Teacher Appreciation Month

By Genevieve Thomas

Dear Montana Educators - Don’t forget to appreciate you. 
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Teacher Appreciation Week lands right in the thick of May—just when your energy (and your patience) might be running on fumes. Sure, there are potluck lunches, kind notes in the staff room, and if you're lucky, the coveted Starbucks gift card. But amid all the external gratitude, here’s a wild idea to consider: how can you show yourself a little love too? 

You give endlessly to your students, your colleagues, and your school. So let’s flip the script. What if the best appreciation came from you, and took less time than a coffee break to pull off?

Good news: self-care doesn’t have to be big or complicated. Sometimes, the smallest moments make the biggest difference. Below are a handful of tiny, clever acts of self-care that take just a minute or two, but might just shift your whole day.

1 . Add to Your “To-(not) Do List”
You have our permission to take something off your plate. If anyone asks, just tell them we said it was okay.

2. Practice Strategic Ignoring
Not every email needs a reply today. You’re not obligated to weigh in on every hallway conversation. It might sound crazy, but you don’t even have to take all those jackets down to lost-and-found right now. You are allowed to leave things... un-dealt with. It’s not avoidance, it’s prioritizing peace.

3. Recess Isn’t Just for Kids
Step outside for five minutes. No clipboard. No agenda. Just you, the sky, and maybe a snack or a friend. Vitamin D: nature’s original energy drink (and, knock on wood, Montana winter is finally over!) 

4. Light a Candle- Declare It a Mood
Research shows that grading by soft lighting feels 38% more elegant.

5. Say “No” With Flair
A simple “Not this week, but thanks for thinking of me” works wonders. Say it with a smile, and walk away like the boss you are.

6. Celebrate Something Small (Like, Really Small)
Finished your water bottle? Amazing. Didn’t hit reply-all by mistake? Iconic. Found a working dry-erase marker on the first try? You, my friend, are an icon. 

We here at School Services of Montana see you, value you, and appreciate the heck out of you—not just in May, but every day. We hope these little self-care ideas add a touch of calm or joy to your day, not because you need to keep being a superhero, but because you’re human. And that’s more than enough.

Happy Teacher Appreciation!

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