How to Thank a Teacher by Letter at the End of a School Year

Samuel Hamilton reports:

"Choose the stationery on which you will compose your thank-you letter...Get all the supplies you need...in advance to make sure you have plenty of time to deliver it...Address your...letter using an appropriate greeting...Then compose the body of the thank-you note to your teacher. Be specific about the ways in which your teacher has assisted and influenced you. (Or, if you are a parent, use the...letter to the teacher to write about the ways in which they have assisted and influenced your student.) Sharing your personal experience lets the teacher know how they have truly helped you and allows them to know what strengths they can share with future students...Avoid general statements like, 'You have been a nice teacher.' According to Dr. Robyn Silverman, it is much more effective to share a specific anecdote such as, 'Because you set aside extra time to help me, reading has become much easier, and I have improved in all of my classes!' (If you are a parent, an example...might be 'Samantha has benefited so much from your reading instruction that she has now read every book on her shelf. We will have to take a trip to the library!')...Restate briefly your appreciation as the conclusion of your thank-you note to your teacher...End with a closing line, also known as a valediction...After your valediction, sign your name to the...letter. (If you are a parent, perhaps your student would like to sign as well.)...[Handwrite] your thank-you letter. Though it may seem more convenient to send an email, a handwritten letter is especially personal and can be displayed, cherished and easily revisited by your favorite teacher for years to come. Proofread your letter, but certainly do not be intimidated to write to a teacher. The recipient will be much more focused on the sentiment than the way it is expressed."