Sample Letter To Parents From Teacher Template (Page 5 of 7) in pdf

Sample Letter To Parents From Teacher Template Page 5

Letters That Invite Family Involvement

We’ve also found that summer is a great time to learn

about students from their families. Parents often have

unusual and important information to share about their

children that might be easier to share through the mail,

rather than during the hectic first days of school.

When Suzy Kaback sends out the letter described

above, she also sends a separate letter to parents,

encouraging them to share helpful information about

their children. (See sample on pages 17 and 18.)

S p e c i f i c a l l y, she asks parents to write a letter telling

her what she shouldn’t wait to find out about their

child. Her letter makes it clear that the information

should be positive. Troubled home lives, past

difficulties in school, and peer problems are all

important factors to know at some point, but not

i n i t i a l l y. Suzy wants parents to feel comfortable

bragging about their kids. She also makes it easy for

them to respond by enclosing a self-addressed

stamped envelope.

Responses to this request disprove the negative

notions many educators have about parent involvement

in the upper-elementary grades. Suzy has never received

responses from less than 90 percent of parents, and

what treasures their letters prove to be! (See sample on

page 19.) They always provide a sneak peek into the

lives of her future students and a wealth of substantive

comments for each child on the very first day of school.

page 5

from “The Back to School Book” by Suzanne Kaback, Constance Perry, and Brenda Power

Sample Letter To Parents From Teacher Template Page 5