Around here, we are very focused on Teacher Appreciation right now. It’s one of our favorite times of year. Its official acknowledgement is soon, from May 2-6, and lots of PTOs and PTAs go all out coming up with cool ways to show their teachers they think they’re the best. Recently, we created this ultimate guide for Teacher Appreciation that I’m pretty sure you’ll find incredibly helpful.

Teachers are some of the most hardworking people out there, and they certainly deserve the gifts, potlucks, and whatever your group decides to pull together for them. And it’s one of the things that parent groups do best, coordinating just the right volunteers to do something really special.

But one message I like to give during Teacher Appreciation Week preparations is that while it’s good and important to acknowledge your teachers in May, don’t forget about the rest of the year. Back to school is a key time to get things started on a good note with teachers—how about organizing a welcome-back breakfast? By midyear, classrooms are likely running low on some supplies—that would be a great time to send some in.

You’ll find these and other great ideas for saying thanks in our new article called “Teacher Appreciation Throughout the Year.”