20 Ideas for Celebrating American Education Week

American Education Week: history and purpose

American Education Week has been celebrated since 1921 and this year it is going to be the 95^th anniversary of this holiday. The purpose of its creation was to raise the awareness of public of how important education is. All the Americans have a great opportunity to celebrate public education on these days as well as honor all the individuals, who contribute to the high quality of educational process. Usually, there is a weeklong list with the numerous events for each day of the week dedicated to all the members to takes or used to take part in the teaching and learning processes. Here you can see the examples of the activities to be performed during this week.

Wonderful Media Activities

1.                  Advertisement or quiz on the history of education on radio or TV

Not all parents and children remember about AEW in the flow of everyday life. That is why a short but spectacular ad on the local channel can remind of the importance of education as well as time of its celebration. Any quizzes or topics for compositions and essays connected with this week will expand pupils’ and teachers’ knowledge about its history as well as result in more extraordinary and creative ways of its celebration.

2.                  A posted “Letter to the editor” written by the authority representative

Local newspapers and magazines never lose their popularity among adults and a letter of congratulations can be a good variant to attract public attention to the event. Students can do the same thing posting a letter in the school or college newspaper.

3.                  Reading of motivational quotes on radio, TV or popular Internet websites

There is an abundance of interesting and funny quotes connected with education and many of them can be rather inspiring though unknown to masses, so it might be interesting for everyone to hear, see or read them.

4.                  Students photos and essays posted in the local edition

What can be more exciting than to see your kid’s or grandchild’s photos from school in the newspaper as well as read his own piece of writing there. Most of the parent will not only be moved but also proud of their children. At the same time, it will also shed light on the modern educational process and students’ leisure activities.

5.                  An interview of short phrases about the best liked at school

Only imagine smiling faces of all the members of educational process, who remember the best moments from their studying or teaching experience. Moreover, some of such pleasant situations can be repeated by other students as well as inspire to work harder and more productive.

School celebration

1.                  Launching a contest for students

It is always a good initiative to encourage students to show off their skills and talents. Moreover, a sense of competition only adds courage and desire to win the prize. That is why an annual contest can be a perfect way to draw students’ attention to AEW and participate. The ideas can be various: essays, photos, designs of covers, rhymes, a show of talents or a contest between students and teachers etc.

2.                  A school fair

Many people adore different fairs because of an opportunity to get rid of unnecessary things and purchase something useful for a minimal price. School can be a perfect place to do that. It can be a pastry fair or book one, a kind of flea-market or even a charity fair, where received money will be donated to the needy children.

3.                  Retired teachers, students or parents are invited to conduct their lesson

It would be a great experience for students to receive a new teacher for a while – only imagine how funny it is to see a familiar person in front of you. It is a good way to honor retired educators as well as attract parents to the school life of their children. Some of such lessons will prove to kids that only professional teachers are able to make lessons interesting and provide knowledge.

4.                  One day back in time – photos from the childhood

There is hardly anything more moving and funny than photos from the childhood of people, who you see on a daily basis. It would be twice more exciting to suppose (write below or according to the number of photo), who it is and praise winners, who were the first to guess. It is also a good reminder how education has already changed each of us and what awaits us in future.

5.                  An unusual party for students

Students are an indispensable part of the educational process and they also should have an opportunity to let their hair down. Of course, it is impossible to organize one celebration for different ages, so each group should have its own holiday. It can be a concert with after-party or a play, a masquerade or a theme party – an interesting activity to allow students to rest.

Ways to salute the staff

1.                  Post cards and saluting bulletins

There is nothing more customary than congratulations written on paper, though they still are the most popular and appreciated kind of a present. Each teacher can be moved with a hand-made example as well as get happy to see the pleasant words and rhymes concerning his or her activity.

2.                  Treatment

Each person likes to be treated with something delicious and school and college staff is not an exception. Either it is a bus driver or a teacher, a nurse or assistants – each of them will be glad to receive a free lunch or a coupon, be treated with cookies and pastry, fruits and candies. Each similar way to honor the staff is the utmost pleasure for them.

3.                  Congratulations from local associations

Not only students must salute teachers during AEW, there is always a local association responsible for this fact too. It can organize a variety of events to honor teachers as well as praise their labor providing them with small gifts.

4.                   Nominations and awards

Only imagine how pleasant it is to be awarded for the work you do on a daily basis. Students and parents can organize the annual “Oscar” for teachers and determine winners in each nomination. Non-winners can be given small prizes too. The holiday will be even more spectacular if you use the sense of humor and show talents to them.

5.                  Shoot a short film for each teacher

Every person’s work requires appreciation and students do not need to make many efforts to show their love for teachers. Small interviews of pupils mentioning their favorite teacher can be transformed into a short video. It can be shown at the local representative assembly or given to each teacher personally.

Community celebration

1.                  A dinner with retired teachers

It is important to remember those ones, who might be unjustly forgotten on these lovely days – retired teachers. Their contribution is not always appreciated by right, but these are people, who taught our relatives and parents, who consequently raise modern generation. A tea party with pastries from the local association can be a good way to listen to the reminiscent career of theirs.

2.                  Downtown windows are decorated with children’s drawings and artworks

Children’s drawings are always interesting to gaze at as their vision of the world greatly differs from the adult one. And if they were offered to create a picture on some serious topic, the results would be more than just amazing. To celebrate an AEW children can be suggested drawing on the topic “The role of teacher or school in my life” and many visitors of the downtown will remember how important a teacher was or still is in their lives. At the same time these pictures will remind of the education week in general too.

3.                  Organized exhibitions and career fairs are held

The AEW can boast numerous exhibitions to enlighten people. These are presentations of newly released books, educational software, artworks, private collections as well as mass visits of museums and galleries. These places play not less important role in educating population, so this holiday concerns them as well.

4.                  Awarding of the best teachers and educational community workers

It is always pleasant if your efforts are appreciated but not only taken for granted. Each educator or community worker connected with this process should be awarded for his or her achievements and AEW is a perfect time to do that.

5.                  Local libraries invite people for interesting activities

Another important educational establishment is a library and despite the technological development they still should do their best to attract new readers. Interesting tasks, performances, meetings with famous writers will contribute to the overall celebration of this holiday week.

These are only some of the activities that can be held during the American Education Week, but each of them will be appreciated both by students and educational workers. AEW has proved its importance for so many years of its existence, so it is a necessity to find as many creative ideas for its celebration as possible.

Originally posted at 20 Ideas for Celebrating American Education Week