Hats Off to Teachers!

It's Teacher Appreciation Week. What can you do to show your appreciation? The answer is pretty simple. That's according to a recent poll by the National Education Association that found that the gift nearly 50 percent of teachers would most like to receive is just a heartfelt "thanks."

This year, the Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association are giving you and your child a way to do just that, and as a bonus you can help create the Nation's Largest Teacher Thank You Card. All you need is Internet access and your teacher's e-mail address.

Here's how it works: Go to www.teacherthankyoucard.org. You can choose to either send an e-card or a video message to your teacher. As soon as you hit “send,” your message will appear in your teacher's Inbox.

A copy of the card will then be sent to the PTA to became part of a collage of thousands of messages to teachers from students, parents, community members, celebrities and other public figures from around the country. The mosaic of cards will serve as a public tribute to teachers nationwide.

The PTA and the NEA will be collecting the cards all year long, with the goal of unveiling the collage in Washington D.C. during National Teacher Appreciation Day, 2009. Now, that's a big thank you card!

The process and the final product can also be viewed virtually at the PTA's online gallery.

Getting your child involved in the thank you card project isn't just a hats off to teachers, it's a way to model gratitude and show that you value education.

So, get online and show your support!