Teacher Appreciation Week

Notes of Appreciation

A good teacher can make or break the school experience for a child with a learning disability. Special teachers help children overcome their struggles. They also celebrate the talents of their students and motivate them to excel in class. Read these comments to see why great teachers are often remembered forever.

"Mrs. Shulman shows each child what their strengths are while providing support for their weaknesses."
– Susan

"Ms. Bushman is a 'creator'; in my son's life because she created a young man who can from a teenager who doubted. She replaced the nonreader with a soon-to-be graduate that can read."
– Sandy

"Ms. Volmer supported my son, but kept him accountable, and therefore challenged. Ms. Vollmer is one of those teachers that truly understand LD. A million thanks to Ms. Vollmer for making such a difference in the life of a kid, who never knew success until a teacher believed in him!"
– Bobbi

"Ms. Burkle communicates with us on a regular basis and is always available if we have a question or concern. When we met her at the beginning of the school year for Zach's IEP, she shared many new ideas on how to help Zach succeed in school."
– Jill

"Dr. Heikkila is an inspiring teacher, encouraging me to finish my Master's degree, and teaching all of us to "go to the wall" to advocate for our students."
– Dawn

"Thanks to [Ms. Robert's] help, my son is now reading at grade level, which was a feat that I didn't feel was possible."
– Courtney

"What a difference this one wonderful precious teacher has made in my little girl's life!! Words cannot express the gratitude I have in my heart for Ms. Sumners."
– Nicki

"Ms. Whistler has taken special time with my son to work with him one on one to ensure he understands the lesson. She consults with numerous specialists to get ideas on how to help him."
– The Atchinson Family

"I am very proud of the progress he [my son] has made and most of the credit goes to [Ms. Ehlke] and her unwillingness to give up or even settle for average when she knew he was capable of so much more."
– Jodi

"Ms. Moritz has positively effected the lives and education of all of her students, and the proof is in their progress."
– Patricia

"Ms Wolff has gone above and beyond her call of duty. She has helped me as a teacher become more knowledgeable about special education/learning disabilities and works with the children in my class to make sure they have the best learning environment."
– Nettie

First Person Essays

• A Letter to My Grandmother

  A teacher helps a child improve her handwriting through writing poetry.

• Catherine Cat Kelly and the Holiday Kids

  A teacher uses the dramatic arts to improve children's creativity and academic skills.

• My First Day in Adult Special Education

  A man describes a compassionate adult education teacher who helps him overcome his fears.

• The Story of My Son

  A mother describes a positive educational experience for her son that included many good teachers.

For more stories describing first-hand experiences with the challenges of learning disabilities and ADHD visit LD OnLine's
First Person section.

Author/Illustrator Video Interviews

Find many more author interviews in Reading Rockets' Books and Authors section.

Stories From the Heart

• Taking a Personal Interest

  Jesús Yáñez is a paraprofessional who works with ESL students at South St. Paul High School in Minnesota. A native of Mexico, Mr. Yáñez can relate to the wonder of students from southern climates who have never before seen snow, as well as the bewilderment of students enrolled in classes that are conducted in another language.

• Bringing National Resources to a Local Level

  Deborah Wilkes grew up on the outskirts of Nottingham, England, in the shadow of Sherwood Forest. While she doesn't claim inspiration from the Robin Hood legend, she does spend a great deal of time helping others. Named North Carolina's "Migrant Teacher of the Year" in 2003, Ms. Wilkes teaches English as a Second Language in Sanford, North Carolina, and is also the lead teacher for the county's two middle schools and high schools.

• Using Technology to Create a Visual Learning Environment

  The needs, struggles, and achievements of English language learners are diverse and unique; understanding them is not always easy for educators. However, some educators were ELLS themselves and therefore have a bit of insiders' knowledge. Such is the case of Alma Milan, a certified ESL teacher at Kosciuszko Middle School.

• Inventing Superheroes and Writing About Their Adventures

  All teachers want their students to achieve excellence in school and in life, and in this quest, they often achieve excellence themselves. How about achieving super-hero status? That is exactly what Cassandra Lawrence (aka "Book Woman") and her fourth grade class did!

Visit Colorin Colorado's Achieving Success section for more
"From the Heart" stories.

Send an e-card

Has a particular teacher gone the extra mile to help your child? Do you have a colleague that you think is a great teacher? Did a teacher inspire you to discover your talents, overcome challenges, or find a career path?

Show your gratitude with our Teacher Appreciation e-cards and let them know that they made a difference in your life. These cards feature illustrations by Henry Cole and Denise Brunkus.

December 2013