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

Why am I asking you to do this? Well, I answer with another question: When a

parent and a teacher communicate regularly about a child, does the child have a

h a p p i e r, more successful school year? On the surface it’s a simple question that many

people would answer with a quick “yes,” but I think it deserves more deliberate

consideration. A good teacher knows, however, that to make such a statement

publicly takes some data. Therefore, I’d like to use any talking and writing we do

throughout the year as the basis for a classroom research project that asks if there is,

in fact, a connection between home-school communication and a child’s school

success. (Of course, all communication will be confidential, and I will request your

permission for using any of our communications if opportunities arise to publish

t h e m . )

Last year I asked families to write these kinds of letters, and the results

were wonderful! The only problem was that I made my request on the first day

of school, and I think the letter got buried among the avalanche of other

notices. Therefore, I didn’t get the number of letters I’d hoped for. So, this year,

I’m getting a head start on a home-school relationship, which is why you’re

getting this letter early!

Please write as much or as little as you’d like in the “Kid Notes.” I’m just

looking for that kernel of knowledge you can share with me to help start fifth

grade on a confident note. I hope the self-addressed stamped envelope makes

your “homework” a little easier!

And the final request: Might your soon-to-be fifth grader like to spend time

helping to set up our classroom? Some would call it slave labor, but I like to think

of it as volunteerism! I’ll be in our room during the week prior to school and can

always use help re-shelving books, hanging posters, creating bulletin boards, and so

forth. If «student’s name» is interested in coming to school for an hour or so one

afternoon, let me know. It’s a great bonding experience!

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and thanks in advance for

responding to it. There’s no rush to turn in the writing. If you don’t get to it

until the beginning of the school year, no problem.

Again, I wish you well and look forward to meeting you this fall.

Sincerely,

page 7

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

Sample Letter To Parents From Teacher Template Page 7