How to Write a Letter of Appreciation to Your Teacher

Deciding What to Say

List 3-5 ways your teacher helped you over the school year. Don’t worry about writing out a whole sentence. Just jot down a few words to help jog your memory. Later, you can include these things in your letter. For instance, you might write, “tutored after school, wrote encouraging notes on papers, let me take a book home, and offered extra credit.”Tip: You only need to include 2-3 reasons why you’re thankful, so it’s okay to skip some of these brainstorming activities if you already know what you plan to say.

Think of a memorable moment from their class. Decide what stands out most from your time in their class. It could be a special lecture they did, a topic you studied, or a day they made you feel special. Write down a summary of what happened during that event. For instance, your favorite moment might have been when you gave a presentation that they highly praised. You might write down what happened, how it felt, and why the moment mattered to you. On the other hand, you might remember a lesson where you and your classmates got to step into the shoes of historical figures. Think about why you enjoyed that lesson and what you took from it.

Identify the 3-5 most important things they taught you. Don’t just include your class assignments. Think about the life lessons you took from your teacher, like how to treat others, how to be prepared, and how to work hard after you fail. Make a list of the things your teacher taught you that you really value. For instance, you might write, “how to multiply, hard work pays off, and writing down assignments helps you stay on track.”

List the qualities you love most about your teacher. This includes their personality and teaching style. Think about how your teacher treated you every day and how they presented their lessons. Then, pick out 2-3 things that you appreciated most about them. As an example, you might write, “always positive, friendly, and treats all students equally.”

Drafting the Letter

Start your letter with “Dear” and your teacher’s name. This starts your letter with a formal tone. Use the name you called your teacher while you were in class, such as Ms. Miller or Miss Debbie. Write, “Dear Ms. Miller” or “Dear Mr. Stephenson.”

Thank your teacher for how they helped you. Begin the body of your letter by thanking them so they know what your letter is about. Write a sentence that expresses your thanks and briefly tells them why. You might write, “Thank you so much for helping me come out of my shell this year,” or “I really appreciate the extra help you gave me in math.”

Give 2-3 specific examples of why you’re thanking them. Providing reasons will make your letter more meaningful. Include the ways your teacher helped you, your most memorable moment, the most important things they taught you, or the qualities you love most about them. Write 2-3 sentences providing your examples. You could write, “Every day you encouraged us to face our fears, and that’s helped me feel more confident at school. Additionally, your positive attitude made me look forward to seeing you every day, and your rules about using a planner made me more organized.”

Explain how their help will benefit you in the future. Consider how you will use the lessons they taught you, as well as how they shaped your behavior. Then, write 2-3 sentences about how your teacher changed your life. You might write, “Because of you, I’ll be able to go to camp this summer instead of summer school,” “Because of your help, I realized that I want to be a writer,” or “Your kindness showed me that how we treat others is important.”

Restate your appreciation and wish your teacher well. Finish the body of your letter by briefly restating that you’re thankful for your time in their class. Then, tell your teacher that you hope they’re doing well. Say this in 1-2 sentences. Write, “Thank you again for all of your help. I hope you have a great summer!” or “I’d like to thank you again for the support this year. I hope you realize how much of a difference you’re making in your students’ lives.”

Close your letter with “Sincerely” and your signature. Use “sincerely” because it’s more formal. Then, sign your name to the letter. If you’re typing your letter, skip 3 lines after “sincerely” and type your name. Then, print out your letter and sign it above your typed name. Write, “Sincerely, Daisy James.”

Finalizing Your Letter

Decide if you want to handwrite or type your letter. Handwriting your letter is more personal, so you may prefer to do that. However, you might decide to type your letter if your handwriting isn’t neat or you prefer writing on a computer. Both options will work great for your letter of appreciation. Typing your letter might work best if you’re emailing your letter to your teacher.Tip: You can write your letter inside a teacher appreciation or thank you card! Look for a card that has a nice image on the front. If it has a message inside, write your letter on the blank side.

Use a formal tone as a sign of respect. Your teacher is in a position of authority, so you want to show them respect in your letter. A formal tone helps you do that. Don’t use slang or text-speak in your letter. For instance, you’d write “Dear Ms. Miller” instead of “Hey Debbie!” It’s okay to use contractions in an appreciation letter. Additionally, you can still use “you” and “I.”

Keep your message concise rather than being wordy. Your appreciation letter will likely be very short, and that’s okay. Don’t use more words than necessary to explain how you feel. Expect to write 2-3 short paragraphs. Each paragraph should be 2-4 sentences long.

Check your letter for errors before you give it to your teacher. Read over your letter to make sure you haven’t made any errors. Look for missing words, misspellings, and grammatical errors. If you find any errors, fix them before you give the letter to your teacher. If you’re not good at grammar, ask someone to help you. Also, don’t worry too much about making mistakes. Your teacher will appreciate the thought.