This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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A letter is a great way to tell your teacher how much you appreciate them, but you might be wondering what exactly to say or how to format your letter so it’s formal enough but not too formal. Don’t worry—this wikiHow will walk you through the whole process step-by-step, from coming up with the right words to express your gratitude to writing and finalizing your letter. Check out the steps below to get started!
Steps
Printable Card and Sample Letters
Deciding What to Say
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1List 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.[1]
- 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.
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2Think 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.[2]
- 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.
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3Identify 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.[3]
- For instance, you might write, “how to multiply, hard work pays off, and writing down assignments helps you stay on track.”
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4List the qualities you love most about your teacher.[4] 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.[5]
- As an example, you might write, “always positive, friendly, and treats all students equally.”
Drafting the Letter
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1
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2Thank your teacher for how they helped you.[8] 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.[9]
- 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.”
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3Give 2-3 specific examples of why you’re thanking them.[10] 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.”
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4Explain 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.[11]
- 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.”
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5Restate 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.[12]
- 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.”
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6Close your letter with “Sincerely” and your signature.[13] 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.[14]
- Write, “Sincerely, Daisy James.”
Finalizing Your Letter
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1Decide 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.[15]
- 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.
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2Use 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.[16]
- 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.”
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3Keep 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.[17]
- Each paragraph should be 2-4 sentences long.
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4Check 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.[18]
- 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.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhere can I find a template for a letter of appreciation?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can find templates and samples on websites such as Letters.org, WriteThankYouNotes.com, and Template.net. Check out the samples and templates attached to this article as well!
Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
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QuestionCan I write a thank you letter to my teacher as a college student?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, teachers at all academic levels like receiving notes of appreciation and support from their students. Your letter will mean a lot to them and can be a valuable source of feedback, especially if you offer specific examples of how their teaching helped you.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
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QuestionHow do I write a letter of appreciation to a teacher as a parent?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerOffer your sincere thanks to your child’s teacher for their dedication and hard work. To make it more personal and meaningful, you might include a few specific examples of ways that their teaching has helped your child. But even just a brief note to say “Thanks for everything you do” will mean a lot to them.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
Warning
- Don’t copy an example letter and give it to your teacher.
References
- ↑ https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/dailylp089.shtml
- ↑ https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/dailylp089.shtml
- ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/words-to-thank-a-teacher.html
- ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.
- ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/words-to-thank-a-teacher.html
- ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.
- ↑ https://campus.plymouth.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/scholarship-thank-you-letters/
- ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.
- ↑ https://campus.plymouth.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/scholarship-thank-you-letters/
- ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.
- ↑ https://www.sunyacc.edu/sites/default/files/ThankyouletterGuidelinesandSamples.docx%20%282%29.pdf
- ↑ https://financialaid.utah.edu/policies/thank-you-letter.php
- ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.
- ↑ https://financialaid.utah.edu/policies/thank-you-letter.php
- ↑ https://financialaid.utah.edu/policies/thank-you-letter.php
- ↑ https://www.sunyacc.edu/sites/default/files/ThankyouletterGuidelinesandSamples.docx%20%282%29.pdf
- ↑ https://adrian.edu/uploads/files/thankyouletter.pdf
- ↑ https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/financialaid/scholarships/faq/thankyouletter.html
About This Article
If you want to write a letter of appreciation to your teacher, start by thinking about your time in their class and writing down a list of memorable moments. For example, you might write how you felt when you gave a presentation and they praised you. In addition to these moments, identify 3 to 5 important things they taught you, like how to be prepared or how to treat others. When you write your letter, open it by thanking your teacher for helping you and tell them why you’re grateful for their work. Mention the important moments and lessons you learned and briefly explain how those memories will help you in the future. To wrap up the letter, wish your teacher well and sign your name at the bottom. For tips on writing a concise, impactful letter, read on!
