When you take a moment to think about where you are and how far you’ve come in life, you’ll certainly think of a list of people who helped you get here. And right around the top of that list, up there with your parents, are probably your teachers. From the age of four (or earlier), they were there, molding your mind and shaping your outlook on life. Just think of the hours they put into lesson planning, carefully curating it for each year, each class, each student. Or think about the countless hours they’ve put in perfecting their classroom to make sure it’s the best learning environment for their students. Each and every day, your teachers stand at the front of their classrooms and work tirelessly to keep your attention, and, at the end of the day, teach you something new.

Even though it’s their job, it means the world to a teacher to hear a “thank you” from a current student — or even from a student they had years or decades earlier. So isn’t it time you thanked an especially helpful teacher for all they’ve done for you? Because, more often than not, teaching can feel like a thankless job. And day after day, they come back, ready to teach some more. 

Perhaps today’s the day you thanked a teacher for something they’ve done to make a difference in your life. Perhaps today’s the day you let your gratitude shine, whether with a handwritten note or an email.

In this article, we’ll go over five sample messages to send to a teacher. Of course, you’ll probably want to change them a little and put them into your own words — these are the frameworks, but add your own personal touch. After all, we’d imagine your teacher would be against plagiarism. Make these messages your own, and more importantly, make these messages matter. Your teacher deserves it.

A thank you message for a teacher who mentored you

Dear XXX,

When I first found out I’d be taking honors physics, I was really nervous. As much as it hurt my pride at the time, I’m glad you recognized I was struggling. Because if you hadn’t, you would have never offered me the help I needed to succeed in your class. Thank you for staying late after school to teach me about force and motion and thermodynamics. The time you carved out to make sure I learned this subject matter paid off. I’m excited to further my education next year, and you’re the reason I learned to love science. 

A teacher, by definition, is someone who teaches and whose occupation is to instruct. As long as they do that, their paycheck can be cashed at the end of every month. It’s rare for a teacher to take time out of their lives to make sure their students receive the most thorough education they can. So when an educator gets to class early and stays late for the betterment of their students, they deserve all the thanks you can give them.

A thank you message for a teacher who helped you through a tough time

Dear XXX,

This school year was tough for me. You know that better than anyone. And when you saw me struggling to keep it together during class, you didn’t turn a blind eye. You helped me. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t think one of my closest allies at school would become my algebra teacher, but here we are. You put your personal life on hold while you made sure mine didn’t crumble around me. Your classroom turned into a safe haven for me. I don’t know how I would have survived this semester without you, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This message is for the teacher who helped you when you were bullied or were otherwise struggling with a personal issue. For most teachers, educating doesn’t end when the bell rings, it ends when students leave school feeling safe and educated. Any spare time spent making sure you’re OK is time spent away from their friends, family, and personal lives. A simple acknowledgement like this one can go a long way. 

A thank you message for a teacher who inspired you

Dear XXX,

I never expected that when I started freshman English, I would fall in love with reading, writing, and analyzing books. And I don’t know if I would have learned to love those things if you weren’t the one teaching me. You’ve provided me the tools I need to dive deeper with my assignments and my passions, and these are lessons that will stay with me far into my future. No need to read between the lines here when I say thank you for helping me fall in love with this subject. 

Teachers do more than teach. They hold the future in their hands, and it’s up to them to teach in a way that inspires students to learn. Of course, all that’s easier said than done. Being in charge of up to 30 students at a time can be a difficult task on its own. To inspire just one of their students can go a long way for the teacher’s outlook on their career. And the best way to let your teacher know that they’ve been an inspiration is to tell them. They may seem like superheroes with all the work they juggle, but one thing they can’t do is read your mind. A thank you card or email is a surefire way to help.

A thank you message for a teacher who made learning fun 

Dear XXX,

My whole life has been a countdown to school ending. I’m constantly staring the clock, waiting for it to strike 3:15 p.m., and always looking at my calendar, counting down the days for summer to start. That’s how it’s always been. And up until your class, that’s how I thought it would always be. But ever since I stepped into your home economics class, I learned more than how to braise a chicken and sew a pillow. I discovered that I loved learning. It just took the right teacher to make things click into place. These days, I’m dreading the bell to ring. Your class is my favorite part of the day, and I wanted to thank you for being the best teacher I’ve ever had.

If you’re lucky enough, this scenario has happened to you too. Where the universe aligns and you get a great teacher who clearly loves what they do and inspire you to love it as well. Let your new favorite teacher of your new favorite subject know the impact they’ve had on you. Not only does this make them want to work harder, it shows them how far you’ve come in the classroom. 

A thank you message for a teacher who is leaving or retiring

Dear XXX, 

I can’t believe it. The best teacher in the entire school — nay, the entire world — is leaving us. I wonder if this is how you feel when your students move on and graduate as well. Well, this feeling is the worst, and even though I want to wish you the best, I’m having a hard time doing so. You transformed the classroom into another world that students were begging to enter. You changed lives, mine included. And you will be missed dearly. Thank you. Not only for the years you’ve put into this school, but also the time, energy and effort you poured into every student that came into your classroom. Good luck.

Change is a normal part of life. The older you get, the more you’ll change. Emotionally, physically, geographically. Whether your teacher is changing professions, transferring schools or retiring, it’s important you share with them that they were appreciated and they will be missed. Goodbyes are hard. Thank you cards help.

Buying guide

• Now that you have your thank you message picked out, you’re probably wondering what you’re going to write it on. Check out Paper Source, a store that specializes in custom stationary, crafting supplies and decorative paper.

• Take the note one step further with a Quill fountain pen. The best part about this is while you’re carefully crafting your thank you message, you get to live out your Victorian fantasy of writing with a quill and ink.

• A thank you card is thoughtful. Take the card one step further and give your teacher something memorable from Uncommon Goods. 

• Or maybe you don’t feel like writing the card by hand. You can always have UrbanStems deliver flowers to go along with the thank you note attached to the bouquet you choose. 

• But if you have a teacher with terrible allergies, your best bet is to go to Hobby Lobby and pair your thank you note with a simple gift card.