New Teacher "Letter To Parents" Mid Year: Advice and Template

Whether you’re a high school, middle school, or elementary school teacher, you will likely have many things on your plate as a new teacher coming into the classroom mid-year. Of course, you’ll have to get to know a brand new group of students, but you’ll also have to introduce yourself to a new group of parents. A new teacher letter to parents, like the introduction one you may send home to parents at the beginning of the year, can help.

How to write an introduction letter to parents as a new teacher mid-year

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when sending home a mid-year letter. Think of this letter as a substitute for a meet-the-teacher or back-to-school night. Provide your students’ parents with the most important information to know before your first day, but keep it brief.

1. Start with a warm greeting

Begin your letter with a friendly greeting. This will set a positive tone and make parents feel welcome. You could start with something like, "Dear Parents," or "Hello, I am the new teacher for your child's class."

2. Introduce yourself

Next, you should introduce yourself. Share a little bit about your background, your education, and your experiences. This will help parents get to know you and understand your qualifications.

3. Share your teaching philosophy

Your teaching philosophy is an important aspect that parents would be interested in. Share your beliefs about education and how you plan to implement them in the classroom.

4. Discuss your goals for the class

Talk about your goals for the rest of the school year. This will give parents an idea of what to expect in terms of learning outcomes for their children.

5. Provide contact information

Finally, make sure to provide your contact information. This will make it easy for parents to reach out to you with any questions or concerns they may have. Perhaps even consider a parent-teacher conference for parents with academic or behavioral concerns about their child.

Providing your contact details with put parents at ease about the transition to a new teacher for their children mid-year.

Things parents should know about you as a new teacher

Your student’s parents will naturally be curious about the new teacher in their young learner’s life, especially if their child’s teacher before you left mid-year. Of course, you don’t have to tell them everything about your private and professional life! Here are some relevant details you might want to consider:

• Your previous teaching experience – what grades have you taught and for how long.
• Where you have lived or taught before, especially if it’s local and well-respected.
• If you are a first-year teacher, where you did your student teaching and/or got your degree.
• Your teaching philosophy or strategies (or anything else that would typically appear in a syllabus at the beginning of the year if you’re teaching high school students.)
• Any special qualifications, certifications, or specializations you have that are relevant to your teaching role.
• Your preferred method of communication and the best times to reach you.
• Any exciting projects or activities you have planned for the rest of the school year.
• A brief overview of your expectations for student behavior and academic performance.

Other tips for a new teacher letter to parents mid-year

1. Keep your tone positive and energetic

Maintaining a positive and energetic tone in a new teacher letter to parents helps to instill confidence and builds a welcoming atmosphere for open communication.

2. Use language that parents will understand

When writing to parents, use straightforward language that’s easy to understand. Remember that many parents will not know teacher jargon or common teaching acronyms.

3. Send the letter home at a convenient time of the year

If possible, send the letter home at a time of year when parents will be more likely to pay attention to it. Report card time, for example, is a great time of year for a new teacher letter to parents.

4. Include a parent survey in your letter

Include a survey for parents to fill out with information about their student’s interests, hobbies, and special needs, especially when working with elementary school students. This survey is a great way to get to know your students more quickly.

Keep it simple: use a new teacher letter to parents template!

You may find the template below helpful when making initial contact with parents:

Dear Parents,

My name is [Name here], and I am your child’s new teacher for [grade or subject] this school year. I’m excited to be part of your child’s education for the rest of the year!

Although [Name of school] is a new school for me, I have [number of years] experience in education. Previously, I have taught [list names and classes, as relevant].

I’ve attached a list of classroom rules and expectations for my students. I have also reviewed these expectations with the class today.

Please contact me using my contact information below if you want to discuss anything. I believe that it’s important for parents to take an active role in their children’s education. My teaching philosophy includes the necessity for open communication between teachers and students about students’ academic and behavioral concerns. You can request a parent-teacher conference with me anytime to discuss your student’s progress.

Enclosed, please find a form where you can tell me more about your student. I appreciate you returning it as soon as possible, so I can begin getting to know your learner better.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]

[contact information such as email address, school phone number, Google Voice number, and other school-approved methods of communication]

Of course, you should change the wording of your letter if you teach in an early childhood center or pre-k, where expectations may be different than in elementary or middle school.

For a high school teaching job, include a copy of your syllabus or any other paperwork that parents may need to see and fill out, such as permission slips.

You’ll want to keep your letter friendly, enthusiastic, and informative. Don’t forget to give your students’ parents key information about your background. You should anticipate and expect questions about your classroom policies.

For more time-saving tips, TeacherVision’s New Teacher Resources can help if you are new to teaching. You can also sign up for our TeacherVision Newsletters, which are full of lessons, games, and print-outs for teachers of all levels.