85 teacher appreciation messages and quotes

Teachers deserve to be acknowledged for the time and effort they put into educating their students. At its core, a thoughtful teacher appreciation message is a genuine compliment. 

Though it’s easy to give compliments to friends and family when you catch up with them, giving one to a teacher in a note, teacher appreciation card, or thank you card can feel a bit more formal. Instead, think of it as simply recognizing the effort they put into their work and the results that effort created. The results of a good teacher often speak for themselves and are reflected in your children.

Read on for helpful ideas about what to write in a teacher appreciation message during Teacher Appreciation Week, Teacher Appreciation Day, or any time of year that you want to express your gratitude to an educator.

What to include in a teacher appreciation card

Before you start filling out your teacher appreciation card, you’ll want to know what to include and how to format your sentiments. Here are some helpful guidelines: 

• Start by addressing the teacher. Err on the side of formality by addressing your child’s teacher as “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss [Name],” in line with how your child refers to them. (Also refer to how they’ve responded in letters and emails to you or the parents of your child’s class.) 
• Open your note with a thank you for their work this year. 
• Share your specific compliment, observation and/or quote from your child. Close by simply reiterating your appreciation.
• Your child could also be the “author” of your teacher appreciation message, even if they are on the younger side. (In fact, the younger the kid is, the cuter the message may be.) 
• If you have middle school and high school-aged kids, writing their own thank you teacher card will help them hone a useful life skill, not just the art of writing a note, but cultivating a thoughtful attitude. It’s especially a great exercise when the recipient may have been a teacher who challenged the student in some way. Perhaps the subject didn’t come easily to your child, or the teaching style was quite rigorous. Encouraging your child to think of a good quality in someone they may have found difficult is a lesson in empathy that’ll serve them well both in and out of the classroom.

Teacher appreciation messages from students

A teacher appreciation message that comes directly from a student will feel particularly meaningful, since the two parties involved are the ones who are interacting on an almost daily basis. Here are some thoughtful teacher appreciation sayings a student may want to share with their educator:

1. Dear [Teacher], Thank you for always taking the time to explain things in a way I can understand. Your patience and dedication have helped me grow so much this year!
2. You make every lesson engaging, interesting, and fun. I genuinely look forward to your class, and that’s something I never thought I’d say!
3. I appreciate how you notice when someone is struggling and take the time to help and give them extra attention without making them feel bad or embarrassed. That kindness means a lot.
4. Thank you for gently pushing me to do my best and never giving up on me, even when I felt like giving up on myself.
5. You’ve created such a positive and supportive classroom environment; I feel safe and encouraged to be myself when I’m at school.
6. I’ve learned so much from you, not just about the subject you teach, but also about how to be a more thoughtful, respectful, and well-rounded person.
7. Your passion for teaching shines through in everything you do. It’s made me more excited to learn and explore new things.
8. Thanks for being someone I can talk to and trust—you always listen and treat your students with so much respect.
9. I appreciate how organized and prepared you always are. It makes a big difference and shows how much you care about your lessons and our success.
10. Because of you, I feel more confident in what I can achieve. You’ve inspired me to think bigger and dream higher.
11. You’ve made a massive impact on my education and my life. I’ll carry the lessons you’ve taught me far beyond this classroom.
12. Thanks for making even the hard days easier with your encouragement and sense of humor. You make learning enjoyable, not stressful.
13. You have a unique way of making everyone in class feel seen and valued. 
14. I admire how you always lead by example, with kindness, fairness, and integrity. You’ve taught me more than you know.
15. Thank you for being more than just a teacher—you’re a role model, a cheerleader, and someone I’ll always remember fondly.

Teacher appreciation messages from parents

Whether your child is too young to write their own teacher appreciation message or you just want to share your own thoughts directly, any educator will be happy to receive words of praise and encouragement from a parent or guardian of one of their students. Here are some examples to help get you started:

16. Thank you for being such a positive influence in [child’s name]’s life. Your support and dedication have made a real difference.
17. We genuinely appreciate the time, patience, and energy you invest in helping [child’s name] learn and grow every day.
18. Your passion for teaching is evident, and it shows in the way [child’s name] comes home excited to share what [he/she] has learned.
19. Thank you for recognizing [child’s name]’s strengths and helping [him/her] build confidence in areas where they have struggled in the past.
20. We are so grateful for your kindness, encouragement, and the safe learning environment you’ve created in your classroom.
21. You’ve helped [child’s name] not just academically, but emotionally and socially, and we are incredibly thankful.
22. Your ability to connect with each student and bring out the best in them is a true gift. Thank you for everything you do!
23. Thank you for being a true partner in our child’s education. Your communication and care mean the world to us, and we’ll always be grateful.
24. We are constantly impressed by your creativity and how you make learning enjoyable for the kids.
25. It’s clear how much you care about your students, and we’re so lucky to have you as [child’s name]’s teacher. 
26. We’ve seen such wonderful growth in [child’s name] this year, and we know your support has played a big role in that.
27. You always make sure your students are learning, thriving, and feeling seen—thank you for going above and beyond. 
28. You’ve made a lasting impact on [child’s name]’s learning journey.
29. Your thoughtful feedback and consistent encouragement have helped [child’s name] stay motivated and proud of [his/her] progress.
30. Thank you for everything you do—especially the things that often go unseen. 

Short-and-sweet teacher appreciation messages

If your style is more succinct than verbose, or if you don’t have a lot of space to work with, these short-and-sweet teacher appreciation messages may be exactly what you’re looking for:

31. Thank you for being such a patient and inspiring teacher!
32. I’ve learned so much because of you!
33. You make learning fun and exciting every day.
34. Your support means the world to me.
35. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into helping us grow.
36. You’re more than a teacher—you’re a mentor.
37. Thanks for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
38. You always make the classroom a great place to be.
39. Your passion for teaching shows in everything you do.
40. I feel lucky to have you as my teacher!
41. You’ve made a huge difference in my life.
42. Thanks for encouraging me to always do my best.
43. I’ll always remember the lessons you’ve taught me.
44. You inspire me to be more curious and confident every day.
45. Thanks for being kind, caring, and always there to help.

Funny teacher appreciation messages

If your child’s teacher has a good sense of humor, they’ll very much appreciate receiving these funny teacher appreciation messages:

46. Thanks for putting up with my kid—and teaching them, too!
47. You deserve an IV drip of coffee and a vacation… but here’s a thank-you note, instead!
48. Thanks for teaching [child’s name] things I definitely forgot years ago.
49. You’re the reason my kid knows stuff I didn’t even know they could know.
50. You’re basically [child’s name]’s academic personal trainer: instead of burpees, it’s book reports. Thanks for spotting them through another school year!
51. If patience were a superpower, you’d be the star of your own comic book.
52. I don’t know how you do it, but thank you for not quitting mid-school year!
53. Thanks for being the calm in the classroom chaos—and for not running for the hills!
54. You’re like Google, Wikipedia, and Encyclopedia Britannica rolled into an actual human!
55. Teaching kids for three seasons straight? You deserve a trophy—and maybe a lifetime supply of coffee and noise-canceling headphones.
56. Thanks for giving our child the gift of learning—and for surviving snack time.
57. Some people run marathons. You teach children. Respect.
58. I’m convinced you have a secret stash of caffeine and superpowers.
59. Behind every kid who believes in themselves is a teacher who survived a whole school year. That’s you.
60. You teach, inspire, and somehow manage not to lose your voice or your mind—how?!

End-of-year and graduation teacher appreciation messages

Making it to the end of a school year—or the end of a school career—is a milestone worth recognizing. Thank the educators who helped make it happen with a teacher appreciation message such as the ones listed below:

61. Thank you for guiding me through this year—your support made all the difference.
62. I couldn’t have made it to graduation without your encouragement and belief in me.
63. You’ve been such a huge part of my journey. Thank you for everything this year!
64. Your teaching helped me grow more than you’ll ever know. Thank you!
65. Thanks for all the knowledge, laughs, and lessons this year. You’re the best!
66. You’ve been more than a teacher—you’ve been a mentor. I’ll always remember that.
67. Thank you for helping me reach this milestone with confidence and pride.
68. You’ve made learning meaningful, and I’m forever grateful.
69. This year flew by, but your impact will stay with me always.
70. Thanks for the lessons, the patience, and all the little things you do.
71. You challenged me, supported me, and helped me succeed—thank you!
72. I’ll carry what I learned in your class into the next chapter of my life.
73. You turned challenges into chances to grow. Thank you for believing in me.
74. Graduation feels even more special knowing I had a teacher like you guiding me along the way.
75. From day one to the final bell, thanks for being there every step of the way.

Teacher appreciation quotes

If you need more inspiration to get your creativity flowing for your card, lean on these teacher appreciation quotes. These cute sayings may prompt you to craft your own message. Add one of these verbatim to your teacher appreciation card, or use another favorite quote of your own:

76.  “The best teacher in the world is someone who loves what he or she does, and just loves it in front of you.” — Fred Rogers
77.  “I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said ‘yes,’ when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.” — Fred Rogers
78.  “Real strength has to do with helping others.” — Fred Rogers
79. “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” — Japanese Proverb
80. “Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives.” — Andy Rooney
81. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats
82. “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” — Rita Pierson
83. “I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” ― John Steinbeck
84. “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is a vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” ― Carl Jung
85. “The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth.'” — Dan Rather

Make your teacher appreciation message go further with Paperless Post 

When you’re sitting down to write something thoughtful for a teacher, it can be tricky to find the right words. This is true even if you know the educator very well—there’s just so much to say about the importance of education that it’s hard to narrow it down. Or, if your child has multiple teachers, there’s the challenge of writing multiple (and unique) messages without lapsing into a generic thank you.

The key to perfecting the art of a thank you teacher message is to break down what you want to say, decide how you’ll say it, and then put it all down in the perfect teacher appreciation card. (For more thank you card ideas, click here.) When you choose a teacher appreciation card from Paperless Post, you can send it to any teacher by way of their preferred method of communication—email, text, or link. The teacher can then respond directly to your card on our platform. If you want to take your appreciation a step further, you can even include a link to a gift card right on your card.

Ready to express your gratitude to the special teacher in your child’s life? Choose your favorite from our teacher appreciation cards and schedule your thoughtful message to get to their inbox just in time for Teacher Appreciation Day!

Looking for other ways to celebrate your favorite educators and students? Check out our list of back-to-school event ideas to kick off the school year right.

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