Let's thank our favorite teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week

We’d be remiss – nay, derelict! – in not mentioning that today, May 8, is recognized as National Teacher Appreciation Day.

But before you say we didn’t give you any notice, we should point out that tomorrow, May 9, is actually California Day of the Teacher, established under Education Code Section 37222.10. (We checked.) And this whole week is designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week. We say anytime is a good time to celebrate great teaching, and no matter which day you observe, we would encourage you to thank the educators, both past and present, who made an impact on your life, or the life of your child. (If you happen to live in Irvine, chances are you’ve got more than a few favorites.) Far be it from us to tell you how to recognize Teacher Appreciation Day, but state schools chief Tom Torlakson has a few suggestions, which he recently released as a “Top 10 List of Ways to Appreciate Teachers.” Here’s what he came up with: For students 1. Thank your teacher for all of his or her hard work. 2. Do your best on homework and in-class assignments. 3. Behave in class, so your teacher can devote more time to teaching. 4. Respect your teacher and your fellow students. This will create a better learning environment for everyone in the classroom. 5. Raise your hand to answer your teacher’s questions and participate in learning. For parents 6. Send an e-mail or a note with your children to school, thanking their teachers for their hard work. 7. Appreciate teachers for the professionals that they are, and give them the same respect you would give a good friend who takes care of your children. 8. Provide a helping hand in the classroom, during sporting events, on field trips, or at the school site. 9. Donate school supplies. Teachers often pay out of their own pockets to provide their students with the tools they need to learn. 10. Hold fundraisers and donate the proceeds to schools that have been hard hit by state budget cuts.