Do you say thankyou to the teacher?

[OrmIrian]

When he/she has gone out of his/her way to do something special? Friday afternoon the reception teachers has lined up both classes to sing us a few Mothers Day songs when we came to pick the children up. Also they had made a trip to the sorting office so that they could have a look around and take the oppurtunity to post the cards they have made. I have no idea whether it was meant to fit in the the NC or not - probably in some obscure way - but the point is they had gone out of their way to so something nice for the pupils and the mothers. I feel the same about school plays, carol concerts etc. So I said thankyou to the teacher (newish young teacher). She looked at me as if I was slightly odd (but she already has me down as a bit strange but largely harmless I think). I have always done this and the older teachers seemed to appreciate it more. Is it normal to say thanks or am I really making a total t*t of myself?

We always thank the teacher,esp after things like after school vlubs -etc it's just good manners -I'd do it automatically

No way - saying thanks was very appropriate IMO. It was a lovely thing to do, both for the mums and for the kids (teaching them to think of others etc etc). I teach privately and am always thrilled to get a thank you from the parents.

As a teacher, it is lovely to know that someone appreciates what you do - we get lots of other sort of feedback, so it is nice to have a balance!

Oh, yes, do thank the teacher - especially as this is what you genuinely want to do. Teachers really do need a lot of encouragement. She may have been a bit tongue-tied at receiving your praise, but will, I'm sure be really grateful.

One of the most appreciated ways of thanking staff, especially if it is a team effort, is to send in a tin of biscuits for the staff room. This is also a good way of notifying the headteacher of good teaching from the classroom teacher.

Also store up these things in your memory (or in a list if you have a hopeless memory) and mention them all in a letter at the end of term with a thank you card.

I know several battle-weary teachers who have a (sadly small) store of such letters from years past, which they review at the end of particularly tough days/weeks, to remind them that they are valued and appreciated.