Let’s face it, teachers didn’t get into their profession because they wanted to get rich! Most teachers became educators because they wanted to influence children and make a difference in their lives.
So one of the nicest things you can do is to let the teacher know exactly how they’ve influenced you (or your child), and to write them a note of appreciation.
You can do this any time, but the most common times are during the holidays, during teacher appreciation week (if your school has one), and at the end of the school year.
Be sure to use nice note cards and your best handwriting – the little details like that make a difference! If you’re giving a gift to the teacher, you can alway attach the note to the present.
Read Related Article: Christmas Gifts for Teachers
How to Write a Thank You Note From Parents To the Teacher
If you are a parent, writing a small note to say “Thank You” to your child’s teacher is a special way to show him/her that you appreciate their hard work. It is always a beautiful gesture to send a thank you note to that special teacher who has changed your child’s perspective towards studies, and maybe towards studies altogether. If your child participates in the creation of the note, it is a good exercise for improving literacy as well!
While there are no hard-and-fast rules on what you should say in a thank-you note, you must remember that some ideas may be more appropriate than others. Try to pin down your words in such a way that will bring out your appreciation in the most sincere and compassionate way possible.
Below are a few tips to help you jot a wonderful thank you note to your child’s teacher. Take note that these are not mere formalities, but rather simple thank-you note etiquette that will make the note itself a special one for the teacher.
Try to hand-write the note rather than typing it. Not only will a neatly handwritten note add a personal touch to your message, but it will also allow the teacher to see that you have taken the time to write the note yourself. Handwritten notes also seem to be more convenient and can be displayed, cherished and easily revisited by the teacher for years to come.
Use a respectfully nice greeting. Do not just write the note. Begin with a formal greeting. Avoid using things like “Hey” or “Hi”, rather use the teacher’s name – something like “Dear Ms. Liz” will work quite well.
Introduce yourself in the first paragraph. Just before you start writing anything else, start by telling the teacher the name of your child. This will enable the teacher to instantly tell who the note is from without having to read to the end. This is easily done by saying something like, “I want to take a moment to thank you for everything you’ve done for Jack this year”.
Be specific on what it is you are thanking the teacher for. Avoid falling back on overused colloquialisms and phrases such as “My daughter has learned a lot”. Whereas this is actually what you may mean when sending the thank you note, being a little more specific in what you want to say is always better.
Talk with your child for a few minutes about what he or she likes about the teacher. Think about a few ways in which the teacher influenced your child, and you can also write about how your child had some problems with a certain subject like chemistry, and how the teacher helped and made it easier for your child.
In addition, try to customize the thank-you note so that is can be specifically for that particular teacher – impossible to interchange with another.
Thank the teacher again. After everything, this is actually the most important point of the note.
Sign it. Believe it or not – people do forget that! Some popular closing sentiments are: Thanks again, Yours truly, Sincerely, Warmest regards, Our deepest thanks, or Best regards.
How to Write a Thank You Note From the Student To A Teacher
Begin by writing a date and greeting to your teacher. Once you have chosen a simple but elegant or even decorative card, start by addressing your note with an appropriate greeting like “Dear Mr. Williams” or “Dear Ms. Suzie.” Remember to handwrite the note instead of typing it on a computer.
When writing the body of the note, be specific about the ways your teacher has assisted and influenced you. Sharing your personal experience will let the teacher know how they have truly helped you.
Don’t simply say “Thanks for the great year” instead, list particular memories that you are personally fond of in addition to a few lessons or activities that you actually enjoyed. Avoid general statements like “You’ve been a nice teacher”.
It is more effective if you use a specific anecdote like “Since you set aside extra time to help me, reading has become much easier and I have improved in all my classes!
Thank the teacher once more then sign off your note. For example, you can say “I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me this year. Thank you” or you can also say “Thanks again for providing such a stupendous classroom environment for me”.
End your note with a closing phrase such as, “Thanks so much”, “Yours truly”, “Warm regards” or “Sincerely”, followed by your name.
Congratulations – now you’ve written a thank you note that is sure to warm your teacher’s heart!