parent/student letter
August 2015
Dear Parent/Guardian,
My name is Maggie Smith, and I will be your son/daughter’s social studies teacher for this upcoming school year. I am very excited to start the school year, and I look forward to working and getting to know your son/daughter.
A little information about myself is I have always had a passion for social studies, so when I attended college at the University of Illinois I studied history and secondary education. My love for learning and teaching only increased during my college education, and it reassured me that teaching is what I am meant to do.
Throughout this school year, it is my goal that all of my students challenge themselves. I want all of my students to step outside of their comfort zones and form an open mind to new ideas and experiences. I not only want your son/daughter to grow as a student, but I also want him/her to grow as a person. As a teacher, I hope that all of my students receive a positive school experience and gain not only a deeper knowledge of social studies but also develop self-confidence and form new relationships. I wish to see your son/daughter thrive and enjoy his/her schooling experience.
While I expect and hope that your son/daughter will commit to learning and growing, I too will also be committed to his/her progress. I promise to provide your son/daughter with the education he/she deserves. I will be present and willing to help your child grow and succeed. I promise to put in as much effort and dedication as I expect from your son/daughter. Your child, his/her classmates, and myself will all work as a team and learn from one another in a positive and safe environment.
If at anytime throughout the year you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. You may email me anytime at [email protected] or call through the school’s telephone number. I am more than willing answer all questions and keep you up to date with your child’s progress.
I am very excited to start working with your son/daughter and hope to have an enjoyable and rewarding school year.
Sincerely,
Maggie Smith
Social Studies Teacher
August 2015
Dear Student,
My name is Ms. Smith, and I will be your social studies teacher for this upcoming school year. I am extremely excited to dive into the school year, and I look forward to us learning from one another.
In order to get to know one another, I will share some of my interests with you. I have a love for social studies and learning, and I hope that by the end of this school year you will develop a passion for learning as well. I enjoy being active by running and biking outside or taking my two dogs, Lucy and Rosie, for walks. During my free time I spend time with my family and friends and catch up on good movies and books.
Throughout this school year, it is my goal that I help you to grow and succeeded not only as a student in my class but also as a person. It is also my hope that you grow to enjoy learning and develop a deeper and better understanding of different people, ideas, and experience that may surround you. Overall, I wish to see you have a successful and enjoyable school year.
While I expect you to put in an effort in my class, I too will also put in an effort to help and support you in anyway I can. I promise to provide you with the education you deserve and try to make your learning experience fun and enjoyable.
If at anytime throughout the year you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. My door is always open to all students, and I will always be available to talk to you and assist you in anyway I can. I will always be present before and after school to meet with you. If you cannot meet in person, you can always email me at [email protected]. I am here to help and guide you.
I am very excited to begin this school year with you. I know that it will be an enjoyable and rewarding year for the both of us!
Sincerely.
Ms. Smith
Social Studies Teacher
Rationale
Parent Letter:
I chose to open my letter up by showing my excitement for the school year and working with my new students to show to the parents my dedication and commitment to their child's learning experience.
I decided to provide some background information about my schooling by explaining to parents my educational background to inform them about my love for social studies and teaching. I think it is important for parents to know that their son/daughter's teacher enjoys what they are doing because it makes their child's experience better.
The goals I outlined for my students illustrate that I wish to see my students succeeded academically and socially. I think it is important for parents to know that their child is getting the most out of their education. As their teacher I want them to grow in every way possible. I also made sure to inform parents of my role in the classroom and my dedication to the students. I think by reassuring my commitment to my students and their learning helps parents feel more comfortable about their child's education.
I made sure to note that parents can contact me at anytime because it is very important to have contact with students' parents. It is not only important to have contact with parents when negative situations happen but it is just as equally important to have contact with parents for positive events. Cushman and Roger's text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, explains that students enjoy when their parents and teachers form positive connections because it helps for teachers to contact parents when a student succeeds or does something positive (127). Both parents and students appreciate open communication with teachers, and it is my hope that my students' parents connect with me.
Student Letter:
The tone I wished to set when writing the letter to my students was to be both welcoming and friendly. It is my hope that I start off the new school year by making a positive first connection with all of my students. I want my students be excited to be in my class and look forward to the year ahead.
I decided to provide some personal information about myself so that the students can understand who I am outside of the classroom. It is my hope that by my students knowing my interests they too will open up and share their interests, and we might discover similarities.
I included in the letter that I hope for all my students to grow not only as students but also grow as people because I think at this age it is important for students to recognize they are growing up and developing into well-rounded people. It also shows that I expect them to be accountable for their actions and behaviors, and they will be treated like adults. In chapter 7 of Cushman and Rogers' text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, they discuss how students at the middle grade level are anticipating high school and want to be prepared for the transition to high school. I think by explaining to my students that they are expected to grow academically and socially will help them prepare for their high school experience.
I made sure to put an emphasis on my availability to meet and talk with students because I think it is important for my students to know that they can always come to me for help on assignments, advice about a problem they are dealing with, or just to talk. To be a good teacher is to be willing to always help your students. Students appreciate when their teachers are available. In Cushman and Rogers’ text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, the authors discuss the importance of teachers being supportive of students. Students appreciate when teachers help them when they are struggling and count on teachers’ assistance (123). I wanted to make sure my students knew they can always come to me for help.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
My name is Maggie Smith, and I will be your son/daughter’s social studies teacher for this upcoming school year. I am very excited to start the school year, and I look forward to working and getting to know your son/daughter.
A little information about myself is I have always had a passion for social studies, so when I attended college at the University of Illinois I studied history and secondary education. My love for learning and teaching only increased during my college education, and it reassured me that teaching is what I am meant to do.
Throughout this school year, it is my goal that all of my students challenge themselves. I want all of my students to step outside of their comfort zones and form an open mind to new ideas and experiences. I not only want your son/daughter to grow as a student, but I also want him/her to grow as a person. As a teacher, I hope that all of my students receive a positive school experience and gain not only a deeper knowledge of social studies but also develop self-confidence and form new relationships. I wish to see your son/daughter thrive and enjoy his/her schooling experience.
While I expect and hope that your son/daughter will commit to learning and growing, I too will also be committed to his/her progress. I promise to provide your son/daughter with the education he/she deserves. I will be present and willing to help your child grow and succeed. I promise to put in as much effort and dedication as I expect from your son/daughter. Your child, his/her classmates, and myself will all work as a team and learn from one another in a positive and safe environment.
If at anytime throughout the year you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. You may email me anytime at [email protected] or call through the school’s telephone number. I am more than willing answer all questions and keep you up to date with your child’s progress.
I am very excited to start working with your son/daughter and hope to have an enjoyable and rewarding school year.
Sincerely,
Maggie Smith
Social Studies Teacher
August 2015
Dear Student,
My name is Ms. Smith, and I will be your social studies teacher for this upcoming school year. I am extremely excited to dive into the school year, and I look forward to us learning from one another.
In order to get to know one another, I will share some of my interests with you. I have a love for social studies and learning, and I hope that by the end of this school year you will develop a passion for learning as well. I enjoy being active by running and biking outside or taking my two dogs, Lucy and Rosie, for walks. During my free time I spend time with my family and friends and catch up on good movies and books.
Throughout this school year, it is my goal that I help you to grow and succeeded not only as a student in my class but also as a person. It is also my hope that you grow to enjoy learning and develop a deeper and better understanding of different people, ideas, and experience that may surround you. Overall, I wish to see you have a successful and enjoyable school year.
While I expect you to put in an effort in my class, I too will also put in an effort to help and support you in anyway I can. I promise to provide you with the education you deserve and try to make your learning experience fun and enjoyable.
If at anytime throughout the year you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. My door is always open to all students, and I will always be available to talk to you and assist you in anyway I can. I will always be present before and after school to meet with you. If you cannot meet in person, you can always email me at [email protected]. I am here to help and guide you.
I am very excited to begin this school year with you. I know that it will be an enjoyable and rewarding year for the both of us!
Sincerely.
Ms. Smith
Social Studies Teacher
Rationale
Parent Letter:
I chose to open my letter up by showing my excitement for the school year and working with my new students to show to the parents my dedication and commitment to their child's learning experience.
I decided to provide some background information about my schooling by explaining to parents my educational background to inform them about my love for social studies and teaching. I think it is important for parents to know that their son/daughter's teacher enjoys what they are doing because it makes their child's experience better.
The goals I outlined for my students illustrate that I wish to see my students succeeded academically and socially. I think it is important for parents to know that their child is getting the most out of their education. As their teacher I want them to grow in every way possible. I also made sure to inform parents of my role in the classroom and my dedication to the students. I think by reassuring my commitment to my students and their learning helps parents feel more comfortable about their child's education.
I made sure to note that parents can contact me at anytime because it is very important to have contact with students' parents. It is not only important to have contact with parents when negative situations happen but it is just as equally important to have contact with parents for positive events. Cushman and Roger's text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, explains that students enjoy when their parents and teachers form positive connections because it helps for teachers to contact parents when a student succeeds or does something positive (127). Both parents and students appreciate open communication with teachers, and it is my hope that my students' parents connect with me.
Student Letter:
The tone I wished to set when writing the letter to my students was to be both welcoming and friendly. It is my hope that I start off the new school year by making a positive first connection with all of my students. I want my students be excited to be in my class and look forward to the year ahead.
I decided to provide some personal information about myself so that the students can understand who I am outside of the classroom. It is my hope that by my students knowing my interests they too will open up and share their interests, and we might discover similarities.
I included in the letter that I hope for all my students to grow not only as students but also grow as people because I think at this age it is important for students to recognize they are growing up and developing into well-rounded people. It also shows that I expect them to be accountable for their actions and behaviors, and they will be treated like adults. In chapter 7 of Cushman and Rogers' text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, they discuss how students at the middle grade level are anticipating high school and want to be prepared for the transition to high school. I think by explaining to my students that they are expected to grow academically and socially will help them prepare for their high school experience.
I made sure to put an emphasis on my availability to meet and talk with students because I think it is important for my students to know that they can always come to me for help on assignments, advice about a problem they are dealing with, or just to talk. To be a good teacher is to be willing to always help your students. Students appreciate when their teachers are available. In Cushman and Rogers’ text, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, the authors discuss the importance of teachers being supportive of students. Students appreciate when teachers help them when they are struggling and count on teachers’ assistance (123). I wanted to make sure my students knew they can always come to me for help.