When you get an email from your child’s teacher about their behavior, it’s normal to feel unsure about how to reply.
You might feel worried and defensive, but trust me, you’re not alone.
Many parents feel the same way and search online for advice on handling such complaints. Surely, how you respond can impact your child’s growth.
In this article, we’ll offer tips on how to reply and provide sample emails to help you craft the best response.
These templates make it easy to address the issue effectively. There’s a lot to learn here, so let’s go.
Common Reasons Why Teachers Email Parents About Child’s Behavior
To respond to a teacher’s email about your child’s behavior at school, start by understanding the issue they’re raising.
Often, parents can say too much or ask the wrong questions in their replies, which can lead to misunderstandings.
Here’s a look at some common types of complaints you might encounter:
- Talkativeness
- Non-attentiveness
- Idling
- Disrupting the class
- Bullying
- Habitual late-coming
- Poor academic performance
- Homework not done.
You can find one or more of these issues listed in the email title from the teacher. Keep in mind that some behaviors are more common in certain grades, depending on your child’s age.
For example, disruptive behavior is unusual in preschoolers or younger students. However, issues like inattentiveness and idleness can start early and, if not addressed, may impact your child’s progress later on.
When replying to the teacher, your goal is to show that you support them (assuming their concerns are valid) while also trying to understand why your child is acting this way.
Let’s now look at the best way to respond.
4 Important Tips on Ways to Respond to Teacher Emails About Child’s Behavior
1. Ask Specific Questions
Our first and most important recommendation is to ask the teacher detailed questions about your child’s inappropriate behavior.
What exactly is the behavior? What happens when they act that way? Is the behavior always a reaction to something? Does it happen only when with some set of kids?
This is especially crucial if the teacher’s email didn’t provide specific examples.
Why specifics matter:
- Asking for details helps you understand exactly what the teacher is concerned about.
- It helps you gauge how serious the issue is.
- It shows that you’re a caring and responsible parent who is engaged with your child’s behavior.
- Sometimes, a child’s behavior may stem from reasons that aren’t immediately obvious, and getting specifics can help you understand their perspective.
2. Appreciate the Teacher’s Effort
Start your email response by thanking the teacher for bringing the issue to your attention.
A courteous opening, such as “Thanks for letting me know” or “I appreciate you informing me,” is a friendly way to show you value their effort, even before perusing the validity of the concern they’ve raised.
3. Tell the Teacher What Your Next Steps Will Be
Indicate what actions you plan to take. For example, you could tell them you will discuss the issue with your child, review their scorecard, or talk to their other teachers.
Phrases like “I will discuss this with my son” or “I will review my daughter’s progress” show that you’re taking the matter seriously.
4. Ask for the Teacher To Update you on Improvements
It’s also very key that you end your response by asking for updates on your child’s progress.
This shows that you’re indeed committing to the actions you mentioned earlier and expecting progress.
A closing remark like “Please keep me updated on whether he’s improving in this area or not” works just fine.
Quick Tip:
- If the teacher’s email addresses issues like disruptive behavior, bullying, or frequent tardiness (especially if you know your child leaves home on time), it’s a good idea to suggest a face-to-face meeting at the end of your response.
- Some problems are better discussed in person, as email threads can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
Now that you have seen the best techniques to include in your reply when texting the teacher, it may still be difficult to put words together. But that’s why we’re here.
In the sections that follow, you will see some practical examples of parent-to-teacher emails about a child’s behavior.
These examples are like templates; just fill in the blanks or swap out the details to fit your situation.
5 Best Ways You Can Respond to Teacher Emails About Child’s Behavior
These examples cover different situations: some are for quick responses, some are for when you need more time, and others are for addressing incorrect concerns. Take a look:
Example 1: You can give a quick reply that buys you time to gather more information:
Thanks for letting me know about my child’s behavior in class. I appreciate you keeping me informed. I need a bit of time to think about it before I reply. I know it’s important to handle these issues quickly, so I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Example 2: You should respond by stating that you intend to set up a meeting with the teacher for more details about your child’s behavior:
Thanks for letting me know about my child’s behavior. I’d like to set up a meeting or phone call to talk more about it. I want to get more details to understand what might be causing these issues. Please let me know when you’re free so we can find a good time to discuss this.
Example 3: You can indicate your next line of action to help the situation:
Thank you for letting me know about Bryan’s behavior. I’m sorry to hear about his talkativeness and lack of focus. At home, we will work on setting clear rules and times for quiet and focus. I’ll also discuss the importance of paying attention to him. Please let me know if there are specific strategies that work well in the classroom. I appreciate your support and will keep in touch on his progress.
Example 4: You can raise your reservations about the teacher’s concerns:
Thank you for your email. I appreciate your concern for Rachel, but I believe there may be a misunderstanding regarding her behavior. Rachel has a calm, introspective nature, which might be misinterpreted as idling. I’m eager to discuss this further to better understand your perspective and to ensure we support Rachel appropriately. Could we schedule a meeting to talk about this in person? Please let me know a convenient time for you.
Example 5: Ask for help from the teacher on what you can do:
Thank you for bringing David’s performance to my attention. We are concerned and committed to supporting him. We’ve tried various approaches at home, but we’re not seeing improvements. Could you please provide suggestions or recommendations on how we can better assist David with his studies? Your guidance would be greatly appreciated as we work together to help him succeed. Thank you for your support.
Wrong Ways to Respond to Teacher Email About Child’s Behavior
Don’t start by arguing or saying that the teacher is wrong. Instead, be open to hearing what they have to say and show that you want to work together to fix the problem.
Also, be honest about what changes you can make at home. Don’t promise things that you might not be able to follow through on.
It may be tempting to want to instruct the teacher on how to handle your child. But that’s not ideal.
It’s better to respond in a way that shows you’re willing as the parent to work together to find a solution and ask for their advice.
Another common mistake that parents make when responding to a teacher’s email about a child’s behavior is when they pretend the problem isn’t serious.
You should even acknowledge that there’s an issue and show that you’re ready to deal with it.
Remember to Follow Your Response With Action
After you reply to the teacher’s email, it’s a good idea to talk to your child. Be clear and honest with them about what the teacher is concerned about.
Instead of asking if the teacher’s comments are true—since kids might lie to avoid trouble—try having a more open conversation.
Quick Tip:
- Ask open-ended questions to make them more expressive. Not questions that will lead to “yes” or “no.”
Final Thoughts
Replying to a teacher’s email about your child’s behavior should be more than just saying “Thank you, I will look into that.”
Sometimes, you wouldn’t need to respond by email at all. It’s often better to set up a meeting or phone call instead (we’ve even included a template for scheduling a meeting).
While email is a useful tool, it’s not always the best way to handle these situations. Focus on talking directly with your child to address the issue, and try not to create any tension with the teacher over their concerns.
The goal of this article is to guide you on how to respond to a teacher’s complaint about your child’s behavior. We hope you found value here.
