy, then the students will be happy too. Creating an appreciative atmosphere amongst school staff will make the whole school more positive. If teachers appreciate each other, that will rub off onto the students. 

Teaching is more than a job it is a vocation; teachers don't necessarily expect the thanks from their colleagues, parents and pupils. They often join the education sector because they themselves have been inspired by their own teachers and want to have the same effect on the next generation, but they will be lifted by expressions of gratitude and make the whole school a happier more productive place. 

TAP is that appreciative space where everyone can thank those who have inspired them and it doesn't matter when that person showed kindness, they will still be empowered by any expression of gratitude, even if it's years later! I'm sure we'd all be made up if someone thanked us for something kind we had done years before. 

You can hear more from Andrew Thomas in TAP's latest [Education Radio Show](https://soundcloud.com/thankandpraise/education-radio-show-june-2022).

Teachers are some of the most important people we come across in our lives. They are not only selfless givers, but they are often mentors. It is more than just the subjects they teach, they can become role models, guiding young people and helping them make the right decisions and the correct life choices.

Showing gratitude to inspirational teachers

showing-gratitude-to-inspirational-teachers

TAP's mission is to become the global currency of thanks by enabling people to more easily thank frontline workers around the world.  
  
We are therefore excited to announce TAP's launch into North America having expanded geographically into [Australia](https://thankandpraise.com.au/) last year.  
  
TAP's social thanking platform now enables those living in North America to show their appreciation to the unsung heroes working in the Armed Forces, Education, Healthcare and Elder Care via a regionally specific website and App.  
  
"The opportunities for TAP to make a difference in the USA are enormous and I'm really excited to be helping spread positivity amongst our incredible frontline workers," says [John Cawdery](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAALRXZkB_cWlEkdlMHE-cU5d8QCrUHrFK3A), a 15-year veteran of the digital marketing and technology industry with roles across [Google](https://www.linkedin.com/company/google/) and [DoubleClick](https://www.linkedin.com/company/doubleclickin/), who heads up the new venture as TAP's President.  
  
TAP USA has already identified a network of 12 public schools in California and a network of 6 public schools in New Hampshire that are keen to be the first organisations to adopt TAP's social thanking platform as a way of showing appreciation to their school staff as well as raising funds for school-related charities.  
[Matt Findel-Hawkins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAACpDhsBbleEf6zZNuVQH2EM1yafZRtt9GU), TAP's global CEO made the following statement: "I am delighted to see TAP expanding into North America in line with our social mission to make thanking the norm, not the exception. Ultimately our aim is to improve the wellbeing of frontline workers globally through the power of thanks and appreciation, so a strong foothold in the US is a key step in this mission."    
  
If you'd like to know more about adopting TAP's social thanking platform in your US-based organisation or are interested in partnering with TAP USA, please contact [john@thankandpraise.com](mailto:john@thankandpraise.com)

TAP’s mission is to become the global currency of thanks by enabling people to more easily thank frontline workers around the world.

Thanking Unsung Heroes in the USA

thanking-unsung-heroes-in-the-usa

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