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Table of Contents
Teachers’ Day or Teachers’ Appreciation Day is celebrated around the world on different dates to show appreciation and pay tribute to the contribution of teachers to children. In the U.S, it is observed in the first full week of May. It was Eleanor Roosevelt who persuaded Congress to declare National Teacher Day in 1953.
See the fact file below for more information on Teachers’ Day or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Teachers’ Day worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Historical Background
- In the early 1940s, African American teacher, Mattie Whyte Woodridge who taught in a segregated school in Arkansas thought that educators should be recognized for how they mold and contributed to society, particularly to children. In order to make it happen, Woodridge ventured on missions advocating her ideas.
- She wrote letters to United States governors to identify a national day to honor teachers. By 1944, one of her letters was read by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
- As a result, Mrs. Roosevelt urged the 81st Congress to assign a day honoring the contribution of teachers. In addition, Woodridge’s suggestion was supported by the National Education Association.
- But it was not until 1980 when Congress designated March 7, as National Teacher Day for that year alone. As movements continued to grow, NEA officially designated the first Tuesday in March as National Teacher Day.
- In 1999 during the 106th Congress, Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey delivered a touching speech about National Teacher Day. In the same year, three months after Holt’s speech, Woodridge died and Teacher Appreciation Week was established.
Celebration of Teachers’ Day
- Teachers’ Day is a particular time for students and parents to honor teachers for their contributions. Schools organize activities and presentations for teachers.
- On an international scale, World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated since October 5, 1994. The UNESCO officially declared the celebration as part of commemorating the anniversary of 1966 UNESCO Recommendations about the status of Teachers.
- Different countries celebrate Teachers’ Day on a variety of dates. In Argentina, Teachers’ Day falls on September 11 in honor of their 7th president, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento who was a strong advocate of education.
- In Bhutan, honoring teachers coincided with the birth of their 3rd King who introduced education to the country.
- The Chinese celebrate on September 10, but some have since proposed it be moved to September 28 which is the birth of Confucius. Teachers’ Day celebrations are also on the same date in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- Respected Indian teachers commonly receive a miniature replica of the Taj Mahal every September 5th.
- Over 20 countries celebrate Teachers’ day every October 5th including Armenia, Estonia, Germany, Mauritius, Myanmar, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and the Philippines.
- In Colombia, teachers are honored on May 15th which marked the appointment of San Juan Bautista de la Salle as the patron saint of teachers in 1950.
- In Chile, Dia del Profesor is on October 15th, the same date as the founding of the Teachers’ Association of Chile.
Enlightening Facts About Teachers and Education
- In Armenia, chess class is a mandatory part of their curriculum.
- Pakistani children ages 5 to 9 are entitled to compulsory education, others do not have the right to free education.
- In New York, a school was named Harvey Milk High School after a gay rights activist and politician.
- The King’s School in Canterbury, England is the world’s oldest school built in 597 AD.
- According to studies, Japanese kids are the most independent students because they travel to school alone and clean classrooms.
- Teaching is a female-oriented profession but the number of males entering the field increased by 26%.
- Italian educational reformer Maria Montessori popularized the discovery model in teaching a child.
- Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross was also a teacher. She introduced free public schools in New Jersey.
Teachers’ Day Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Teachers’ Day across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Teachers’ Day worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Teachers’ Day or Teachers’ Appreciation Day which is celebrated around the world on different dates to show appreciation and pay tribute to the contribution of teachers to children. In the U.S, it is observed in the first full week of May. It was Eleanor Roosevelt who persuaded Congress to declare National Teacher Day in 1953.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Teachers’ Day Facts
- Teacher Acrostic
- Calling Teachers
- Teachers Camp
- Infogram
- Word Mapping
- mona lisa smile
- Me and My Teacher
- Rules Are Rules
- Teacher Says
- Song for Heroes
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Teacher’s Day celebrated in the USA?
Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on 7 May, or the first Wednesday in May. It is common for students and parents to bring teachers gifts on this day. Most schools close early in celebration of Teachers’ Day.
Who declared Teacher’s Day?
On October 5th, 1994, UNESCO designated October 5th as World Teacher’s Day to celebrate the significant progress that has been made for teachers since a special conference on this topic was convened by UNESCO in Paris on October 5th, 1966. This meeting adopted the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers.
Who invented Teacher’s Day?
Mrs. Woodridge was an excellent teacher at Eliza Miller High. She won “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” four years in a row. Mrs. Woodridge wanted all teachers to feel appreciated, so she worked quickly to make that happen. Mattie Whyte Woodridge began sending letters to national and state political and education leaders, including every governor and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, requesting that they establish a holiday to celebrate America’s instructors’ efforts.
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Link will appear as Teachers’ Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 27, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.