How to Write a Teacher Request Letter

The right teacher can change a child’s life. A good teacher can get them more engaged in daily school activities. But sometimes a teacher and a child simply don’t mesh in a way that is most beneficial to a child. When this occurs, a parent may be in the awkward position of having to request a specific teacher. Crafting a sample letter to the principal from a parent to request a teacher can feel like an intimidating pursuit when you first sit down to create it.

A student placement letter can change the trajectory of a child’s education. Often parents will feel the need to write a change of teacher letter when a student isn’t performing well, has discussed misgivings about their time in the classroom or the parent or child has noticed a teacher in higher grades and hope to have their child attend that teacher’s class at the appropriate time.

Pinpoint your child’s strengths with that of the preferred teacher. If the teacher is strong in math and your child excels in the subject, make sure to mention that. If the current teacher focuses more on field trips over reading fundamentals, which bothers your introverted child, that can be a point in your letter that grabs the principal’s attention.

If you are requesting a teacher before the beginning of a term or school year, check that the teacher’s instruction style is what your child needs. Make sure to check the curriculum or syllabus of both teachers before switching teachers. Sometimes a teacher may seem like the perfect choice but the classroom can be a completely different setting than the one the student may have experienced when interacting with the teacher while in a lower grade.

It can help the child, and the teacher, if you can reach out to the existing educator and find a way that helps them both. Good teachers are open to learning more about their students and finding ways to adjust to fit the needs of the many children that find their way to their classroom.

You can find a class placement letter example online. To begin, introduce yourself clearly. Your name, particularly if the surname is different from the child’s, and which child you are discussing. Start off on a positive note. Describe any positive events or activities your child has attended at the school or programs that have enriched their lives while attending the school. A change of school letter follows the same parameters regarding your child’s academic information.