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School is just around the corner, and with it comes new changes for your child. As they prepare to embark on a fresh academic journey with a new teacher and classroom, it’s important to ensure a smooth transition.
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While exciting, these changes can also bring about feelings of stress and uncertainty. Whether you’re seeking a better school experience for your child or hoping to build upon their previous progress, now is the perfect time to prepare and I’m here to provide some support with how to write a Back-To-School Letter about your child for the new teacher. If it’s the same teacher, maybe just sharing some updates is the way to go.
Overview of Writing and Informative Back-to-School Letter:
One of the most effective ways to set your child and their new teacher up for success is by writing an informational letter. This letter serves as a valuable tool to convey important facts and tips about your child. It helps create a strong foundation and promotes a collaborative relationship between you, your child, and the teacher. To assist you in this process, I’ve prepared a downloadable template.
What to Include in Your Child’s Back-to-School Letter:
To ensure the teacher is well-informed, consider including the following key details:
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- Medical Information: Highlight any allergies, medications, and diagnoses. This information may already be available in the school’s records, but it’s beneficial to draw the teacher’s attention to it.
- Educational Program: Share insights about your child’s strengths, interests, areas of need, goals, temperament, triggers, sensory needs, language needs, and physical needs. Providing this comprehensive overview will help the teacher create a supportive learning environment.
- Life Outside of School: Consider including information about any outside support or therapies your child receives, as well as mentioning important family members. These details offer a holistic perspective on your child’s life and can foster a deeper understanding.
Supporting the Teacher-Parent Partnership:
Remember to present your suggestions and strategies in a respectful tone, demonstrating your willingness to collaborate. Frame them as helpful tips rather than mandates, as you want to show support for the teacher’s expertise. This is also an excellent opportunity to extend your support to the teacher.
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Offer assistance with supplies or materials preparation for the beginning of the year that might help your child and others. Showing appreciation and fostering a sense of teamwork can go a long way in creating a positive learning environment.
Share with Other Professionals and Therapists:
Consider sharing the back-to-school letter with other professionals or outside therapists involved in your child’s support network. Additional information can provide a broader context for their success and facilitate collaboration among all parties.
Paint a Positive Picture: Highlight your child’s strengths, talents, and accomplishments in the letter. By emphasizing their positive attributes, you instill confidence in both your child and their new teacher. This positive outlook sets the stage for a year of growth and learning.
Bridging Home and School:
This template is part of my book, “Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick!“. It provides helpful tips and strategies to reinforce these skills and has a full section on bridging home and school that you can check out to make this transition as smooth as possible.
With the new school year on the horizon, taking proactive steps to support your child’s social and emotional learning is crucial. Crafting an informative back-to-school letter to your child’s new teacher allows you to provide essential information and foster a collaborative partnership. By focusing on their social and emotional well-being, you set the foundation for a successful and fulfilling academic journey. Let’s make this the best school year ever!
