How to Teach Students to Write Thank-You Notes

A handwritten thank-you note is the proper response to a gift or a kindness given.

In the age of email and text messaging, many students have never composed a handwritten thank-you note. This is an important lesson that teachers can incorporate when teaching how to write a friendly letter. It is an important life skill and proper etiquette for students to be able to write thank-you notes after receiving a gift or an act of kindness. The teacher should model writing a proper thank-you note for the students.

Things You'll Need

• Lined notebook paper
• Pencil
• Whiteboard/chalkboard
• Marker/chalk

Instructions

1. Show students that a thank-you letter includes the five parts of any friendly letter (heading, salutation, body, closing and signature). Model the thank-you letter on the whiteboard or chalkboard for students.

2. Write the date at the top of the card on the right-hand side. Begin the letter by writing the person's name on the left-hand side: Dear _________,

3. Skip to the next line and begin the body of the letter by indenting. A good way to start would be to say, "Thank you so much for the gift."

4. Name the gift and say at least one thing you like about it. For example, "I really like the board game. I have played with my brother and have won both times."

5. Write your closing on the right-hand side of the paper in line with where the date was written. Examples of closings include "Sincerely" and "Your friend." Write a comma following the closing. On the line beneath, sign your name.

Tips & Warnings

• Have students choose a name of a classmate and bring in a small gift for that classmate (costing less than a dollar). The students can then write a thank-you note for the gift received.

References

• Hotchalk: Ugly Gift Thank You Letter